Imagine the impact of this rigging as it came crashing down!  As a stage mom of many years, I often worried about the lighting, speakers, and massive drapes that hung above my girls' heads. As a systems designer, I recall observing the work of well-meaning House of Worship volunteers who hung gear above the choir, wondering if the ceiling and rigging were meant to take the weight. What are the consequences if they are not?

Given the expertise and resources across our industry, we can agree that this is 100% preventable, so how can the industry increase awareness of the necessity of proper design and inspection, and the consequences of cutting corners? 

In this LinkedIn post, starting with the phrase "There ya have it", Dan Ayers offers advice and resources on theatrical rigging inspections. I, for one, will be watching for his blog as well. 

Have you encountered any catastrophic failures? What measures do you suggest in educating performance venues on the importance of budgeting for "safety first"?

#edtech #highered #houseofworship #Stage #rigging #stagelighting #liveevents #theater