Focus Tapes
Links to the materials that I use for my focus tapes.
My focus tapes are made from jute webbing – the same kind of burlap-type material that is used on the top of theatrical drops to add structure to grommet/tie from.
I prefer jute because it’s super durable and can wash easily. I’ve had my current focus tapes since 2017 and they show no real signs of damage, despite being ran over by lifts for 7 years!
One downside of the jute over other materials like ribbon or lighter fabric is that the rolls do take up a bit of space in a pack, but overall I’ve decided that it’s a worthwhile trade off.
I have two rolls that I typically use. The first is single sided and typically runs along the plaster line. It can handle proscenium openings of around 60′. The second I have marked on both sides. One side is typically used on a center line and runs from -12 downstage to 48′ upstage. The other side is basically a copy of the plaster line – 60′ wide. This is helpful in non-proscenium spaces where you might need something other than the lopsided upstage/downstage measurements.
Both rolls are jute with sharpie marks. Super simple. Took a couple hours one night in 2017 and they’ve been used on easily 100 shows since!
