[SML] Scary Rigging

[Matthew Breton]

Stephen Rees wrote:

> My ETCP Rigging certification expired about 9 years ago

M-a-n-n-n-n ....   I can remember when those things were brand spankin' new!

Suddenly I'm feeling old....


Matthew Breton
Design for Theater and Dance
________________________________
From: Stagecraft <stagecraft-bounces at theatrical.net> on behalf of Stephen Rees via Stagecraft <stagecraft at theatrical.net>
Sent: Sunday, September 11, 2022 11:25 AM
To: Stagecraft <stagecraft at theatrical.net>
Cc: Stephen Rees <Stephen.Rees at fredonia.edu>
Subject: [SML] Scary Rigging

My ETCP Rigging certification expired about 9 years ago and for the most part I don't chime in with opinions or solutions because there are lots of folks who now know better than I. However, just last week, I got a request from a former student who has started teaching at a nearby parochial elementary school to do a look at the current condition of their stage area.  It turns out that this is a space that I made an inspection of about 20-25 years ago and after making a series of recommendations, never heard back from the administrators of that time.  It turns out that they did make some inroads in remediating problems like removing the old dead-hung 1" ID pipe battens suspended from spurious cable with clove hitches and wrapping up the standing part of the line among other things.  They also removed all the 1940's lighting gear!

Sadly, they retained the soft goods which are in significantly worse condition and are rigged in a most curious fashion. Obviously, no one with stage rigging experience was consulted as attempts to install those old goods were made. I attached some images of their solutions. Most unconventional.

The school does have some money and wanted a  prioritized list of things to upgrade. I gave them that and also suggested that they immediately remove all the blacks and the odd rigging supporting them.

The image of the SL Curtain and Teaser Rig is the most disconcerting. The image is the termination as viewed from the underside.  I've recommended that this crap be dismounted post haste and hope that can happen in the next week or so.

I also provided them with the names of two reputable design/install firms in the region and proposed that the school generate an RFP including onsite inspection from whomever they eventually hire.

They're still out there, folks!

Steve

Stephen E. Rees,
Professor Emeritus of Theatre - SUNY Fredonia
CCE-CC Master Gardener Volunteer
716.366.0505 Home
716.680.1565 Mobile

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://theatrical.net/pipermail/stagecraft_theatrical.net/attachments/20220913/d463bd12/attachment.html>