Glossary – By Letter

K
Lighting Industry Forum code which identifies the (original) recommended usage of different lamp types. K coded lamps are for use in general purpose flood lighting, and have a colour temperature of 2850°K. See also CP, A1, T, P2.
Lamps List

K1 HAZER
The Jem K1 Hazer is a high-performance hazer produced by Martin. It provides the combination of continuous operation, long hang time, and low fluid consumption for greater economy.
Martin Website

KABUKI
Traditional Japanese dance-drama. 
Japan Guide to Kabuki

KABUKI DROP
Method for dropping a cloth from a flying bar. It consists of a bar which attaches to a standard flying bar, and is able to spin around. The bar has prongs welded to it on which the drop is hung (drop has grommetted holes in the top which hook onto the prongs). Normally these prongs are above horizontal, so the drop stays hung. On cue, the pole is rotated so that the prongs point downwards, and the drop consequently falls.

KADER CLAMP
Metal clamp designed to fit onto the kader grooved roof beams of a clear span marquee. Typically, the clamps are rated with a safe working load around 150kg each, but the marquee supplier must provide you with information about what the roof beams are rated to support. Extra care should be taken if there are unusual loads on the roof (rain / snow / wind).

KEEP THE DRAMA ON THE STAGE
A common phrase to try to de-escalate tensions or conflicts in a group of performers (or technicians). Although it's important to talk through problems or issues, it's important to do so calmly, without shouting, and in a professional manner. 

KELVIN
See COLOUR TEMPERATURE.

KENSINGTON GORE
A brand of fake blood used on stage and in movies, named after a London street. It was manufactured by a retired British pharmacist, John Tynegate, during the 1960s and 1970s, in the village of Abbotsbury, Dorset. Many varieties of blood, having various degrees of viscosity, shades and textures were available. Since Tynegate's death, the name "Kensington Gore" has become a generic term for stage blood. Kensington Gore was used in the film The Shining. Director Stanley Kubrick had several thousand gallons of it gushing out of an opening elevator during the elevator door scene.

KERF
The total width of the incision in a piece of wood or metal (etc.) made by a saw blade.

KEY
A section on a lighting or other technical layout plan, which denotes what the symbols on the plan refer to. 
Although many symbols are standardised, there are variations, and to avoid confusion (or errors) when rigging and laying out equipment, a key is essential to ensure the requirements of the design are correctly interpreted. 
Lighting Paperwork

KEY LIGHT
(Esp. TV & Film lighting) The dominant light source/direction in a naturalistic lighting state. In a sunny drawing room, the key light would be through the window, for a naturalistic exterior scene the direction of the key light could change as the sun progressed across the sky. See FILL LIGHT.

KEY SHEET
A method of communicating the changes in blocking / stage arrangements over time by taking a photograph of each 'key moment' and then presenting them, like a photographic contact sheet, as a series of photos in a grid on a single sheet, known as a Key Sheet. 
The same concept is used in animation (where a series of key frames is designed by the lead animators, and then the gaps between are filled in by less-skilled animators (known as In-Betweeners).

KEYSTONE
A function available on data projectors which allows the selective stretching of the horizontal component of the projected image so that it appears to be rectangular when projected from an angle above or below the projection surface. More advanced (expensive) projectors can also keystone the vertical component of the image, and some recent projectors can automatically detect the projection surface and can automatically keystone the image to fit.
Before data projectors, special lenses were available for slide or film projectors to apply the keystone effect.
The term comes from the wedge-shape of the stone placed at the top of an arch to spread the load of the wall above equally down both sides of the arch.

KICKER LIGHT
Lanterns placed to the side of the actor to maximise the sculptural quality of the light are sometimes known as KICKERS.

KILL
To switch off (a light/sound effect); to strike/remove (a prop).
(e.g. Kill channel 6 please)

KILOWATT
1 kilowatt (1kW) is equal to 1000 Watts. The WATT is a measure of electrical power. The single letter 'k' is often used to represent 'kilowatt'. "2k fixture" means a 2000 Watt (or 2kW) lantern etc.

KIRBY WIRE
Wire used to fly an actor.
Named after George Kirby, who devised the first pendulum artiste flying system (in 1898). His company Kirby's Flying Ballet is still supplying flying equipment now.
See also FLYING HARNESS.
Kirby Flying - History page

KIT
1) General name for equipment, especially nice shiny equipment, leading to the comment 'That's a nice bit of kit'
2) Short for Drum kit.

KK WHEEL
A type of animation disk which fits into the colour runners at the front of a lantern which rotates and breaks up the light beam to make it appear to be moving. Best used on a profile lantern containing a gobo. A KK Wheel is known in the US as LOBSTERSCOPE.

KLEIN BAG
A canvas tool bucket originally designed for 'utility' contractors in the US, stout canvas with a rope handle and plastic or leather base. Ideally suited to and adopted for collecting hoist chain. Available as strong and large enough for up to 30m lengths of 7mm / 5/16' hoist chain.
Submitted by Chris Higgs

KLEIN TOOL
Klein Tools Inc. have been making tools since 1857, the 'tool' referred to is a generic term for two items, the 'Chicago' or 'Haven' grip, which are self gripping wire rope pulling tools, useful for tensioning catenary wires and general wire rope gripping jobs in rigging.
Submitted by Chris Higgs

KLIEG LIGHT
Named after brothers John and Anton Kliegl, the Klieg Light was originally an intense carbon arc lamp especially used in filmmaking. Modern Klieg lights use Tungsten Halogen lamps. Klieg lights are either fitted with a fresnel lens and spherical reflector (for a wash of light) or a single or pair of plank-convex lenses and an ellipsoidal reflector for a spot light.

KNAP
(Stage Combat) The technique to create the sound of a hit when engaging in a stage fight scene where no hit took place. 

KNIFE
See SPADE.

KOTHURNOS
(Greek) Platform shoes worn by heroes of Greek theatre to raise them above other characters.

KVA
Kilo-Volt Amps. Unit of electrical power.