Does the # of days the tour plays in a city have any impact on which set is used? i see the show is coming to San Francisco in July for almost two weeks after having been in Hawaii. I kinda doubt they'd use the "bouncy" set for a stay that long

Of course they'll continue using the inflatable set, otherwise the tour would have to lug around two entire sets.

Unless you think the San Francisco people are going to build the tour a whole set for only two weeks, of course, which would be very nice of them.

The Bounce House Set is going to be in use for probably the entire full run of the show. Every venue that I've seen it in for years now has been that set. I've not seen the hard set once in the past 8-9 years.

Purrs,
VTWC

It will be the inflatable set... They said we were suppose to tech both of the sets but I did not see the hard set. It really isn't that bad just not enough places for them to hide. They use hard set pieces but then have the inflatable background.

They made this change because with Troika they don't do that many stops that have long sit times... this is the reason the set has become an inflatable set because of this. They play a lot of few nighters or a week and then ship out. With the complexity of the original hard set, it would probably double load in time. With the set they have now, it loads up into 5 trucks, that is still quite a few trucks for a touring show. It took us about 4 hours total to pack up the entire show just a few weeks ago when we teched it. I didn't leave until 2 that morning and we started tear down around 10:15... 10:20... If they had more things like the hard set, it would easily tack on another hour load time if not more.

All in all, you are getting the inflatable because that is what they are using, that is what they teched and probably won't see the complete hard set until the tour stops being quick engagements at venues.

so the inflateable set is just the background w/ the hard set being the rest of the set?

As I got it theyre count as two different sets off theyre own rights.

The inflateble set is used to reduce transports need and wear and tear on the transportation crew.

Most people here seams to dislike the inflateble set but I havent seen pictures on both so I cant really compare... Besides with so many Cats sets out this day it would be surprising if any one that havent seen both sets could have any real complaints on neither IMO. If you dont trust me just go to youtube and watch a number of Cats videos there

The only reason I particularly dislike the "Bouncy Set" is due to the fact that when you are seeing it from the audience's view, the set seems to "blur" and "fade" while you are looking at it. Especially before the show with the lighting they use, the blue/green lights. Your eye travels over the details of the set and nothing really "pops" out at you. It turns into this blurry shapeless mass sometimes. When the show starts you really don't mind, but before the show, it really stands out. Also you cannot get a great picture of the set as everything seems to blur together. You need a really smart camera to get a good shot. Unlike the hard set where the edges of the 3 flat set pieces really have good contrast that stand out sharply.

Purrs,
VTWC

The inflatable part is what in the movie is all the junk that make for places to hide for the cats, to make it look like a junkyard. the hard pieces of the set are:

Tire, Car, oven, pipe, pieces from Growltiger and then random props (stuff to make skimbleshanks train, top hat, cannon, pipe to cover the strip lights)

I feel I missed a piece but that's all I can think of right now.

The other thing that I'm not fond of when it comes to the inflatable set is the humming noise you get with it to keep it aired up... I only noticed it because I was backstage with it the entire week so I heard it... If you aren't expecting the hum, like my mom, you won't notice it too much.