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Elgin Community College technician James Jindra performing a lighting dimmer check before an ECC Drama Production of "Baltimore."

Elgin Community College Enhances Production Workflow With Pliant Technologies

Arts center production manager Alex Desimone works with BMI Supply to transition to a CrewCom digital wireless intercom system that handles several significant roles.

Alex Desimone, production manager at Elgin Community College Arts Center, recently upgraded the arts center’s existing communication platform with a new CrewCom digital wireless intercom system from Pliant Technologies implemented by equipment provider/installer BMI Supply.

“When talking with BMI Supply about our specific communication requirements, they quickly recommended Pliant’s CrewCom system,” says Desimone. “For our application, we require an intercom system that can easily be transported back and forth between our two theatres, with the additional benefits of reliable coverage and battery life. It was easy to see that CrewCom was going to solve all of our communications challenges.”

CrewCom provides the arts center’s students with an user-friendly intercom system with radio packs stated to offer extended run time, be resistant to dropouts, and the option to use the system in more than one theatre at a time. “It was great that we did not have to buy two basestations, and only needed the one Control Unit (CU) to control the systems in each of the two theatres,” explains Desimone. “This saved a great deal of money and space for the college. Another selling point was the 900MHz option to help stay away from the 2.4 GHz frequency band that conflicts with our other wireless devices.”

The CrewCom system is currently being deployed in the ECC Arts Center’s two theatres, the Black Box Theatre and Mainstage Theatre, which house the college’s musicals, dramas and “Center Stage Visiting Artist” series. The facility employes two systems of six users in each theatre. Combined ECC’s CrewCom system has a total of 12 radio packs (RPs), two six-bay drop-in battery chargers, two radio transceivers (RT), and one CU.

Both theatres have their own CrewCom RT with the CU located in the Black Box Theatre. Using RP profiles specific to each of the two theaters, it’s configured as two separate wireless intercom systems, each acting as independent systems even though each RT is connected via Cat-6 connection back to the CU. This configuration accomodates future expansion as well as allows for changes in number of users in each theatre depending on the production.

The system is typically deployed for stage management, backstage run crew, and area-specific needs like video operation. CrewCom allowed ECC to increase wireless user counts and coverage range. “The CrewCom system provides both of our theatres with reliable communication with extended range,” Desimone says. “Ultimately, CrewCom has enhanced productivity among users and offers smoother operation of the overall performance.”

Pliant Technolgies

Photo Caption (Pliant – Elgin, ECC Technician Dave Snyder):
Elgin Community College Technician Dave Snyder backstage during ECC Center Stage Performance of writer Sarah Vowell, In the Land of Lincoln. (November 2021)

Photo Caption (Pliant – Elgin, ECC Technician James Jindra):
Elgin Community College Technician James Jindra performing the lighting dimmer check before ECC Drama Production of Baltimore. (November 2021)

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