Fred Allen Packs His Last Template

	Fred Allen and Steve Shelley, Field Template, visit PLASA London at Earls Court

After 26 years of packing templates, keeping track of inventory, debits and credits, Fred Allen is hanging it all up and retiring from Field Template. Field Template designer Steve Shelley and Allen say they are very proud to have taken this product far beyond their wildest dreams.

In the beginning, Allen explains, "I really just wanted a template to use with my drafting, the least favorite part of light design for me. A plastic template held the possibility of reducing that time significantly. Steve had shown me a Field Template concept drawing one winter while he was touring with ABT. Once he had explained the concept, I was hooked. I had to have such a template."

However, Allen's enthusiasm was not appreciated by any of the template manufacturers at the time. Obviously, this was because none of them were light designers (or any other form of designer), who could understand the brilliance of the concept. Shelley was rejected at every turn. Allen casually remarked if Shelley partnered on the investment, he would find a factory to cut the template and they could develop some theater dealers that would sell the template across the nation. After all, "How difficult could that really be?"

As it turned out, it was far more difficult and expensive than either of them expected. But once committed, they dove in and the rest is history. Field Template is the last one standing in the lighting template business; primarily due to the educational market and SoftSymbols, what the company says is the most complete, accurate library of lighting symbols ever assembled.

Shelley will continue designing and selling the plastic Field Templates, along with upgrades to SoftSymbols. Allen will retain the Custom Template business, and will be launching a new website for this portion of the venture.

For questions or information about Custom Templates, please contact: Fred Allen, c/o Fred Allen and Associates, 880 West 18th Street, San Pedro, CA 90731; phone 310 832 4700; fax 310 732 2247; or email at fred.allen@cox.net.

For questions, information, or suggestions regarding the design and sale of Field Templates, contact, Steve Shelley, c/o Field Template LLC, 714 Amsterdam Avenue #15, New York, NY 10025; phone 212 865 2969; fax 530 937 7426; or email at shelley@fieldtemplate.com.