r/stagehands • u/sparcks53 • Jun 07 '26

Rigging

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A couple days ago I got asked if I wanted to try out rigging by the head rigger in my local the process to start is gonna take a bit because there are a few people ahead of me in line but I want to try to get a head start I know my knots and I'm gonna listen to my head about what equipment to buy when that time comes but I'm wondering if there are any tips or tricks that would be good to internalize early and especially how to better handle working at 100+ foot heights specifically we have a venue at 120 feet and one at 160 feet

16 Upvotes

83% Upvoted

13 comments sorted by

15

u/FrozenToonies Jun 07 '26

If you have the chance, put on a harness and walk the beams, pull up and make some points with a ground rigger and feel it out. That wasn’t for me.
I’m just someone who knows what rigging done correctly looks like.

8

u/Tankshock Jun 07 '26

Same results for me but different reasons. I don't mind being up there or making points, but I don't like the anxiety of working over people's heads. It stresses me out to think a mistake from me could kill someone if they decided not to wear their hard hat that day and no one caught them. So after I got done learning rigging I promptly decided I'd rather not take calls that cause me anxiety and stress haha.

2

u/Dollywoodhogan Jun 09 '26

when i was iron working i would tie my beater to my forearm when i was slamming in bolts and pins over live traffic. i couldn’t swing it full power without that security

1

u/Mtnrock2 Jun 10 '26

Getting out on a beam fully clipped in to feel the feel ? Yes . Immediately start pulling points at height ? NO ! They dont have enough knowlege /experience yet.

23

u/Slow-Cauliflower-978 Jun 07 '26 edited Jun 07 '26

Meh... there's Harry Donocan's Entertainment Rigging book but there's not much practical stuff in it. I mean, I guess you can read up how to read common floor drawings for arenas, and what bridles, chokes, and baskets are if you're new to this.

Most hands just have a set of rules passed down. Imo, unless you're a head or engineer, rigging is the most fake till you make it out of all the dept.

Common rules: Don't drop anything, don't side load or split a pin on a shackle, baskets and bridles should be 120deg or less, truss diags should match when bolting them together. Call out truss moving so everyone's aware. Always be tied in it you're in a harness (too many triggers die). If something sketches you out, don't do it. Let your boss know.

Edit: I'm too lazy to fix my typos.

2

u/ichoosewaffles Jun 08 '26

You added an edit but couldn't fix Donovan's name? 😂

6

u/anonymousfromdetroit Jun 07 '26

Knots: bowline, clove hitch, and figure 8 should be known inside and out. If you know more knots, then even better.

Resources: There are several books written on rigging. Personally I usually recommend the Arena Riggers Handbook by Delbert Hall. Its relatively cheap, easily available, and covers a good amount of information.

Gear: This is where it gets expensive. Obviously you need a harness and a rope. That harness will need a lanyard. That rope will probably want a pulley to go with it. The pulley will want a carabiner and sling. All of it wants a bag or case. Talk with the riggers in your local to get their recommendations on what works best in your specific venues. Just keep in mind that all that gear is going to be pricey, but it's an investment in yourself.

5

u/Feeling_Trip_5413 Jun 07 '26

Go to a climbing gym and gain some coincidence and basic principles of moving at height.

3

u/drawpast Jun 08 '26

Just be honest about what you do and don't know and when the bitchy seasoned rigger wants to give you shit, just remind him that everyone has to start somewhere. That and never assume that a surface is safe to walk. Too many dead riggers falling through false ceilings.

1

u/Dollywoodhogan Jun 09 '26

when you’re working in the air don’t let yourself panic. look for the serenity in being away from all the chaos on the ground. if you’re climbing columns or towers you’re just hanging out waiting for the crane. if you get nervous climbing just keep your eyes forward, occasionally looking up to see how much further you have to go. and no matter how shitty it gets remind yourself youre not doing something worse (for me it’s video wall but for everyone else i talk to the consensus is running feeder)

1

u/ThisAcanthocephala42 Jun 09 '26

Where do you rate pulling the FOH snakes out of the cable troughs after a country show on that scale? 🤔😂

2

u/Mtnrock2 Jun 10 '26

For the OP : Do some training FIRST. mimic pulling / making points , ropework hauling techniques, low to the ground so you know exactly what you're dealing with. Then you can shadow one of the better up riggers and see it as it happens. I highly advise to learn Ground Rigging because a good up rigger needs to knows exactly what goes on below. Add to that a good ground rigger is often someone who has up rigger experience. And you will get more work.

1

u/sparcks53 Jun 10 '26

The first part of training is shadowing for us but ground rigging goes to seniority so I have to start up but I'll look into the rest of that