I’ll admit it. A spike stick is one of my absolute FAVORITE stage management tools.
You can have rolls of spike tape hanging on a piece of tie line near the edge of the stage during tech, or wear them proudly like fashionista bracelets, but a spike stick with multiple colors is slick and clean, handily accessible, and takes up way less space.
I first encountered spike sticks in 2001 when I joined the Branson-based iteration of the “Christmas Across America” versions that once existed of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular (featuring the Rockettes). One of the props each Rockette had in our show was a set of drumsticks with holes drilled in the end, and white tie-line like rope threaded through that in a loop. These would then wrap around their wrists for a variety of high-sticking choreography to match their high kicks, culminating with them playing “Jingle Bells” on the glockenspiels on each other’s backs. It’s still one of my favorite routines. (Check out this really old recording of the Carol of the Bells Rockette choreography. By the time I joined, their hats were a bit more flattering marching band style instead of golden helmets.) Occasionally those drumsticks would break beyond repair, particularly the gold ball-shaped end – and at that point we stage managers would be able to turn the broken prop into our next new spike stick. What a joy to not have to pull out a full roll of spike tape when you just had to replace or create a spike a few inches long! And during tech as an assistant stage manager, I could hang it off my belt and walk around with it ready at hand, instead of lugging around multiple rolls or needing to walk over to the edge of the stage for one of them.
While I strongly feel that companies should provide the spike tape for a production, my personal spike stick makes the pack of nearly every gig I do. Most theatres have at least 4 colors of spike tape, and they are often really bright colors. They should purchase what is needed to tape out a set (or several) in the rehearsal hall, and what needs to be marked/spiked on the stage from scene to scene. However, sometimes just one extra color can help so much for delineating a scene or a specific furniture location. Recently on a gig we ordered red spike tape as one of our colors during prep…and it never actually arrived. (The theatre ultimately got a refund.) However, we had a “rooftop” spike that I really wanted to be red, a la Red Roof Inn, for easy memory association. We used the red on my spike stick, and had just enough to get us through the run between rehearsal hall, theatre, and replacement spikes. When I got to the next theatre that had red, I simply filled that spot up again. You’ll read below that we’re not really talking all that much spike tape per color, more along the equivalent of one big “oops” rip up during tape out that you can’t restick down. Meanwhile, brown spike tape isn’t as popular for companies to buy, but, man, is it nice to have that choice when you have a wood-colored set and need a subtle preshow spike. With my stick, I can choose from two different browns, let alone non-fluorescent choices of navy, black, grey, and burgundy, all of which are rarer if a theatre only supplies a few colors. To me, it’s worth it to travel with a spike stick, for these and other extra options, let alone the timing and carrying weight it saves during tech.
Some advice if you make one of your own: while they can look so pretty being in rainbow order, I’d suggest you FIGHT that urge, and go for random. Invariably, you’re going to find another color at another theatre and your color scheme will be all off. I currently have three different yellow tones, and several blue/green variations. Make it random, and you won’t notice so much! You’ll also see mine is not that evenly spaced, as I have gone back and added several additional colors from my original layout. I’ve even squeezed one in above the hole that was drilled. Mine is approximately 12.5 inches long and currently holds 19 colors – so many more choices than any one company usually has on site. Several years ago the technical director at our summer stock assisted me with drilling scrap dowels so that each of us on the team could create one. As any stage manager knows, pieces of tie line can usually be found VERY easily during load-in. I swear the theatre gremlins (including La Ropasucia) eat spike and glow tape and relieve themselves by depositing tie line and metal screws.
Image courtesy of his Half Hour Call webstore.
If you don’t want to go to the effort of making your own, Kent Collins also sells what he calls a SpikeStik in his Half Hour Call store. His two current offerings include either 5 or 12 colors rolled onto a pencil. It won’t hang on your belt, but is nicely compact (after all, it’s pencil-sized), and provides about 2 yards of each color of tape. I’m going to guess that’s about how much I have of each color on mine, too. For reference, a typical Pro-Gaff toll from Rosebrand is 45 yards. They claim 21 colors, so I’ll have to see what I’m missing! šMeanwhile, Kent’s got some of those browns for you in his eye-pleasing layout.
Show me your spike sticks! Tag me on instagram @cue2go.
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Tips from others
Miranda Anderson added: Also a big fan of making a small version with show specific colors rolled onto a sharpie! That way you have tape and can label it, if necessary, all in one tool!
Melissa Nathan, on the advantage of one more like Kent’s: I use a non-sharpened pencil so they can still fit into my apron when I’m working backstage.
Ryan Fitzpatrick: I initially heard it referred to as the “disco stick”…..A short length of 1” pvc works just as well as the dowel.