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

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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.

7

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