PLASA Protocol Speaks-Out About Safety

The entertainment industry organization PLASA (recently joined with ESTA) offers free monthly magazine titled Protocol.  It's always chock-full of good information, and this month is no exception.  There are several good articles aimed directly at stage safety:

• Rich Wolpert and Delbert Hall’s Tech Tips column expands on Rigger's Fids in "Fids, Part 2" - If you don't know what a "rigger's fid" is, or want to know more about how to make and use them, this is a great series.
• Jim Utterback with Joe Aldridge, Eddie Raymond, and Alan Rowe following up with his on-going series on Safety, this one on "Risk Assessment”.
• Gary Justesen from Oasis Stage Werks writes about "Seeking Shelter From The Storm" and the inspection and operations protocols for Outdoor Stages with a sidebar discussion about event cancellation insurance by Neil Huff.
• Richard Cadena and Alan Rowe discuss "Lithium Battery Hazards" and how not to burst into flames while flying.

You can get your own subscription to this fine journal at:  http://na.plasa.org/publications/protocol.html and yes, you can read it on your mobile device, too, with reader apps available.

While you are there, cruise on over to  http://www.plasa.org/association/ and sign-up to be a PLASA member.

Rigging Schools set-up for December 2011 & January 2012

Columbus-McKinnon Entertainment Technology division (CMET) has scheduled more schools for rigging training.

Rigging Seminar (December 5th - 6th, 2011)
The Rigging Seminar will be presented by Eric Rouse, an ETCP Certified Rigger and ETCP Recognized Trainer. The head of the Scenic Technology program at Penn State University, Eric has been working in the industry for 20 years. He has designed fl ying systems and performed installations throughout the USA and in Japan.

• This two-day rigging seminar is an intensive exploration of rigging terminology, equipment, and concepts.
• Day one begins with basic rigging concepts and then progresses to more advanced principles. Topics will include truss rigging, fall protection, math concepts, and rigging formulas.
• Day two will cover deadhangs, bridles, and the math used to determine sling length, tension, and vertical and horizontal forces on the building structure.
• Taking this course is an excellent refresher if you are preparing for an industrial certification exam. Those individuals who are already certified will receive 12 renewal credits.

For additional information, please contact Dave Carmack at CM:

Phone: (276) 475-3124 extension 287 • Email: david.carmack@cmworks.com

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Tomcat trusses has also announced their school for February 2012 to be held in beautiful Midland, Texas.  In 2008 in response to the changing needs of the industry and thanks to the input of a team of industry experts, TOMCAT launched a new and improved curriculum. These changes allowed participants to receive both beginning AND advanced training in their area of specialization:  Hoist or Rigging.  Participants can earn 32 renewal credits at each of these ETCP recognized workshops that provide a unique, hands-on learning experience with industry experts. Tomcat invites you to review the Hoist and Truss workshop section as well as the Rigging and Truss Workshop section to learn more about this unique training.

Tomcat Workshops include: All instruction and materials, lodging, lunches, dinners, snacks, transportation for dinner outings.

More information can be found at: http://tomcatglobal.com/workshop.html • Phone: (432) 694-7070  • Email: sales@tomcatusa.com

Be well hung

The PLASA International Rigging Conference, first held in 2010, has announced it's schedule for the Fall 2011 event in London, England.  Last year's event was the first of its kind, and provided a unique specialist forum that will brought together rigging companies, riggers, venue operators, tour and event production managers from around the globe. They focused specifically on rigging and working at height for temporary installations.
As the entertainment technology industry is going through a process of standardisation, there is a need for the international community to come together and discuss key issues, share knowledge and dispel myths. The expertise on offer at this conference will allow you to do that, with presentations from top industry individuals from the global rigging community.

With a balanced programme of presentations, panel discussions, Q&A sessions, and live demonstrations, the 2-day conference is designed to give you clarity on a wide range of current issues and will allow you the opportunity to air your questions and concerns with industry experts and your peers from around the globe.

A new event this year will be a one-day Rigger's Forum on September 11, just before the main conference.  This has been arranged to allow many that cannot attent the main conference to benefit from the great gathering of experts.
Registration and Conferencde Information can be found at:
http://www.plasariggingconference.com/

The PLASA Show will cun concurrently with the Rigging Conference from September 12 through 14, 2011 

RigCalc for smart phones and on the web

D2 Flying Effects are riggers that fly people and things.  They are also pretty savy programmers, too.  At their web site you can find RigCalc and a bevy of other software tools for making life on the fly rail easier.

They also have a Rigging Math Primer online at: www.d2flying.com/riggingmath/

There are a bunch of really handy online calculators at: www.d2flying.com/RigCalc.html

The smart phone app looks like this (2 of 4 screens shown):

A really handy app for stackin' steel bricks.

If they add a batten loading calculator to get the needed weight it will be great.

Just $9.99.  Where to get it: http://www.androidzoom.com/android_applications/productivity/rigcalc_qmvr.html

Also available for the iPhone and Blackberry with links at: http://www.rigcalc.com/
Other related blog entries:

http://theatresafetyblog.blogspot.com/2010/03/in-god-we-trussed-all-others-pay-499.html
http://theatresafetyblog.blogspot.com/2009/12/jr-clancy-releases-irigging-application.html
http://theatresafetyblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/arena-rigging-app-for-iphone.html

2010 LDI Show Schedule Available - Sign-up NOW!

The LDI International trade show has grown over the years to include much more than just stage lighting. You will also find sound, rigging, staging, video, projection, special effects, and thousands of tools to do your job more efficiently and safely. This year's show in Las Vegas (aka: Lo$t Wage$) runs Monday, October 18 thru Sunday, October 24 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Of particular interest is the growth of show production safety workshops being presented by ETCP trainers:

• Stage Rigging Fundamentals - two days (L27)
• Ohm's Law and Order: Essential Electrical Training - two days (L28)
• Left Brain Rigging: An A-Z on Math and how it applies to rigging - two days (L29)
• Left Brain Rigging Calculator - build your own spreadsheets for critical repetitive calculations (L30)
• Tomcat USA: Safely Building the Beast - truss system design, fall arrest systems, ground supported systems - two days (L31)
• Keep your Stage Rigging Happy & Healthy AR01)
• Math for Riggers (Made Simple) (AR02)
• System Integration Trends in Automation (AR03)
• Is your GO Button Putting You at Risk? - Motor Control Technology & Risk Mitigation (ES01)
• SIL Explained: Understanding European and Control System Safety Standards (ES02)
• Fire Safety Curtain Systems - Closing the Door on Smoke (ES09)
• Hook Up and Go! - Is Climbing on a Portable Structure Really That Easy? (ES10)
• All About the ETCP (FS01)
• ETCP paper & Pencil Exams at LDI - actually take the test(s)!

And of course, there will be lots of blinky lights and glittery things both inside and outside the convention center. Be There. See a Show. Have Fun. Learn Something.

More info at: www.ldishow.com/

Arena Rigging App for the iPhone

OK, you can use it other places you need a bridle, too (except horseback riding).  It's still handy, just as long as you use it on the ground and don't try to use your iPhone while straddling an iBeam.  Keep that loose stuff ON THE GROUND!  It's also handy for checking your ability to do these calculations IBM -(It's Better Manually) for the ETCP Rigging Tests.

Where to get it:  http://www.bridleapp.com/

Other related blog entries:
http://theatresafetyblog.blogspot.com/2010/03/in-god-we-trussed-all-others-pay-499.html
http://theatresafetyblog.blogspot.com/2009/12/jr-clancy-releases-irigging-application.html

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.

Zzzzzaaap! Is that burning wire I smell?

When you connect two electrical items together you should follow a few simple rules:

• The National Electric Code
• Use one piece of wire, not three between two devices (this really cuts-down on work, too!)

As you can see in this strip of porcelain sockets, there are multiple splices of three different kinds if wire, each which is wrapped with a different type of tape, not all of which are really good insulators. The Edison plug (NEMA 1-15P) is wrapped in masking tape, too!

If you are not a licensed electrician, don't be wiring 120 Volt (or higher) power circuits that will be used anywhere, particularly on stage where you will be exposing others to your deathtrap.