Roy Bickel Honored with the 2021 ESTA Lifetime Technical Achievement Award

 

| ETCP Certifiable News: Summer 2021 |

Roy Bickel received the ESTA Lifetime Technical Achievement Award on April 6, 2021, at the virtual New World Rigging Symposium. The ESTA Board of Directors and Technical Standards Council created this award in 2017 to recognize individuals whose technical contributions have had a significant impact on our industry. The criteria include exceptional and sustained technical contributions for at least 25 years. The 2021 award was presented by Rocky Paulson and Chris Schmidt (watch the presentation video).

Rocky shared some background on Roy’s storied career: “Roy was a circus rigger and performer prior to being hired as the head rigger for the first ‘Disney on Parade’ show in 1969. He continued until 1974 when he left for Broadway to work for Pete Feller. After a time there, he went on to do the Rolling Stones tour in 1975. That was the beginning of a long career as a ‘rock and roll’ rigger. Roy currently lives in Las Vegas where he has been a fixture in the trade show world for over two decades.

“As the first head rigger on the Disney on Parade shows, he trained people like me in climbing techniques, rigging procedures, and physical fitness regimens to keep us in great shape. Though my direct experience of working for him was limited to a year in the ‘70s, I know his techniques were taught to many of the first-generation entertainment riggers. This training very much helped the rapid expansion of the industry during the rock and roll explosion. More recently in his career he was on the ETCP Arena Rigging Certification development team.

Roy was and is a true innovator. Perhaps the two most notable contributions that changed the rigging world to what it looks like today was the introduction of slings with screw pin anchor shackles around 50 years ago. Along with the sling development, he specified the orientation and sizes of shackles used with the slings; these methods are still in use today.”

Chris added Roy is highly deserving of this award “for his tremendous contributions and innovations to the early days of the arena rigging industry. Many of Roy’s contributions developed in the early ‘70s are techniques that are now standard practices in an industry that makes a living using some of the oldest tools known to humankind. He’s mentored countless arena riggers as well as many experts in the arena rigging field.”

ESTA is proud to recognize Roy for his lifetime of work in making our industry safer! For more information on this award please visit ESTA’s YouTube and Facebook pages as well as http://esta.org/LTAA.

PERG Coffee Breaks 2021

| ETCP Certifiable News: Summer 2021 | 

View these PERG Coffee Breaks on YouTube!

PERG Coffee Breaks, first half of 2021

Cares Act PPP Update
Thursday, January 28, 2021
With guest: Mark Morales, City Bank National

Vaccines and Legal Questions
Tuesday, February 2, 2021
With guest: Jaclyn Ruocco, Associate Ellenoff, Grossman & Schole LLP, specializing in labor and employment law

Protecting Your Battery Investment
Tuesday, February 23, 2021
With guests: Joe Teodosio, CoreSWX, and Zach Shannon, technical sales

New Subrental Tool for PERG Members
Thursday, March 18, 2021
Demo by PERG Council member Derek Hammer, Hammer Lighting and Grip

Behind the Scenes Mental Health Initiative
Thursday, March 25, 2021
With guests: Lori Rubinstein, Executive Director, Behind the Scenes, and somatic trauma therapist, Taryn Longo

Double the Line—Fostering Diversity and Inclusion in the Commercial World
Thursday, April 1, 2021
With guests: Joe Teodosio, CoreSWX, and Zach Shannon, Technical Sales

Equipment Leasing Benefits
Wednesday, April 28, 2021
With guests: Kim King, CLFP, National Equipment Finance Association, and Toni Rios, Head of Finance at DYNAMIC

Large Format Lens Projection
Thursday, May 27, 2021
With guests: Timm Stemann, CEO Chrosziel Equipment Leasing Benefits April 28 Kim King, CLFP (National Equipment Finance Association) and Toni Rios (Head of Finance at DYNAMIC)

Lens Metadata
Thursday, June 10, 2021
With guests: Snehal Patel (Zeiss), Scott E. Anderson (VFX Supervisor), David Stump, ASC (VFX and Digital Cinema expert)

Available ETCP Recognized Training: Academy of Production Technology

| ETCP Certifiable News: Winter 2021 |

Richard Cadena is an ETCP Certified Entertainment Electrician and an ETCP Recognized Trainer with 31 years of experience in the entertainment lighting industry. He is the author of Electricity for Entertainment Electricians & Technicians, 2nd Edition; Automated Lighting: The Art and Science of Moving Light, 2nd Edition; Lighting Design for Modern Houses of Worship; and Focus on Lighting Technology.

He is also the technical editor for PLASA Media and a columnist for Lighting & Sound America, Lighting & Sound International, and Protocol magazines. As a freelance lighting designer and lighting consultant he has worked on concert tours, television, theatre, motion picture productions, and he has designed dozens of lighting systems for permanent installations. He is a member of IATSE Local 205 in good standing. Current and former clients include Cirque du Soleil, Carnival Cruise Lines, SeaWorld, Saturday Night Live, NBA, IATSE Locals 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 16, 58, 479, and more.

Upcoming classes include:

March 1-3, 2021

Lighting Controls, Networking, and Programming Workflow Online – IATSE Local 51

Topics include DMX, wireless DMX, RDM, Ethernet, Art-Net, and sACN, and basic lighting console programming workflow. Members contact: Mark Grady

March 13-14, 2021

Portable Power Distribution and Electrics Online – IATSE Local 479

Topics include basic electricity, circuit laws, power distribution, power factor, and harmonics, with an emphasis on electrical safety, the use of PPE, codes and regulations, grounding and bonding, and GFCIs. Members contact: Kevin Amick

May 11-13, 2021

Portable Power Distribution and Electrics Online – IATSE Local 470

Topics include basic electricity, circuit laws, power distribution, power factor, and harmonics, with an emphasis on electrical safety, the use of PPE, codes and regulations, grounding and bonding, and GFCIs. Members contact: Local 470 Education Committee

May 18-20, 2021

Lighting Controls, Networking, and Programming Workflow Online – IATSE Local 470

Topics include DMX, wireless DMX, RDM, Ethernet, Art-Net, and sACN, and basic lighting console programming workflow. Members contact: Local 470 Education Committee

For more information, contact info@APTXL.com or check out www.APTXL.com/training. 

Available ETCP Recognized Training: Sapsis Rigging, Inc.

 

| ETCP Certifiable News: Winter 2021 |

Uncle Bill’s Remote Seminars

Weekly seminars on topics taken from the entertainment rigging industry.

• Seminars take place on Wednesdays starting at 2:00 p.m. ET (US)

• Seminars are 90 minutes long.

• 1.5 ETCP re-certification credits available per seminar

• Registration for each individual seminar is required.

• Registration opens at 10:00 a.m. ET on the Friday before the seminar.

• Registration link: https://www.sapsis-rigging.com/remoteseminars.html

UPCOMING SEMINARS

Wednesday, March 3, 2021 at 12:00 p.m. ET (US)

Risk Assessment: A game the whole family can play. Special guests Eddie Raymond and Jonathan Deull will discuss the processes for identifying and managing risk in the live event environment.

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Wednesday, March 10, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. ET (US)

Ground Support Systems: We'll talk with special guest Elmer Veith about the dos and don’ts on choosing and setting up ground support rigs.

 

Registration for this session opens March 5 at 10:00 a.m.

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Wednesday, March 17, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. ET (US)

Behind the Scenes Mental Health Initiative: Lori Rubinstein, Executive Director of Behind the Scenes, will talk with us about this initiative and how it can help members of the entertainment community.

Registration for this session opens March 12 at 10:00 a.m.

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Wednesday, March 24, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. ET (US)

Open Mic Session: An opportunity for everyone to discuss whatever we want.

Registration for this session opens March 19 at 10:00 a.m.

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Please register with the email address you use to access Zoom. Once you register, you will be sent a confirmation with the meeting link and passcode. DO NOT LOSE THIS CONFIRMATION. Each registration is unique and if you lose yours, we may not be able to get you in once the session has started.

https://www.sapsis-rigging.com/remoteseminars.html

PAST SESSIONS

Subscribe to our Remote Seminar YouTube Channel Playlist to receive notifications when recordings become available.

For more info contact Bill Sapsis.

Winter 2021: Attend the Virtual New World Rigging Symposium

| ETCP Certifiable News: Winter 2021 |

Earn ETCP continuing education renewal credits by attending the virtual 2021 New World Rigging Symposium. Learn more at https://www.esta.org/events/symposium/nwrs.html. Attending the full Symposium will carry up to nine ETCP education renewal credits for recertification—and enjoy the inspiration and informative sessions from the comfort of your home!

Registration is now open for the New World Rigging Symposium (NWRS), produced by ESTA and USITT, which will take place online April 6 – 8, 2021. The NWRS provides a virtual opportunity for riggers and those interested in the entertainment rigging industry to network, discuss current issues and new technologies, and help shape the future of the industry. The cost has been reduced to $99 and the Symposium carries up to nine ETCP education renewal credits for recertification.

Participants will be given a range of opportunities to further their technical knowledge in sessions on video wall rigging, automation and motorization, performer flying and rescue, and types of ropes. They’ll have a chance to learn about how the installation of a tension grid is working in a major facility, to get their questions answered by a panel of the industry’s most knowledgeable structural engineers, learn about working in cinema rigging, and how to be aware of and address the mental health impact of the pandemic. Jeanette Farmer will deliver the Symposium’s Keynote speech. Visit www.esta.org/nwrs to see a complete schedule, session descriptions, and presenters.

The Symposium has been expanded to three days to allow more time for discussion and virtual networking over lunch and during the Rigging Cornucopia Happy Hour that will close each day’s sessions.

Thank you to our sponsors for making the 2021 New World Rigging Symposium possible:

Stage Rigging (Platinum); ETC (Gold); Certex, Geiger Engineers, Kish Rigging, and TAIT (Silver); CM-ET, H&H Specialties, Reed Rigging, Reliable Design, Sapsis Rigging Inc., Texas Scenic Company, and Wenger | J.R. Clancy (Bronze).

New World Rigging Symposium March 19-20, 2019

| ETCP Certifiable News: Fall 2018 |

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 this 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.

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.”

In multiple sessions over two days, participants will be given a range of opportunities to further their technical knowledge, keep up to date with codes and standards, increase their understanding of structural issues, and learn about the challenges of working as a rigger in all segments of the entertainment industry. “The quality of speakers was first notch, as were the moderators,” enthused a 2018 attendee while another said, “The symposium was outstanding because of the strong engagement of a knowledgeable audience.”

Jim Digby, Founder and Chairman of the Event Safety Alliance and a veteran of the live music and event production industry, will be delivering the Keynote Address. Jim is a tour and production manager by trade involved with some of the industry’s largest artists over the past three decades, including his work as Director of Touring and Production for Linkin Park. He is a vocal advocate for the advancement and application of safety controls, diversity and education within the live event sector to empower the workforce with greater proficiencies.   

The New World Rigging Symposium includes opportunities for attendees to network over morning coffee, breaks, lunch, and evening cocktails. Symposium attendees will receive free show floor passes to the USITT Stage Expo opening on March 21st as well as a discount on the conference registration. The Symposium will carry ETCP education renewal credits for re-certification.

Registration for the 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. Please email riggingsymposium@esta.org to be notified when registration opens.

Sponsorship of the Symposium conveys your message to a highly targeted audience of top riggers, engineers, and safety professionals, and demonstrates your support for bringing the rigging community together.  Returning sponsors include: Platinum – Stage Rigging; Silver – Kish Rigging; Bronze – H&H Specialties, The Light Source, Sapsis Rigging. A variety of sponsorship opportunities are still available.

Winter 2017: New World Rigging Symposium Sessions Announced

| ETCP Certifiable News: Winter 2017 |

ESTA and USITT announce the session lineup for the New World Rigging Symposium, taking place March 13-14, 2018 in conjunction with the USITT Conference and Stage Expo 2018 in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. In these ten sessions participants will be given the opportunity to further their technical knowledge, keep up to date with codes and standards, and learn what it’s like to work as a rigger in other segments of the entertainment industry. Attendees will also hear from experts in related fields. Full session descriptions can be found at www.esta.org/nwrs_sessions.

• Keynote Address: Scott Fisher
• Show Rigging on Cruise Ships. Big ideas. Tiny venues.
• Ground Support Concert Rigs
• ANSI Standards and ICOPER. Paperwork that’s actually useful.
• OSHA, Risk Assessments and Rigging Emergency Action Plans
• Damn it, Jim. I’m a chain hoist, not a winch.
• Automation and Touring. Because we can.
• Structural Engineering. For when guessing just won’t do.
• Training, Certification and Liability. It’s a good start.
• Young Riggers Networking Lunch
• Hot Button Issues

The New World Rigging Symposium will also include multiple opportunities for attendees to network and a special lunch will include young industry members keen to learn from the professionals about how to pursue a career as a rigger. 

Registration for the Symposium is now open at www.usittshow.com/registration. Registration for the two-day symposium, including lunches, is $375 and attendees will receive a free show floor pass to the USITT Stage Expo March 15-17. Attendees wishing to attend the full USITT Conference will receive a discounted price of $675 for both events. A wide range of sponsorship opportunities is also available at www.esta.org/nwrs_sponsorships.

Thank You to Our Sponsors

Platinum Sponsor

AV Sponsor

Gold Sponsors

Bronze Sponsor

Winter 2017: ESTA Curated Education Tracks at NAMM

| ETCP Certifiable News: Winter 2017 |

ESTA is curating four tracks of educational sessions at The 2018 NAMM Show: Lighting, Lighting Networking, Rigging and Safety– and all offer ETCP renewal credits – all for free! 

These sessions are designed to provide in-depth, progressive education to entertainment technology and design professionals, and to those responsible for their safety. Please review the schedule at-a-glance and session details below.

Registration for the show costs just $25 if you use the ESTA registration code — ESTA18NAMM —then all of the ESTA curated educational sessions, and most of those offered at the show, are free of charge. Don’t miss this incredible opportunity!

Sessions are filling up quickly, so register today! If a session you want to attend is sold out,  you can try showing up at the at the start of the session. If there are no-shows, there is a chance you can get in (but don’t count on it - register if you want to attend for sure). REGISTER HERE WITH CODE ESTA18NAMM

Don’t forget to reserve your hotel in NAMM’s discounted block when you register – rooms go fast. The link will show up when you register for the show.

Winter 2017: International Code of Practice for Entertainment Rigging Now Available

| ETCP Certifiable News: Winter 2017 |

ESTA and PLASA announce the release of an International Code of Practice for Entertainment Rigging (ICOPER) which is available as a free download at www.esta.org/icoper or www.plasa.org/icoper.  

In response to calls from the international entertainment rigging community, rigging professionals from around the globe came together to create ICOPER to promote awareness and safety worldwide by providing a model code of practice with a focus on arena rigging. However, this Code of Practice is applicable to all event production rigging disciplines.

The practices described in the Code are intended to provide a universal foundation for those engaged in planning, managing and executing entertainment rigging. ICOPER also provides guidelines for those who wish to develop policy, design training content or help establish certification criteria.

Key areas covered in ICOPER include Pre-Installation, Planning and Engineering; Drawing Conventions; Equipment Selection; Onsite Rigging Work, Lifting Operations, Show Rigging Operations, De-Rigging Work; and Post Production. Also included are a glossary, an appendix covering determinate and indeterminate rigging systems, and a regional comparison of terms regarding Standards.

The principal authors of the Code, who met regularly via WebEx over a period of twenty months, are Nick Barnfield (New Zealand), Tiny Good (Australia), Chris Higgs (United Kingdom), Ed Kish (United States), Bill Sapsis (United States), and Roy Schilderman (The Netherlands). ESTA’s Lori Rubinstein provided administrative support for the project.

The authors believe that recognition and acceptance of this universal code will help promote regulatory harmony and reduce potential conflicts between regions around the world. They hope the resulting improvements in communications and relations with regional and local regulators will be particularly beneficial to those professionals involved in international production.   

Acknowledging that regulations and standards differ around the world, ICOPER is not prescriptive, rather it provides a series of guidelines that, if followed, will produce uniformly predictable results and enhance safe practice. Adopting and supporting ICOPER therefore benefits everyone involved in event production.