What is “Spiking” a Stage?

For any production that’s performed on a stage (such as concerts, plays, etc), it’s important that performers and stage crew know where to go on stage to do their job successfully.

It’s the job of stage management staff to put down “spikes” – a nickname for any mark – on the stage, to show where actors should stand and where set pieces and props need to be placed. Spike marks typically are made with very bright, fluorescent, or even glowing colors so they can easily be noticed on stage as well as backstage.

While some stage managers use paint markers or cut electrical tape down to size to make their spike marks, savvy stage managers use the best tool available: Pro® Spike Tape.

What makes Pro® Spike Tape Perfect for Theater?

Pro® Spike is a cloth tape that is easy to tear by hand to size (no need for scissors) and is easy to tape down where you need it. This tape removes easily too, without leaving any residues behind.

It’s available in 19 different colors, including five high-visibility fluorescent colors. These fluorescent colors react vividly under UV light.

Pro® Spike sticks to a wide variety of surfaces and is writeable with markers and pens. This means you can easily label your spike marks on stage, as well as backstage, around tech/audio booths, on doors, walls, light switches, equipment and storage boxes, and so much more.

Pro® Spike is available in ½”x45yds size and in a convenient variety of specialty put-up’s such as die-cut corner shapes as well as pocket-sized stacks.

Pro® Spike Corners

Watch this demo video to learn how to apply Pro® Spike Corners:

Pro® Spike Corners have all the same properties of Pro® Spike, but in a convenient corner shape. You can easily make X markers and arrows with minimal effort, saving you valuable time for other tasks. You can even tear each Pro® Spike Corner into smaller pieces if you need to.

We also offer Pro® Glow Corners in the same specialty arrow shape. These corners charge via artificial or natural light, and emit a glow under low lighting. This makes Pro® Glow Corners particularly handy backstage and around tech booths.

Pro® Pocket Spike Stacks – Spike Tape on the Go!

We’ve designed a convenient set of Pro® Spike that comes in five colors and fits easily in your pocket. Stick these rolls on a carabiner on your belt loop and take them on the go!

Features of Pro® Pocket Spike Stacks:

• Low unit cost
• Convenient small roll size; portable
• 20 colors, including UV friendly fluorescent colors
• Made with high quality materials in the USA

Our Glow-In-The-Dark Tape Solutions

Pro® Glow Corners are not the only “glowing” product we have available. Just like Pro® Spike, we offer a range of products and solutions. These tapes emit a glow under low lighting. They’re perfect for layout and labeling in dark areas, like backstage and around tech/audio booths.

Pro Glow® products react to UV light, whether they are charged or not by natural or artificial light. This tape is available in roll form, dots, arrows and corners.

Pro Glow Gaff® has all the properties of our world-famous Pro Gaff® plus glow and reactivity to UV light.

Pro Tapes® Arts & Entertainment Brochure

Discover more products Pro Tapes® offers for the Arts & Entertainment industry. Click the brochure below to browse.

Choose Pro Tapes® as your Spike Tape Supplier

Have more questions about Pro® Spike tape or any of our other products? Need assistance in choosing the best tape for your application?

You can reach out to me, Dennis Mirabella (Director of Business Development for Arts & Entertainment at Pro Tapes®) for assistance. Reach me at dennism@protapes.com or by phone (1-800-345-0234 ext. 115.)

The post Stage Managers Need Pro® Spike Tape appeared first on Pro Tapes®.

However, a frequently overlooked item in a DJ’s equipment bag is high quality TAPE! Just look at this DJ’s top ten product list for DJ’ing; Gaffers tape comes first on his list!

Pro Tapes & Specialties® is the largest manufacturer and innovator of premium tape products designed specifically for the Arts & Entertainment industry in the United States. Below, discover the top Pro Tapes® products we recommend all Professional DJ’s try out today!

Pro Gaff® Tape: Professional Grade Gaffers Tape for DJ’s

Application:

Pro Gaff® is the perfect tape for holding down speaker cables, power cords, extension cords. This product is also great for labeling flight cases and other gear.

Features & Benefits:

• High strength, high performance adhesive system
• Highly conformable to irregular surfaces
• Weather resistant
• Smooth, controlled unwind
• Hand tearable
• Abrasion resistant
• Clean removability from most surfaces
• FL Colors are UV light friendly for high visibility
• Available in 20 colors

NO STICKY RESIDUE:

Pro Gaff® is strong and secure but will not leave a sticky residue when removed from floors & cables/wires. This tape will even stick to carpeted surfaces!

IMPROVE SAFETY:

Stage and set design utilizes many cords and wires. Gaffers tape is designed to stick to anything, concealing and securing wires to prevent falls and improve the look of your setup/DJ booth.

NO SCISSORS REQUIRED:

Gaffers tape is stress-free to tear and never requires scissors! Tear length or widthwise for customizable tape sizes to secure wires in any situation.

Pro® Console Tape: Labeling DJ Equipment

Application:

Pro® Console is used for color coding, labeling. Printable with markers, pens and pencils. Excellent for labeling mixers, soundboards, and various other pieces of equipment.

Features & Benefits:

• Repositionable
• Clean removal, leaves no residue
• Easy unwind
• High edge tear resistance
• White color is pH Neutral

Cable Path®: Cable Protection for DJ’s

Cable Path® is coated on both edges with a premium cured rubber adhesive system.

Application:

The center portion has a smooth surface for pulling cable and wire through. Excellent for running through extra-long extension cords/power cables.

Features & Benefits:

• High strength, high performance adhesive system
• Highly conformable to irregular surfaces
• Weather resistant Smooth, controlled unwind
• Hand tearable
• Abrasion resistant
• Clean removability from most surfaces
• Matte gaffer backing for low reflectivity of light
• Smooth center allows for repositioning of cable

Caution Cable: Safety Marking for DJ’s

Caution Cable is a custom printed version of Pro Gaff® tape.

Application: Used to cover and protect wires and cables. Caution Cable ensures high visibility for greater safety in high traffic areas.

Features & Benefits:

• Printable,
• Good Adhesion,
• Clean Removal,
• Outdoor Use,
• Highly Conformable,
• Hand Tearable,
• Good Abrasion Resistance,
• Weather Resistant,
• Made in the USA

Pro® P-28: Electrical Tape for DJ’s

Pro® P-28 is an individually boxed vinyl plastic insulating tape.

Application:

Pro® P-28 is typically used in insulating wire splices, labeling and color coding.

Features & Benefits:

• Designed for wear and tear
• Good quality
• Flame retardant
• Cold weather resistant
• Non-corrosive adhesive
• Comes in 11 colors

QUESTIONS? THE PRO TAPES^® TEAM IS HERE FOR YOU!

So DJ’s – when preparing for your next event, make sure your equipment bag is fully stocked with some of Pro Tapes® high performance, industry-trusted products!

If you have any questions, we’re here to help. Reach out to us any time at sales@protapes.com

The post Professional DJ’s Need High Performance Tape appeared first on Pro Tapes®.

In fact, it is believed that Roman soldiers played hopscotch as part of their training regimen. This exercise helped soldiers build endurance and balance in preparation for battle.

Having multiple players can also encourage leadership and teamwork. A preschooler can vastly improve their counting skills by playing hopscotch.

Create a hopscotch design with Pro® Pocket Spike Tape or Pro Gaff® tape 

Hopscotch is traditionally played outdoors, but Pro Tapes® can help you bring the action indoors!

Pro® Pocket Spike Tape and Pro Gaff® tape are both excellent tapes to make a hopscotch board with. They’ll stick down to almost any surface (like concrete and asphalt outdoors, or carpet and hardwood flooring indoors) and remove cleanly!

Choose your favorite color of Pro Gaff® or Pro® Pocket Spike Tape and make a hopscotch board wherever you like. Use the tape to write “1” on the first square, “2” on the next square and so forth up to “10”.  Then you’re ready to play!

How to Play:

1. Create a hopscotch design with Pro Gaff® tape or Pro® Pocket Spike Tape

2. Choose a beanbag as a marker. Gently toss your marker to land on square “1”

3. Hop through the tape squares, skipping the one you have your marker on

4. Pick up the marker on your way back

5. Pass the marker on to the next person!

The post Hopscotch – a timeless game, made with tape! appeared first on Pro Tapes®.

Solving Mazes is Fun and Stimulates Your Brain!

Mazes are a stimulating way of incorporating play with learning. Solving mazes can boost concentration, cognitive thought process, resilience and patience. Mazes can set a foundation in identifying a multifaceted approach to solving issues.

Mazes can improve many skills for young students: improving fine motor control, boosting problem solving skills, improving hand-eye coordination, memory, and patience. For the same reasons, it’s great for adults of all ages to try a maze game!

Get Creative and Design Your Own Pro® Pocket Spike Tape Maze!

Pro® Pocket Spike Tape comes in bright, dark and fluorescent stacks. These mazes can be done at home or in schools, so they’re an excellent tool for parents and teachers. Choose your favorite colors and lose all your inhibitions! 

Below is an example of a tape maze one my colleagues created – check out the video above and the photos below! She used some graph paper to plan out her maze first. If possible, I recommend taping out your maze on a plastic sheet (or even a white erase board), so you can “draw” your way through your maze with a marker!

Have fun with it – and let us know how your tape maze comes out!

The post Table Maze Game with Pro® Pocket Spike Tape appeared first on Pro Tapes®.