ESTA and USITT announce the second New World Rigging Symposium, taking place March 19-20, 2019 in conjunction with the USITT Conference and Stage Expo 2019 in Louisville, KY. Building on the enormous success of last year’s inaugural symposium, the 2019 event will once again provide an opportunity for riggers and those interested in the live entertainment rigging industry to network, discuss current issues and new technologies, and help shape the future of the industry.
Registration for the two day Symposium, including lunches, reception and a USITT Stage Expo floor pass, is $375. Register for both the Symposium and the full USITT Conference for just $675. Click here to register. Scroll down to see the full list of sessions.
Attendees at the 2018 symposium were impressed with the knowledge and passion of the presenters and their fellow attendees, which made for an educational and inspirational event. The mix of professional riggers, engineers, health and safety professionals, venue managers, educators, and manufacturers ensured stimulating and sometimes spirited interactions in the sessions as well as the networking events. One attendee commented, “Sitting in the room and hearing the talk, discussion, and questions–priceless.”
Rocky Paulson, a production rigger for over 35 years and the founder of Stage Rigging, Inc. will be delivering the Keynote Address. Rocky rigged some of the largest and most prestigious shows and events ever produced. In the early days, while working with other pioneers of rigging, he helped to establish many of the standard practices of arena rigging that are still used today by riggers worldwide. Rocky has spent years teaching rigging and fall protection seminars. He was one of the first members of ESTA's Technical Standards Program Rigging Working Group and authored its first ANSI standard on wire rope ladders. Rocky was also a co-chair of the original subject matter experts for the development of the ETCP arena rigging certification.
ETCP Certificants can satisfy all 10 of the education points by attending the symposium.
Sessions:
TUESDAY, MARCH 19th
Keynote Address by Rocky Paulson
Challenge Accepted! Creating the Unknown: A Case Study
Colin Peters, Alex Serrano, Jim Shumway
A discussion and presentation of the challenges created from new innovations and first-time designs, creations, and fabrications; a case study of a New Year’s Eve project. From artists’ concepts to reality and of all the struggles, hurdles, and frustrations in between to achieve the dream of sailing into the New Year. Professionals from Tait Towers and Rock Lititz will discuss the problem solving, resourcefulness, stress, pressure management, and the decision-making processes of taking an innovative rigging and aerialist project from concept to reality.
Entertainment Engineering: How to Get Everyone on the Same Page
Roger Bardwell, Bill Gorlin
Every installation has its challenges. How do production and engineering communicate effectively? Two experienced professionals, an engineer and a production specialist, discuss how to talk to each other.
Hiding in Plain Sight: Identifying Fall Hazards in Your Work Environment
TBD
We all know they are there, but we don't always see them. Almost all performance venues have fall risks hiding in plain sight. Some are built in, and some are created in the course of our production work. Learn how to identify and resolve these hazards.
Measuring the Uncertainties: Understanding and Working with Load Cells
David Bond, Jeff Reder
Touring rigs, whether concert or theatrical, have become larger, heavier and more complex and our understanding of indeterminate structures has matured. All of this points to the need for load cells in day to day operations. This is a primer on what load cells do and how to use the information they provide.
Risk Assessment: Where Do I Start?
Dominic Housiaux, Mike Kelly, Orestes Mihaly
Every facet of law and insurance tells us we have to do a risk assessment of our work before we begin. Learn how to do a risk assessment - what are the processes, practical and legal, for establishing engineering, administrative and pro-active policies to protect workers and the public.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20th
Automation in a Theatrical Environment
TBD
As technology progresses more and more theatrical conventions have become automated. Everything from the fly system to the deck wagons to the scenery itself can be and often is controlled by some form of automation. We will explore the state of automation in theatrical productions and where the panelists believe we are heading next.
Mental Health in the Entertainment Work Environment
(sponsored by Behind the Scenes and MusiCares)
John Draper, Eddie Raymond
The pressures of life in the entertainment world are increasingly difficult and the stress is taking its toll on our fellow workers. Depression and suicide are all too common in our industry. Learn how to recognize the danger signs and where to find the resources to use when we encounter someone in need of assistance. John Draper is the Executive Director of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
Engineering for Success: Why Things Don't Fall Down
TBD
Structural design is not a simple process. It should incorporate: design factors, venue analysis, temporary or permanent installation considerations, and a plethora of other elements. We tend to take for granted that the rig will stay up; this session will help us appreciate why.
Creating a Professional Work Environment
Sarah Gascoine, Eddie Raymond, Eric Rouse
The world of entertainment rigging has matured, and the work force has diversified. The old ways of looking at our work place are obsolete and it is time to create environments that are inclusive and provide opportunity for everyone. A panel of diverse entertainment professionals will discuss their views on today’s work places and offer suggestions for improving those environments.
Hot Button Issues and The Way Forward
Eddie Raymond, Bill Sapsis
You will receive a comment card at the beginning of the symposium to direct the conversation for this session. What’s keeping you up at night? What is it you’ve always wanted to see done differently? What is it you’ve always wanted to see change, but hasn’t? Concluding with a wrap-up of the 2019 New World Rigging Symposium and a look to future discussion topics for the 2020 Symposium.
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