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Post by Ron Walker on Aug 30, 2022 21:27:36 GMT -7
Posted by: albert Sep 10 2014, 04:03 AM Hi Ron,
I just came back from France and read up on your grand opening and the shows you are doing. Let me congratulate you with all my heart! I wish I could have been there!
I am sure the success of your planetarium will be a lasting one. It is the passion that counts. People see when somebody with a passion for his work is at the controls. That will keep you from becoming dry or running out of ideas! Your fantastic projector and the all home built planetarium around are a one of a kind experience. I think you will be able to add more and more "auxiliary" units to get a great variety of effects on the dome. My own Bad Toelz Planetarium is doing very well, we are two presenters now, myself and a friend who is much more of an astronomer than I am-. I am a showperson and he has a great background in astronomy and also in astro photography.
Perhaps you too will be able to build a network of people who might be interested in doing shows on certain subjects. My colleague has quickly mastered the controls of our Zeiss, but on the first show I operated the machine and he did the talking, which qorked very well, too. We also did an exhibit on the moon landing which was very well received. I used the original soundtracks of the communication between the control center and the Apollo capsule in a show as well.
Now we will get into the Rosetta mission and do something on comets, not to forget trying to combine a live sky watching session with the planetarium, as it gets dark earlier now with the autumn coming. Unfortunately we had no luck so far with the weather. I guess combining live sky watching with the planetarium could be great in your area and climate! Our summer weather was just rotten all the way long---
All the best from wet and cold Germany!
ALbert
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Post by Ron Walker on Aug 30, 2022 21:28:03 GMT -7
Posted by: Ron Walker Sep 10 2014, 02:07 PM hi Albert, and thanks for the kind words.
Yes the interest has exceeded all of my expectations for sure.
It is interesting that you mention another lecturer as I also have a fellow who used to do shows many decades ago in southern California at one of the schools there. (He told me but my mind has a short term memory problem sad.gif ) Anyway he is going to give his lecture on Saturday the 20th to his family and friends. He will then decide if he wants to give more. There is also talk of some specialized talks by some of the more "elite" in the profession. There is a professor at the Uof A that dresses up like Galileo and gives a talk about his life and discoveries. That would be more then interesting.
Putting together shows is in a lot of ways more of a challenge then building the building. As with any type of production it just eats up time, I'm doing one next Saturday on how the projector works and it is developing into a show on the history of the planetarium from Stonehenge on. Many would say it was /is an observatory but I say since it presented and predicted astronomical phenomenon is was also like a planetarium. Observatory/planetarium is a fine line in that folks come to a planetarium to observe the night sky, or am I cutting the line a bit to fine?
Anyway, all goes well as I try and get a dozen or so shows under my belt so I'm not so crushed for new material.
From wet and hot Arizona (remnants from a hurricane just passed through), continue having fun.
Ron
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Post by Ron Walker on Aug 30, 2022 21:28:23 GMT -7
Posted by: Ron Walker Sep 15 2014, 04:12 PM Twenty one people in three shows. Is it possible that "inevitable doldrums" has reared its ugly head. Actually I should probably say two shows as my first consisted of eight people in three groups. Two groups of three and one group of two. Of the two groups of three one canceled on Friday night and the other on Saturday morning. The one group of two just didn't show up at all. So twenty one people in two shows doesn't sound so bad. The first went twenty minutes over and the second went sixty minutes over. My history of the planetarium and how "BOB" works (BOB is the name of the planetarium at least that's what he told me his name was) was surprisingly well received. Perhaps I made it a bit complicated with fifty-five images in a power point presentation but no one seemed to mind. The last show had a ton of questions and thus moved along much slower.
Next week, Jim, a good friend, is doing a show for his friends and family. Forty years ago he did planetarium shows in California and wants to again. So this week I need to work on some things to get his show up and working. Then for me next month...I wonder, perhaps stars of the southern skies. I could bill it as, "Come and help me find the constellations of the southern skies as I don't know where they are". Or perhaps, "Around the world in eight minutes at night"...no...perhaps, "From the land of the midnight Sun to the land down under". Hopefully there would be enough material easily memorized to help me get through a show, them after that, "The Christmas Star" should fill both November and December.
Work, work, work ,work, and more work. Who said making shows would be easy.
Good grief, another hurricane remnant coming Wednesday and Thursday. Hey guys, Florida is on the other cost.
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Post by Ron Walker on Aug 30, 2022 21:28:45 GMT -7
Posted by: Ron Walker Oct 19 2014, 11:38 AM Well another monthly show has come and gone. The skies of the southern hemisphere was viewed by 23 people. I got a small solar eclipse projector up and working enough for the show. I was able to show the partial they will see from this area on Thursday. The old unit still needs a bit more TLC to work more perfectly, at least the way I would want to use it but it did well for my shows. I was able to use my new backlit note reader so all of my confusing notes were easily readable. I think that I need to give a show at least a half dozen times for it to flow properly. My intro show is one I am very comfortable with and I wonder if I should have it run for one show every month.
Nest I think will be the Christmas Star which will require a bunch of new projectors and a new script with a ton on note compiling. I'm thinking of running it for both November and December and for perhaps more shows. It will be interesting to see if I can get it all done in time.
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Post by Ron Walker on Aug 30, 2022 21:29:05 GMT -7
Posted by: moonmagic Oct 19 2014, 02:00 PM Ron- So what else is new...you ALWAYS have an ambitious plan. That's who you are. You still seem to be having a blast at all of this. You are living one of your dreams. I would suggest starting your Christmas show the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The amazing thing would be to run it through January. There are many who get so caught up in preparing their families Christmas, that they miss many thing they would normally like to attend right during the prime holidays, so having the opportunity to still see the Christmas presentation through at least the middle of January can sometimes get good results.
At thought occurred to me, as you mentioned that you now had a back-lighted script light. Knowing the ins and outs of photography, something I saw done once (but don't actually now how it was accomplished) was to make a single page "outline" instead of a word for word script (thus requiring only a single page). Then photograph it and use an enlarged negative, so only the words will show through the script light. This assumes you would know how to make the remainder of the background totally opaque. (Maybe a doubled negative?)
I also suggest you pre-record much of the Christmas show (especially Biblical readings) and stick to an ad-libbed format for the rest. This will give you the ability to stay on time and thus being able to do more back to back presentations if the need arise.
I admire your ability to accomplish so many things. It keeps ME dreaming of the day when....mm
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Post by Ron Walker on Aug 30, 2022 21:29:27 GMT -7
Posted by: mrgare5050 Oct 20 2014, 04:45 AM are you advertising, how are these people learning about your shows I was wondering. Any repeat visitors?
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Post by Ron Walker on Aug 30, 2022 21:30:03 GMT -7
Posted by: Ron Walker Oct 20 2014, 07:54 AM QUOTE(mrgare5050 @ Oct 20 2014, 04:45 AM) * are you advertising, how are these people learning about your shows I was wondering. Any repeat visitors?
Absolutely no advertising at all. I continue to walk that fine line between residential property (private events) and public events. Everything is word of mouth from those first visitors. I've had a lot of return visitors. I haven't really kept track but I would not doubt that twenty or so have come to every show so far. I have 79 e-mail listings and that list continues to grow. Not only do I get new listings at shows from new people brought by friends, but I am starting to get referral e-mail addresses from people that have attended and I guess have talked to friends and they want on the list. So far no one has asked off the list. I even had someone come up to me at church last night and ask about it. Will wonders never cease.
This last show had two more in attendance then the last show and did have two new people that appear extremely interested and will probably be regular attenders. As many people were interested in how the projector works then in the southern skies. I probably really shouldn't assume that the "inevitable doldrums" are setting in as my shows are probably not at the top of everyone's "must do" list, I should be happy anyone comes at all. This could be the beginning or the great "fall off" or just a lull in attendance. The Christmas Star show will tell a lot as I would imagine it would generate the most interest. Again time will tell.
The e-mail list will continue to grow I am sure and will reach a point that my percentage of visitor will even out and will almost guarantee attendance.
My only real concern is that I will either run out of show ideas or I will burn out as the time to research and prepare a show is substantial.
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Post by Ron Walker on Aug 30, 2022 21:30:33 GMT -7
Posted by: Ron Walker Oct 20 2014, 09:00 AM QUOTE(moonmagic @ Oct 19 2014, 02:00 PM) * Ron- So what else is new...you ALWAYS have an ambitious plan. That's who you are. You still seem to be having a blast at all of this. You are living one of your dreams. I would suggest starting your Christmas show the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The amazing thing would be to run it through January. There are many who get so caught up in preparing their families Christmas, that they miss many thing they would normally like to attend right during the prime holidays, so having the opportunity to still see the Christmas presentation through at least the middle of January can sometimes get good results.
At thought occurred to me, as you mentioned that you now had a back-lighted script light. Knowing the ins and outs of photography, something I saw done once (but don't actually now how it was accomplished) was to make a single page "outline" instead of a word for word script (thus requiring only a single page). Then photograph it and use an enlarged negative, so only the words will show through the script light. This assumes you would know how to make the remainder of the background totally opaque. (Maybe a doubled negative?)
I also suggest you pre-record much of the Christmas show (especially Biblical readings) and stick to an ad-libbed format for the rest. This will give you the ability to stay on time and thus being able to do more back to back presentations if the need arise.
I admire your ability to accomplish so many things. It keeps ME dreaming of the day when....mm
Perhaps I am becoming too ambitious. huh.gif It is a lot of fun but I'm finding it a lot of work as well to try and get the proper documentation so I don't give out the wrong information or come across as a fool. (The old ego you know.)
Chemical photography is a dieing art. Kotalith is gone forever and what you are talking about was an ortho process that was used in the printing trade which has been supplanted by the digital age. I do have printable clear sheets for use on overhead projectors (I guess) and that would be worth a try. In my previous experiments a lot of black does not print very well but it just needs to be functional, not pretty. Right now I just use large bold lettering. This last show consisted of three pages of notes (not a script, as I dislike anything that sounds read) the problem is again I finished literally just an hour before the first show and was grabbing for which page to use depending on where the sky was when I got to it. What I should have done is made a separate page for each of the subjects I had planed to talk about and thus things would have been easier to find. But then with a lot of pages, perhaps not. Maybe just a large heading for each subject would work.
The Christmas show will be a bit different as the set up of various projectors will be cast in stone. I might do a bunch of video for the story but that would tend to limit seating but then perhaps I'm thinking a lot of people will come. Rather then reset the planet positions of the main projector, I'm thinking of setting up parts of the A3P to do that. I need to get the script outline down first so I can see what I need. This show will be so complex that I might not make it for this year. However, if I set a date and send out the e-mail then I will be forced to do it. That is how the southern constellation show came about...I had to get it done in time for the showtimes.
Not at all sure that I have the ability to accomplish much at all, but I must admit that I have wired in several new circuits and have two extra dimmable ones for LED lamps. Also I now have operational three independent sound systems (actually four if you count the voice reinforcement system) and one is a disc changer holding six discs used for various music cues. One of the independent systems plays a 75 minute CD of the desert wind with the occasional owl and coyote calls. With the air conditioners off, thing are a lot quieter now for such things.
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Post by Ron Walker on Aug 30, 2022 21:31:03 GMT -7
Posted by: moonmagic Oct 20 2014, 01:27 PM AS LONG AS IT REMAINS FUN....It was not supposed to turn out to be a "job." The Star of Bethlehem show IS a big undertaking for anyone, and it does require a number of additional projectors. But...does it really have to?
I sometimes forget the power of just the spoken word. I forget how well radio worked for years. The spoken word allows the audience to use their imaginations and sometimes there need to be a pause JUST for emphasis.
I wonder if we make a mistake in trying to fill every second with either audio or some type of changing visual. While I am well versed in the adage that every time you change subjects there should be another visual effect, however I am not convinced there can't be exceptions to that rule.
I'm reminded of the newscasters or the weather channel lot, that NEVER shut up! They need to take a breath once in a while (IMO) and a few pauses to allow me to absorb what has just been said. I don't think this is altogether a bad idea.
Planetarium production EVOLVES over time. Not every planetarium had every "whistle and bell" from day one. They added things as time and money became available. Maybe a winter constellation show would be more realistic with the time involved and the Christmas show planned for next year.
During the 60's-70's and 80's most planetariums only changed their shows 5 times a year and REPEATED their Christmas show each year. The ONLY reason they offer more today, is due to the ease of pushing a few buttons, but then their downfall, is they use up ALL their shows quickly, and the cost for new ones is very high.
Eventually the "happy-medium" you seek will come into play. mm
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Post by Ron Walker on Aug 30, 2022 21:31:23 GMT -7
Posted by: Ron Walker Oct 20 2014, 01:55 PM QUOTE(mrgare5050 @ Oct 20 2014, 04:45 AM) * are you advertising, how are these people learning about your shows I was wondering. Any repeat visitors?
I must add to my previous reply...considering that virtually all of the people that come to a show are on the e-mail list (the exceptions being those invited by people on the list) it is interesting to note that roughly one quarter of those that know about the planetarium come to each new show. That is actually a fantastic turn out when one thinks about it. I'm not at all sure about advertising. For a little guy like me, there is such a thing as too many visitors. Just thinking that if only the entire population of my small town of around 5,000 people found out and the 1/4 number held true, then 1,250 would come to a show. That would be 50 shows a month at capacity of 25 people. At my current pace of three shows per day that would be close to 17 days!!! Even at 5 shows per day (which would drain me very quickly) that is ten days which means more days then weekend days. One could charge but then no one would probably come. No, no advertising for sure. I'm not even sure if I want any local paper article as that would actually be better than advertising. The thing to see is how "word of mouth" does and I should give the entire thing at least a year before I move forward with anything else.
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Post by Ron Walker on Aug 30, 2022 21:32:05 GMT -7
Posted by: Ron Walker Oct 20 2014, 02:41 PM QUOTE(moonmagic @ Oct 20 2014, 01:27 PM) * AS LONG AS IT REMAINS FUN....It was not supposed to turn out to be a "job." The Star of Bethlehem show IS a big undertaking for anyone, and it does require a number of additional projectors. But...does it really have to?
I sometimes forget the power of just the spoken word. I forget how well radio worked for years. The spoken word allows the audience to use their imaginations and sometimes there need to be a pause JUST for emphasis.
I wonder if we make a mistake in trying to fill every second with either audio or some type of changing visual. While I am well versed in the adage that every time you change subjects there should be another visual effect, however I am not convinced there can't be exceptions to that rule.
I'm reminded of the newscasters or the weather channel lot, that NEVER shut up! They need to take a breath once in a while (IMO) and a few pauses to allow me to absorb what has just been said. I don't think this is altogether a bad idea.
Planetarium production EVOLVES over time. Not every planetarium had every "whistle and bell" from day one. They added things as time and money became available. Maybe a winter constellation show would be more realistic with the time involved and the Christmas show planned for next year.
During the 60's-70's and 80's most planetariums only changed their shows 5 times a year and REPEATED their Christmas show each year. The ONLY reason they offer more today, is due to the ease of pushing a few buttons, but then their downfall, is they use up ALL their shows quickly, and the cost for new ones is very high.
Eventually the "happy-medium" you seek will come into play. mm
It is not a Job, it is not a job, it is not a job...That is the one thing that I don't want it to become. It should be fun. Actually it is fun and once I get a dozen or so shows under my belt, I can start repeats. Also once a show is given, the projectors required will be operational and available for use any time. That will remove the "I must get this working before Saturday" requirement making life easier.
I will probably never make any show "wall to wall" as it will just be a movie or full dome show. The most notable aspect of these shows is their slow casual nature. People enjoy just looking at the night sky. However one cannot bore them to death either. Constellation outline projectors have proven very popular and I will need to do a lot of them for shows about individual seasons. That is the kind of thing where I run the projector to a particular time of night (probably just after sunset) and then have a bunch of "off the main projector" projectors so that I can have a lot of them. That could be Novembers show, like you say, if I fall behind schedule for "The Christmas Star".
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Post by Ron Walker on Aug 30, 2022 21:32:28 GMT -7
Posted by: Ron Walker Oct 23 2014, 10:56 PM Had a group of 11 people over to watch the eclipse on the dome. Special event for coin members and guests only. Projected a four foot sun on the dome and it went over very well. Julie grabbed this picture with her cell phone.
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Post by Ron Walker on Aug 30, 2022 21:35:22 GMT -7
Posted by: Ron Walker Oct 27 2014, 11:38 AM Some interesting developments.
One of the new people at my last show, who lives on the next block and was invited by my neighbor across the street, and had not come to a show before, dropped by and became a copper coin member. If that wasn't enough he is a local realtor and has a regular Thursday morning breakfast meeting with local business people that appear to be interested in a show. One of these owns the local newspaper. He also just had a get together with the local "Knight's of Columbus", a group of something like sixty people of which a substantial number appeared interested. If that wasn't enough, he has a neighbor that wants to buy a telescope and was very exited to learn of my existence as he often wondered what the dome was.
This word of mouth thing is growing exponentially. I might need to set up a nonprofit LLC. I wonder how much of a pain that is.
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Post by Ron Walker on Aug 30, 2022 21:35:44 GMT -7
Posted by: SteveDurham Oct 27 2014, 05:08 PM Non profit LLC......not too difficult at all if a democrat.....republican?, no guarantees. That said, you might ought to do someting LLC wise and get some insurance at the very least. Marge and I ran our embroidery business thru word of mouth and did quite well. The few times we advertised led to nothing in the line of new business.
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Post by Ron Walker on Aug 30, 2022 21:36:14 GMT -7
Posted by: Ron Walker Oct 28 2014, 12:10 PM Yes, my business was the same way. Advertizing did nothing, it was all word of mouth. Anyway, as soon as I advertize then I will become commercial which I cannot be since I am residential. Word of mouth is doing a fine job anyway. Since I don't want this to become a job I don't want to be that big anyway. My understanding is that anyone can gift/donate up to $12K a year to anyone they like without any tax consequences. That will never happen as my biggest donation/gift is for a copper coin member. Thus the need for a nonprofit is probably null. One must also balance the cost of an LLC upkeep against the inflow of funds. Once corporation expenses rear their ugly head a "nut" is established and cash flow is required. That almost demands a fee per viewing which will stop a lot of people from coming which will stop word of mouth.
Before I do anything rash, I am going to give this enterprise a full year to see how interest goes. I was actually thinking that interest had peaked and was starting that downhill slide when this latest information appeared. But then this is still all talk and I must just see what gestates. The only reason for thinking about an LLC is if people wanted a receipt for donations/gifts and so far no one has and I doubt that any donation would be large enough to warrant one. Since I actually invite people to the shows and they are not public knowledge, homeowners insurance should cover any problems, at least for now.
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