Fly me to the moon (safely)

It comes-up all too frequently:  Someone wants to present Jesus rising to Heaven, Mary Poppins, Peter Pan, Circus de Soleil, Witches, Monkeys, or someone being levitated into a spaceship (followed by the snap of a rubber glove the aliens are putting-on . . .), and the question comes-up:  "How are we going to fly them?"  The question should be:  "How are we going to fly them SAFELY?"  Well, start here:

The North American Association of Flying Effects Directors (NAAFED) 2010 Performer Rigging Workshop will be held Wednesday, May 19 through Saturday, May 22, at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, IL. The cost to attend the workshop is $600, and there is a $50 discount for ETCP certified riggers, USITT, CITT, EdTA, or IATSE members. Verification will be required. Students can use both discounts.

The workshop is designed for all ages and skill levels. Practical application will follow lecture-based presentations to provide attendees with the opportunity to practice the theory they learn. By the end of the workshop, they will have progressed from learning the basics of rigging, physics, and mechanical advantage to flying each other safely. Taught by ETCP Recognized Trainers, all attendees will receive 1 ETCP renewal credit per hour.

Online registration is available at http://www.naafed.com/.

Fly safe, otherwise you may never get to use those frequent flier miles you've been saving.