Wenger | J.R. Clancy: How many times have you heard someone at your theatre say this about your rigging system: “Oh, that noise? It’s been making that noise for years, so it can’t be anything bad.”
Take it from us—that noise is bad. Well-trained operators often can feel or hear when a line set isn’t working properly, but they are operators, not rigging maintenance experts. They may not know that something is seriously wrong.
19 comments:
In light of recent events this article makes a lot of sense, but I am actually also really interested in what goes into line-set maintenance and repair now. While I knew how a counterweight system worked, until Monday I hadn't given much thought into the actual construction of the arbors, the bottom rail, the T-Tracks. It would be really interesting if we could get someone from J.R. Clancy to come and talk about how they build these systems, how they inspect them, and what types of maintenance should be done regularly and irregularly over the course of a lifespan of a theater.
I really appreciate this article. I know at school we spend so much time learning about the counterweight rigging system but we really never went over trouble shooting it. This makes sense curriculum wise, because when we freshman we really shouldn't have been the people trouble shooting the rigging system. But that meant this summer at my internship when their counterweight rigging system had loose lines, the first warning sign stated in this article, I had no idea what it meant or what to do about it or if it was something that I could have caused. I ended up showing it to my superiors who just said that some of the lines had slack in them, but when you don't fully explain WHY then you leave your labor scared. I mean with the amount of union workers in and out of their it isn't unlikely for something to be hung on that broken line at all. It's worth paying attention to these things, especially since they are over head.
I think this is a well put together article which is totally longer than it should be, but interesting none the less. This article is also a long piece of advertising for J.R. Clancy for people to use their services, but it is laid out in a way which provides information beyond just to contact them, which I think is smart and well done in this situation. It is also interesting because it seems like the service they provide is allowing people to use them in order to find the correct people to talk to to get their equipment repaired. I do think that the article could have been shortened to just saying that if there is something that changes, sounds or feels bad, or looks loose or inconsistent, then have someone fix it. I think it is far more important for people to have their fly system checked more often than not and I wonder if companies would save money on lawsuits if they provided free annual inspections in order to make sure there is no potential catastrophic equipment failure which would put them at risk and fault.
This article was perfectly clear. Safety always needs to be taken seriously, but it's especially shouldn't be taken lightly when it comes to rigging. The six ways to tell if your rigging needs repairs are all very simple things to look out for. Often times people may see or hear things that they think are wrong, but don't say anything because they don't know very much about rigging. Strange sounds or unlocked ropes are things nearly anyone in the vicinity of the rigging system can look out for. Neglecting repairs can lead to serious problems and be even more difficult to catch or fix. Of course, proper training is CRUCIAL, but even without it, everyone can still do their part to keep things safe by saying something if they think something is wrong. Odds are, you're right!
I feel like the short version of this article is “it should all be identical and normal.” It isn’t okay if the rigging system makes weird noises. If something looks wrong, something is wrong. There is no “a little funny, but okay.” Understanding this, and being on the look out for these safety issues is incredibly important.
Unfortunately, I think the problem is that it is very difficult to say “No, I’m not going to fly this piece of scenery, the line set seems off to me.” There is the pressure of the idea that the show must go on, and a fear of making an issue of something that isn’t actually a problem. I honestly don’t know what I’d do if I brought a concern with a line set to my boss and they told me to ignore it. I’d be torn between trusting their judgement and, especially after reading this article, feeling like there is a major safety risk. I'd like to think I'd keep pushing the issue until it was addressed or I was convinced it was safe, but I also known that there is a difference between what I'd like to think I'd do and what I'd actually do in the moment.
In terms of this article, I wish it also talked about the correct immediate response to a situation. For example, if one of the bricks isn’t level on the arbor, I was assume you’d clear the deck and re-weight immediately (though, going back to my point about pressure to keep the show going, if a show is about to start, maybe people wouldn’t, which I see as a problem). But, if one of the lines is a bit slacked, does that mean you shouldn’t have anyone in the theater until it gets looked at, or that you just shouldn’t fly that line set? Similarly, if one of the brakes doesn’t seem to be working, what is the correct immediate course of action? I guess if one of those things happened, I could always call J. R. Clancy and ask, but I think it would be good to know the correct immediate steps for common issues with a counterweight system, just like it is good to know basic first aid even though you’d be calling 911 either way.
I think it is fairly obvious why this article was on the news page this week. With our incident that happened it is important to take some time to think about how we can prevent other situations like this in future. Although this incident did not happen because of damage to the system, we should be aware that damage to the system if unnoticed and unmaintained could create a similar situation to what we saw this week. There are definitely theater systems that operate very smoothly and did not have problem but is also fairly common at least in the theaters that I’ve worked in to have some mindsets that do not work as well as others. Especially in high school theaters or low budget theaters where there is not the facility to maintain these line sets it is important that you don’t neglect the maintenance and keep an eye out for any possible damage to the rigging and to repair if needed
This article is a little more relevant right now that it might normally be, but it should always be very relevant. Rigging is by nature a pretty scary and dangerous thing. You don’t want to be making mistakes that could seriously ruin someone’s day further on down the road. These are great tips, and knowing the warning signs is an important first step to making sure that the system is safe, but it is only a first step. Perhaps the wisest words in the entire article are about proper training, mainly to make sure you as the rigger has the training and the know how to do the thing they want to do. If you don’t, then chances are there is someone who does. If you feel like you might be doing something stupid, it doesn’t hurt anyone to ask someone who might have relevant knowledge to double check. It doesn’t hurt to ask every once and a while when you’re doing something big, even if you’re pretty confident you did it right. Rigging is pretty scary, and though it shouldn’t really be feared, it always should be respected.
This article is even more relevant now with our current rigging situation, but given that we got our system checked out only because we destroyed a line set, it makes me wonder how often we get our system checked in general. I can’t say for sure, but I do think it is fairly recent. At least I don’t remember encountering these situations at Carnegie Mellon. My high school, on the other hand, really should get their system checked out. We definitely had some loose lines, and who knows what other problems. It makes me very worried for them. The rest of the problems in this article are really good, but some of them are not so much rigging system problems, like you need to exchange a whole line set, but more single time problems like how a change in the weight overnight can be bad because the pipe may be caught on something is just a visual check. You don’t have to call a person to come in and check that out, you can just unhook it yourself.
While basic and marketed towards J.R. Clancy, I think despite that the article makes it really basic to those who may not be familiar with the intricacies of theatrical rigging what some problems could be. It isn't meant for someone who is an expert in the system--but for those who may not recognize the problems immediately. For example, this article could be of great use to high school or community theaters--those who may not have expert riggers on staff. I definitely learned something from this article--I had never considered that some of these things, such as squeaking fly wheels to be a major issue in theatrical rigging. Overall, despite the fact that it may have been a semi-promo for J.R.Clancy, it was still an informative and important article on the topic.
I agree with most of what has been said above me. The article is simple, but important. If something feels a little off to you, it's best to not just brush it off. While that little thing might not do anything in the current moment, you never know when it could develop into a serious issue. Yeah, the article was a plug for J.R. Clancy, but oh well. They've already got the (near) monopoly. Towards the bottom of the list, the article started to discuss the importance of being aware while moving a line set, rather than physical damage that can occur to one. Paying attention and having proper knowledge and training is the best way to prevent problems. I also thought the tip that small vibrations can signal issues was helpful. While I haven't ever felt a hand line vibrate while operating one, I might not have thought it a problem it did. This article was a concise overview of how to spot and prevent rigging issues.
While recent event make this article even more relevant for our theaters. This is a issue that I have seen with many theaters that just don't properly inspect and maintain their rigging. This primarily happens in regards to line sets in my experience which blows me away because of the danger involved when something fails on a line set. You are generally dealing with hundreds of pounds suspended over people's heads that if they fail could easily kill someone, one would think that the maintenance of these systems would be under stronger scrutiny however in my experience that unfortunately just is not the case.
Yeah this article has definitely become in much more high demand after recent events that occurred during one of my last working calls. Wether if it is an overweighted arbor or a capsized drop, this article provides insight on ways to prevent collapsing scenery/failed rigging - or at least when to be out of the way. it was interesting to see how quickly everyone moved and how much of a sense of a cohesion we had . Because of the article's simplistic composition, I actually find it easier to read, which is very important when making an instructional article. When the article starts to talk about being aware of your surroundings (moving line sets) I absolutely can relate because one time I was not paying attention and I was hit by an electric pipe coming in. Over all, I found this super informational and helpful.
As everyone else on the planet has already said, it is good that this article was posted on the blog this week, considering what happened early in the week. This also coindices with a lot of the things we have been learning about safety hazards in theatre in Technical Management. It can honestly be pretty terrifying to refuse to do something or continue working because you feel that something is unsafe. Just a couple weeks ago, one of my classmates was basically made fun of by their supervisor because they refused to use a ladder in unsafe conditions. Theatre, more than most other professions I can think of, puts so little value on safety. The mentality is to get the job done, make it pretty, and do it fast. By halting these processes for safety concerns, it is disrupting the whole "show must go on" flow of events. People tend to forget that people's lives are far more important than the show. I definitely understand both the want and need to get things done quickly, but a trip to the hospital and a mandatory seminar on safety are in the end going to take much longer than finding a slightly more inconvenient, but much more safe way to accomplish the same task. In the case of this article, it blows my mind how easygoing some people/companies are about rigging. You are literally hoisting tons of weight over countless people's heads. That weight could easily kill or at least seriously injure many people. If something seems off about a rigging system, check it out. Do not fuck around with rigging.
In the words of Claire Farrokh, "Do not fuck around with rigging." I remember being a freshman last year and having Sean West as our stagecraft rigging instructor. The stories he told us that happened to him or heard happen in regards to rigging was enough to send chills down my spine! The massive amount of responsibility that a rigger has in their hands is crushing and insane, and it deserves an enormous amount of respect! That being said, just the thought of having an incompetent rigger terrifies the living bejeezus out of me. Safety is ALWAYS the most important thing, whether or not it is necessarily stressed. No one's life is worth a runaway batten that could have been solved by having a supervisor or doing it the alternate safer way (albeit much longer). I think that in situations where every second is required for a load-in, it's very easy and convenient to turn the other way and just do it the "fast and easy" way. I also think that there is a serious culture surrounding load-in and that whoever even brings up the idea to do it "safe" even though it's slower is considered the boner of the group. Why is safety considered lame????? It would behoove you to make sure that everyone stays alive so they can make it to the next call for load-in! And plus, you don't want the life of another person on your hands for something that could have been solved simply.
My experience with rigging has me very cautious. I totally believe in safety and being comfortable with the task you are given. Yes, all the bullets that the article touched on are all very good reasons to check your rigging system for any failures. But the comment about proper training is what stood out to me. It's awesome when all you the rigging parts work together fine, but if someone doesn't know how to PROPERLY operate them, then that's a huge problem. I see this a lot since most of the people handling the arbors and the ropes and the locks, are students. Having that said, I know that it is inevitable to not use student labor to load weight and handle the rail, but while doing so, there needs to be a serious understanding that if you joke around, you can get seriously hurt or hurt someone else. If I am up loading weight, I expect the arbor to not move while I am loading. I expect extreme professionalism.
Making sure that your fly system is working the correct way is extremely important when rigging scenery, especially when there could be upwards of 1000 pounds floating above your head. Following the suggested maintenance pattern and replacing an arbor when it has reached its useful life is crucial for maximum safety. I know that Carnegie Mellon School of Drama is very diligent when it comes to checking on the rigging systems that we have in our various spaces. Last semester every design and production is required to take a rigging mini where good practice is taught and more importantly discusses the various components to the system and vulnerable parts to the system where most problems can occur. I hope other educational institutions are doing the same and stress the importance proper rigging techniques. There many ways to prevent problems that occur in the theatre and the first step of that is having a basic understand for the technology.
I’ve always wondered why we don’t cover the basics of the basics in stagecraft. I commented several months ago with a similar sentiment about teaching freshmen how to coil. Just the other day I taught one of the freshmen, at the end of a lighting call, how to properly coil cables. We take basic information for granted, and fail to recognize that it isn’t basic for everyone, and that not everyone comes from high school which bothered to check the rigging system or inform students fully about the safety concerns involved in rigging. Stagecraft one taught me so much about every area, but I cannot remember ever covering how to actually operate a line set, let alone the warning signs for when to check out the system. But hey, I know the components of a counterweight rigging system, just not how to tell what is or isn't safe in the real world (please note – this is in no way a criticism of Sean West’s teaching. This is a trend I feel exists across the board in all freshmen classes). It’s true that no one want to hear information repeated, and the vast majority of students are already familiar with these concepts. But I feel that it is important to always touch and confirm that everyone knows the basics before we begin to build upon them.
One sign your rigging need repairs: People are screaming HEADS and you see and hear stuff crashing to the ground all around you. I am incredibly thankful to be working in a theater that takes safety and maintenance very seriously, and that the only major accidents that we have had have been the result of small human error. Almost all procedures have an element of risk in them, some far more that others. With the proper training, and careful execution, even tricky procedures can be executed safely. Its all about have well trained people who not only know what the regulations are, but also that they are capable of enough independent analysis of a given situation to avoid being put into a dangerous condition or work their way out of one. I am sure bill would disagree with me, but knowing the “right way” to do something will only get you so far, you also have to be smart about it.
I think this article is extremely important in light of recent events. because nothing is more important than making sure your rigging is safe when there are nearly a thousand pounds on the arbor and you are hanging scenery on the batten. while accidents do happen, with thee right amount of training and caution, any job can be completed smoothly, and the number of accidents will dwindle. This is why im grateful that CMU paysso much attention to this, actually devoting a mini to it during our freshman year. hopefully more accidents like this wont happen with proper care in the future.
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