Stagecraft Institute of Las Vegas Holds Rigging Training

The Stagecraft Institute of Las Vegas recently spent a week on the multifaceted field of rigging. The students started the week at Flying by Foy, where they learned about various fly systems from track on track to automated systems. They also learned about which harnesses were most effective in accomplishing the task at hand while still meeting safety requirements. Applying all they learned, they were then given the opportunity to fly with help of Joe McGeough (director of operations) and Johnny Pickett (flight director) in the Foy Studio.

The students finished out the week at Silverstate Wire Rope and Rigging with Pete and Andrew Rogers. Pete Rogers explained equipment and hardware, with an emphasis on the importance of safety ratings, design factors, and the appropriate usage of fall protection in the entertainment industry. He also demonstrated how misuse of equipment could be potentially deadly by performing static and dynamic load tests to failure on shackles, span sets, cables, and chains. Andrew Rogers taught the students basic electrical theory as well as mechanics of chain hoists and how to troubleshoot the most common problems faced by technicians in the field.

The guest grill chat speaker for the week was Kim Scott, director of show support, Cirque du Soleil, who spoke to the students about finding the one thing that "makes you tick" and nurturing that passion. Students was witnessed that passion on stage at shows featuring the Australian Motown tribute act Human Nature at the Imperial Palace, and Donny and Marie Osmond at the Flamingo.