[SML] Flying Effects / Aerial Dance, Liability, and "Certification"

[Damon Gelb]

Coming out of lurk mode here to solicit some opinions and advice, from
both the rigging professionals and those in positions similar to my
own.  As you can see from the subject, I am probably opening a can of
worms here.

First, some background information.  We are a large college theatre
and dance program mounting six mainstage theatre pieces and several
mainstage dance pieces each year - with an added summer stock of two
mainstage musicals.   Several years ago we added a series of aerial
classes to our dance program, and last year began a "circus" workshop
/ performance aspect.  Until now, the aerial portion of the dance has
been in class or small workshop in the space where the aerial points
were permanently and professionally rigged.  Last year we added a full
circus performance in one of our mainstage theatres.  As this was new
ground for us, we brought in list member Jonathan Deull via D2 Flying
FX as the Aerial Specialist.  This year it was decided to incorporate
an aerial piece in our dance concert that included both "static"
aerial points and four "raise / lower" points where the performers fly
up and down as part of the choreography - not simply by climbing and
dropping in the apparatus.  Again, we brought in Jonathan / D2 Flying
FX - he did a great job for us last year, and designed and installed a
great system this time.

Jump to one of this semesters theatre productions, and I have been
asked to fly an actor 10' off the ground.  My response was we needed
to bring in a flying specialist.  While it is somewhat simpler in that
it is strictly up and down (no Peter Pan), I still insisted that we
hire someone, mostly from a standpoint of safety and liability.

At issue now is that some of the faculty and department chair are
wondering why we - meaning myself as TD and and my assistant - cannot
get "certified" to do the work ourselves rather than continue to pay
to have the work professionally designed and installed.  My response
is that there are professionals and companies who deal with these
types of specific flying effects for good reason.  Yet the grumbling
continues...So here is what I am wondering.  How have you, as a TD or
rigger at a venue dealt with this when asked?  Am I being to strict in
drawing the line by saying I won't do a simple raise / lower system
for theatre piece?  Would any professionals on the list be willing to
share statements or documentation to support my claim that flying -
ANY flying - must and should be handled by a professional flying
company?'

Thanks!

Damon
-- 
Damon Gelb
Technical Director
Muhlenberg College
Dept of Theatre & Dance
484-664-3332 (office)
610-704-1840 (mobile)
dgelb at muhlenberg.edu