Technical Acronyms

See also: Technical Glossary

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AJ

Adjustable Spanner

CLS

Canadian Lumber Standard

CLX

Chief Electrician

DBO

Dead Black Out

DM

Duty Manager

DMX

Digital Multiplex - DMX cables are commonly used in theatre lighting with a connector formed by a characteristic half moon of 5 pins

DR

Dressing Room or perhaps Dress Run

DSM

Deputy Stage Manager

EQ

Equalizer. Especially relevant for sound mixing

FOH

Front of House

FS

Followspot

FX

Effects (usually sound effects)

IEC (cable)

International Electrotechnical Commission cables - usually a 3 pin lantern connector at one end and a 15A or 13A plug at the other end. Also known as a kettle lead.

IWB

Internally Wired Bar - a type of lighting bar that supplies power sockets for rigged lanterns.

LD

Lighting Designer

LTM

Lent Term Musical - the largest musical of the year

LX

Electrics

MD

Musical Director

OP

Opposite Prompt (see Stage Left/Right)

PC

Pebble Convex - a type of lens with a stippled surface to give diffusion or a type of lantern with one of these lenses. Generally give a more controlled beam than fresnels.

PLX

Production Electrician

PM

Production Manager

PS

Prompt Side (see Stage Left/Right)

ROH

Rear of House (see Front of House)

RCD

Residual Current Device. May also be known as residual current circuit breakers.

SFX

Special effects

SM

Stage Manager

TD

Technical Director

TR

Technical Representative

TRS

Tough Rubber Sheath, the type of flexible mains cable used to make tails

VGA

Video Graphics Array Cable - used for computer video output

XLR

A cable type used for audio, video or possibly stage lighting but particularly for sound systems and microphones. Connectors typically have 3 pins.