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P

PHOTOFLOOD
A lamp used by photographers which gives a bright white light. Because it has a thin filament, it gives a good flash effect (eg lightning), but has a relatively short life, so should not be left on for any length of time.

PHOTOMETRIC DATA / PHOTOMETRIC REPORT
The lighting performance of a luminair may be measured either by the manufacturer or by an independent testing laboratory. The results of these measurements are produced in a photometric report, which often becomes part of the catalog description of that luminair.

PICK-UP

• Device which, when attached to an acoustic musical instrument, converts sound vibrations into an electrical signal.
• A way of describing the directional sensitivity of a microphone. An Omnidirectional microphone has equal pick-up from all around, a Cardoid microphone is more sensitive from the front, a Hypercardoid has very strong directionality from the front. A figure-of eight microphone picks up front and rear, but rejects sound from the sides.
• The action of turning a followspot on a performer. (e.g. "that was a good pick-up", "your next pick-up is downstage left"). A BLIND PICKUP is on a moving performer and requires good hand-eye co-ordination. A SET PICKUP is on a specific area, is preset, and is made on a cue from the stage manager. A SIGHT PICKUP is made visually by the operator to a preset position.

PICKUP POINT (PICK POINT)
An architectural or structural point to which scenery or trussing can be rigged for flying purposes. Available pickup points in a particular venue must be reconciled with necessary hanging points on the equipment to be lifted.

PIGTAIL

• In a permanent circuiting system, a short cable extending from a circuit box which has a female connector into which a lighting instrument is plugged.
• Short cable affixed to a circuit box with a female connector attached.

PIN CONNECTOR

• Stage type plug with 2 pins and a ground.
• A standard connector for stage cable which is also called a 2P&G connector for 2 pins and ground. Pin connectors are generally rated for 20 amps at 120 volts and are the most common type of connector for the touring industry.

PIN PATCH
As part of a lighting control console, the pin patch is a matrix of pins which allows individual dimmer control signals to be grouped together into channels on a manual or preset board. The pin patch pre- dates the soft patch found on most computer memory lighting control consoles.