Stage productions are becoming more complex and demanding, and this puts more emphasis on the stage technicians to be able to rig "bigger, better, and faster" and more physical stress on the facilities and the rigging systems.  Both of these factors mean that technicians must also be "safer" in order to avoid accidents.  The way to accomplish all of these needs is through education.   All of the seminars listed below are designed to do just that. 

Unlike many rigging seminars, most of my seminars are "hands on."  You will do more that "hear" how to do something - you will do it.  The participants in my Performer Flying Seminars  and the Aerial (Circus) Rigging Seminars spend approximate 50% of the time rigging.  Seminar sizes are kept small (never more than 30 participants) so that participants can learn through doing.  

Any seminar can be customized to meet the particular needs of any group. Contact me to find out how to setup a seminar for your group.  

Stage Rigging Seminar

This one-day seminar provides participants with a comprehensive review of rigging equipment and practices used in the theatre industry.  It is intended for experienced stage riggers, installers, or general stage technicians who wish to “brush-up” their rigging knowledge and skills.  This seminar will cover much of the body of knowledge related to stage rigging, including:

• Definitions of rigging terms
• Physics, mechanics and engineering
• Entertainment rigging systems (counterweight, motorized, fire safety curtains, curtain track systems, chain hoists, etc.)
• Fall protection
• Breaking strengths, design factors, and working load limits for commonly used rope, chain, wire rope and hardware
• Risk Management
• Diagnosis of common rigging problems

The material covered in this seminar may help participants prepare for certification examinations; however, class participants should not assume that the class material will cover all topics on the examination or that the examination will cover all topics in the class material. Course material will include a “study-guide” and a list of useful resources.

Participants should bring a scientific calculator to this workshop.

Performer Flying Seminars

These seminars are typically two days long and explain the design and operation of many types of performer flying systems, from simple pendulum systems to tracked flying systems.  Participants rig, operate, and flying on numerous systems.  Some of the topics covered in these seminars include:

• Physics of rigging

• Flying systems design

• Flying harnesses

• Flying choreography

These seminars are customized to meet the requirements of the facility in which we will be rigging and the needs of the client.