Classes This Spring

The new semester starts Monday.  I've got until then to get four courses configured.  This coming semester I am teaching (again):

• Basic PTM
• Scenic Fabrication & Installation
• Entertainment Rigging
• Studiocraft AutoCAD

I think that this is maybe the 8th time through the first two classes, something like the 6th for the rigging class, and a whopping 14th time through the CAD class.

By Monday I need completed syllabi for the first two classes.  I have until Friday for the second two.  I think the Scenofab syllabus will be complete but I am dubious about the BPTM edition.  Basic PTM has something on the order of 14 guest spots and over the years it has become more and more difficult to pin those dates down before the semester actually begins; so for that class I think the written part of the syllabus will be done, but the schedule will be a mass of TBDs.  This is compounded this semester because for at least 7 of the sessions I not only need to find a date but I actually need to find someone to appear.

The Entertainment Rigging syllabus will also probably come with a bunch of TDBs on the schedule.  In this case it is built that way.  The class content is composed of student presentations.  The students pick a pool of topics which are then assigned to them randomly (although after the assignments are made they are allowed to trade) and then once the students have their topics they pick the presentation dates they want (theoretically based on the demands of their schedules).  Usually it works out that I do the early sessions and they sort of fill in from the end of the semester forward.

I could probably do a CAD syllabus with one hand tied behind my back while blindfolded.  There's good and bad parts to that.  Biggest issue there is not being stale.  Lately the class has been more difficult for me than the kids.  Every time AutoDesk revises the program and the interface they seem to make it more intuitive - so easier for the kids to pick up (since they don't know the legacy interface) and more difficult for me to learn - old dog new tricks.  I have a grad assistant that wants to teach this class this round.  That's not hard to say yes to.

Be nice if I could crank through this paperwork tomorrow.  Watch this space to find if I managed it.

Might Make You Drop Your Phone

Made me drop mine...

Yesterday's Slides

Rigging math from dboevers

USITT Day One

Not sure how much blogging I will do this conference. Today was the first day and the big question of the day was if I was going to get here in time to sit on the panel I was doing.

I turned out to arrive with more than an hour to spare. But even without a timing issue there was still a surprise for me. When I got here and checked in the show guide to find the room the session was happening in I discovered that I'd be on a panel with Jay Glerum...

You may not know, but Jay literally "wrote the book" on stage rigging. Suddenly upon discovering this I started to wonder about the quality of the methodology within my presentation. There'd be nothing worse than saying something in a room full of people while sitting next to Jay rolling his eyes at my possible idiocy.

There was one slide in particular (I'll upload slides when I next have the machine online) that I was wondering about so I showed it to him first. I'm glad I did because he did think it was wrong. Interestingly I told him I had applied it the way I had seen it in another book and his response was "yeah, he always misinterpreted that."

The session went really well. When Jay is on a panel the room is always full. I'd say there were like maybe 300 people. In the end I think I did hold my own. Pretty cool.

After that I sat in on part of a fire curtain presentation by Dan Culhane. I learned about over balance bars and arbors. That was cool and a total surprise. Next was the Technical Production Commission Leadership session. I managed to sit through the entire meeting without volunteering for anything (although I totally undid that by email later on - even putting myself up for commissioner).

Last today was the new keynote. Two of our students were receiving awards and a team of CMU folks did all of the design and media for the new format so I went to an event I usually make sure to miss. It was certainly better than the old format. 

Then back to the room for food, recharging electronics, and catching up on a day's email. 

Tomorrow will probably be a whole lot more about the booth.

Up a Very Steep and Narrow Staircase

A post a day for the month of June. Unlikely. Does seem like the sort of thing needed to get on track again.

And I do have a few unshared photos.

The last show of the year this time around featured a very long steep staircase. I've decided to share some photos from the installation.

Step One: Bridle enormous steel thing and raise it up...


The play position wasn't parallel to the system pipes we were using as a crane, so the piece needed a little bit of a leash for positioning.

Step Two: Have someone else bolt it to the upper landing...


Thank you Hardwareman. It is worth noting at this point that during this installation my two most used tools were a big stick (I think there's a photo of that on 452's Facebook) for a lever and a Trucker's hitch. You can go a long way with simple machines.

Step Three: Have some idiot, preferably someone covered under workman's comp, go remove the rigging. Maybe take a picture while you're there...


Of course at this moment the thing that concerned me the most was dropping my phone. Did I mention that the staircase as well as being tall and steep also goes into the trap room? No? Well, it also goes into the trap room.

Step Four: Like the box says: "Lather, Rinse, Repeat." Do it again, maybe a little lower this time...


And it's a staircase. Here it is from the house...



All in all not as much of an ordeal going in as we thought. All the parts were bigger and heavier, and you had to move a little more slowly and deliberately, but pretty much it went the same as many lighter things have gone before.

Cool

If she had a Frisbee this would undoubtedly be just for me.

Something New

Monday and Tuesday I taught a class for IA Local #22 in Washington DC. We got to have the class at the Kennedy Center on one of the small theatre stages. Everyone was really cool, and I think it went fairly well.

This is the sort of thing I have been thinking I ought to be doing for quite a while now. To date I really haven't parlayed my ETCP Rigging certification or my ETCP Recognized Rigging Trainer status into very much - although I would guess it had something to do with the tenure decision. Anyway, since being certified and recognized the opportunity has been there to break into the independent training business. This gig was first supposed to happen in January but for two things: first, my mom passed, and second, they canceled the class. Before they canceled it they'd got Bill Sapsis to replace me, which I thought was pretty cool. So, this was my first foray into what could be a big part of the next chapter for me careerwise.

Or it could be a gig and that's all.

This really was an alpha and omega experience for me. Class was on Monday. The previous class I appeared in front of was Friday morning, and it was high school juniors. Monday's class was all professional stagehands, some with more years than I have. It took a little bit of a re-calibration.

The point of the class was to prep the group for the ETCP Theatre Rigging exam. So, in addition to my "regular" material I put together a sort of "Complete history of the ETCP - abridged" explaining how the program and the certification came to be and what material is on the test. I'm in a fairly unique position to speak to that having been on the ESTA CPC, in the CP RSWG, and having been an ETCP Rigging Subject Matter expert. I think it was a good place to start as although the pocess was fairly transparent many people don't know how the thing came about. Most of the material I needed was in the candidate handbook, so it wasn't too hard to do.

The first day I did the intro and then went through Hemp Systems, Counterweight Systems, Double Purchase & Mechanical Advantage, and Powered Systems. In one day that's most of the first half of my old rigging class. Mrs. TANBI and I had spent some time frantically converting my class notes into powerpoints just before I left. I'd actually just completed Monday's content Sunday night at the hotel and was fairly panicked that I wouldn't be able to fill the time.

I've noticed that doing material from an outline on the board and then converting it to do with powerpoint and a projector that it's likely that the time it takes to get though compresses substantively. The completed presentations were all in the 12-18 slide range, and even though I knew for certain that each of the lessons could easily fill 80 minutes I could also see how I could be standing there at the end of the file after less than 20 minutes.

As it turned out, none of the files went by any faster than about 50 minutes. Still not all the time I thought it would take, but enough. With the ETCP "Intro" and then finishing up with a presentation from homework and test questions I think I did wind up haing enough material for the full two day workshop.

The second day's material covered Fire Curtains, Soft Goods rigging, Line & Hardware, and Design Principles. We finished out the day with sample test questions. In the end I think I left out some things. I could use some more about geometry and trig. I completely blew off reading drawings, measuring units, and general theatrical terms. I need something to cover the arena content that verges over into the theatre content, things like bridling and shock loading. I don't think any of this stuff is disastrous from a test standpoint. It's probably stuff they know cold or its stuff that couldn't possibly be more than one test question.

Still, if I do it again I think I really would need to patch those gaps.

We had a very spirited conversation about whether the pins in the pinrail absolutely need to be loose. For the record, neither I nor anyone I could get hold of could come up with a reason. We also got into it a little on the "stab-and-jab" practice and how the certification can't test you on something the manufacturer of the equipment would tell you is using it wrong. Overall it was a good group with lots of questions and input. I hope they had as good a time as I did.

How To Pick Up Chicks

Like I would ever have a chance...



Video from our ZFX Flying Workshop last week. More to come.

Not Yet up to Speed

Here's some stuff to tide you over...

Rigging Pics

Got rigging pictures?

I need rigging pictures.

Willing to take some rigging pictures?

I need rigging pictures.

Or rigging drawings, that'd work too...

I need any and all visuals I can get pertinent to stage rigging: systems, system components, parts, gear, scenery rigged to fly, curtains, track, curtain rigging, tools, fire curtain & rigging, winches, controllers, support structures, whatever… Photos are best, drawings are cool too.

Got 'em? Send 'em!

Willing to make 'em? I want 'em!

A lot of 'em? Email and I'll get you a Flickr group to post to.

Yeah, I need rigging pictures.

Rigging Interlude

There's a thing to taking a job in entertainment; it is that you never really stop working, that you never really just go to a show again. I am getting better at it, meaning I am more and more able to enjoy myself. Sometimes though there's really nothing you can do.

Case in point: The Newseum.

The other day while taking in the sites of the Newseum I saw this:

It's a replica communication satellite that they have hung in their atrium. Now really there's probably nothing here that's altogether dangerous in a life-threatening kind of way. There are however a few issues.

Let's begin with the hanging hardware at the bottom connection. The piece is hung with quicklinks. This piece of hardware is nearly never rated for overhead lifting, usually isn't drop forged, doesn't have any tracking capability, and can't be moused off in any way. Just the wrong piece of gear for the job. Along with the quicklinks you should notice that they've formed their eye using press sleeves - three of them. The manufacturer only requires one sleeve. Properly installed it retains over 90% of the strength of the cable. I've worked with a lot of people that want to do two for piece of mind. Three is overkill. Sometimes people use the extra press to clean up the running end of the cable so it doesn't stick out. That isn't what they've done here.

All things being equal though, if the thing really is scenery and therefore much lighter than it looks, the quicklinks and this press application are probably ok, just, you know, wrong.

Then there's the next item up for bids:

From the first photo you can probably see that the piece is hung from four points. Here's another angle...

What should be clearer here is that one of the four picks is slack and therefore really doing absolutely nothing. Again, if the weight is low, then three picks of .125" GAC ought to be enough, but once again just sorta wrong.

And then the capper...

We often discuss in my rigging class how to properly use turnbuckles in theatre installations. One point in my career while discussing the thought with an every day rigger I was told that really you just shouldn't use them. The argument is that turnbuckles are only good in direct tension and cannot handle any side load whatsoever, they also tend to get bent and munged up and are generally annoying. I tend to be a turnbuckle advocate, they're really good for what they are for, but I do concede you do have to pay attention. Pay attention more than this anyway...

It might be a little difficult to see what's going on, here's a closeup:

What you are looking at is a large diameter eye-bolt dropping out of the ceiling, transitioning to a piece of hanging/mating hardware I can't really identify, mated to a turnbuckle with a clevis on the top and a kind of terminal threaded stud on the bottom.

It's a curious combination of very clean (the terminal) and very odd (everything else).

So, usually these hex body turnbuckles are something you buy at the hardware store and are often aluminum - and not rated for overhead. Because of the kinds of ends, I am going to make the assumption that this is some kind of really sexy marine turnbuckle and is therefore probably stainless steel and rated, but I still wonder.

The thing that is distressing here, if you're the type of person that gets distressed over such things is the fleet angle of the cable coming off the stud. With all the joints in the assembly only really having one degree of freedom, this installation is pulling on the terminal stud in a way it shouldn't be, and more importantly it is bending the turnbuckle. If you look at the other photos you'll see that this is the case on all the picks (this was just the one I could get closest to).

Now, if the thing is light and the turnbuckle is something sexy, then this is probably ok, but, you know, just sloppy. If the turnbuckle isn't sexy or the thing isn't light, this is, well, unfortunate.

Probably the fleet issue could be solved by rotating the eyebolts to allow the hangar/turnbuckle assembly to pivot inline with the load. If it were my Newseum I would definitely do that (and replace the quicklinks with shackles and be sure the turnbuckles were rated).

So here's my question: If I had asked to see the manager to relate these things would I have been a dork? Should I send them an email? The way I read my ETCP certification I think I am sorta required to. What would you do?

Motor School - Last Day

Today was control, troubleshooting, and automation.

We got to put a motor on a dyno to make the load protector slip:


and around that we had a fairly decent overview of motor control, got hands on testing of troubleshooting chain hoist failures, and then got a demo of Fisher's kick ass automation system (in other news I need $100,000 for work - donations accepted at the address I am sure you can find in the margin).

Then we had a very nice party and at the very end the bus broke down. But if you're going to have a problem, the very end is when to have it.

Tomorrow, back to PA.

Man The Internet Sucks Here

Today we vivisected the baby brother...



and then we went to a hockey game.

Tomorrow is the last day. Good thing too, I'm bushed.

I Lied

Today was day two. I'm exhausted, these have been long days, and there's still two days left. I am not sure if I am going to make it.

This morning we disassembled these:


You can't see that warning until you're well into the breakdown process. (actually that warning only applies to that one part which is apparently locked together and spring loaded such that it would basically explode as soon as you remove the snap ring)

Tomorrow, more of the same.

Motor School - Day Two

Today we learned a lot about truss.

Then we put a bunch of truss in this rig:


and busted it!

I have video, but I am amazed I was even able to get the two photos uploaded (internet woes continue).

Tomorrow we start motors. Woohoo.

+4 Shirt of Credibility

Today a did a workshop for the regional KCACTF festival. Two hours on "rigging scenery." I figured it was a good opportunity to break out some instant credibility:

I'm not sure that's what the people at the ETCP had in mind when they made the swag, but it seemed to have the effect I was going for.

At the end of two hours I was not sure what I had covered, but the session was well attended and people appeared at least to be interested. I guess that's all I can really ask for.

David Explains How To Get Fired

this post removed for being just TOO bad.

Maui EcoAdventure - The Kaanapali Zipline

So, the last time I was in Hawaii the future Mrs. TANBI and I discovered this activity in the forest on the side of Haleakala: The Zipline. At the time one of the rules for the activity was that you could not be more than 240#. At that time I was, so we never really looked into it; although I do seem to recall hearing even then that it was difficult to schedule.

Flash forward to a couple of months ago when we decide we will go to Maui for our vacation. The very first thing we did after booking flights and a room was to look into the zipline activity. And the very first thing I discovered about it upon finding it online was that the weight limit had increased to 260#; a number I ought to be able to make all things being equal. The next thing we found was that it was booked, all day, every day through September.

Bummer.

Still, it seemed worth a phone call. I figured that maybe activity brokers were the ones booking it and so the wite itself would show no availability, but perhaps a broker would have it. When we called the broker, she told us that she couldn't get it, that nobody could get it because the cruise ships that come into Maui book just about every slot and they do so months in advance. She also said there are waitlists for each day, but that the waitlist can be like 50 people - for an activity that maybe only does 50 people through an entire day.

But, she informs us, but the same people with the Haleakala Zipline are soon opening another venue in Kaanapali. That venue hasn't gotten it's inspection clearance, so maybe if we call them direct in a week or two we could get in at that site. Which we did, and we did. By now it is probably as hard to book as the original location.

Plus as it turns out, the new location has 8 zips while the old only has 5, and the longest zip in Kaanapali is 1000 feet - quite a bit longer than the longest at Haleakala. If you were to go, this is what it might look like:




So it is the BIG FUN. For the record I tipped at 254.1# which made me a sort of worst case heavy/faith in the gear/not afraid to go fast customer. While a part of my brain says they must say this to a lot of people, one of the guides did tell me it was the fastest he'd seen anyone go in the six weeks they'd been open. The views are great, the activity is great, the hiking isn't too hard, and while maybe a little flip the guides are mostly great too. We had a lot of fun.

One thing you might want to know is that when it says "white clothing not recommended due to dusty conditions" they might be making a play for understatement of the year. Marisa ruined a shirt, and my shoes are still red from volcanic dust more than a week later.

Also, it seems like even if you can't book, if you are a small party - like 2 people - it might be worth just stopping by early in the day. The guy that checked us in said he was able to get people in that way, and we did see a sign at the Haleakala site that said "walk ins welcome." Also, where we went, we were told that the cruise ships release their spots at noon the day before. So even if you are unable to book weeks or even months in advance, you might do ok at 12:05 less than 20 hours before.

The gear is climbing gear, except for the cable which appeared to be at least 5/8" GAC. All of the anchors looked really well done. It was kind of difficult to turn off my ETCP Certified Rigger mode. You don't see this kind of installation too often. Probably they could do even heavier than 260# if they are going by capacity. But the story is that they don't think they can stop someone heavier than that. If you see the "high-tech" stopping mechanism in the video you can probably tell why. For part of the time we were there I was designing passive dampers in my head, but Marisa pointed out that people might be more comfortable with the active method they were using even if it is more limiting to capacity.

I'd be lying if I told you I hadn't thought about calling Cory, Matt, & Avery about a possible business venture in Seven Springs. Shouldn't be too difficult to set up (I'm told at the Haleakala site they didn't even have to do anchors - just used existing trees) or too hard to run. So maybe if this teaching thing doesn't work out I'll become a Zipline proprietor.

Anyway, two thumbs up!

(oh yeah, if you can't book either of these the guys said there was a different company building one in Kapalua that was going to have a mile long zip. Not sure if I believe all of that, but like it was for us - might be worth a phonecall.)

Public Service

So tonight I am watching the Tony's and something catches my eye that I feel like I really need to talk about by way of a small (but personally satisfying) public service. Which is I guess another way of saying I need to complain about something that matters to me but will have absoluely no impact on the lives of anyone else in the universe.

But thats the whole reason to have a blog, yes?

There was a musical number from Curtains performed fairly early in the show. Something fairly uplifting and theatrically self referential. I believe it celebrated being a "show person." It featured a unit that bugs me every time I see it.
Probably this isn't exactly what it looked like, but it's close. What we're looking at is the prototypical stage fly batten with some rope and sandbags. Really I think what this is in the minds of designers and directors is sort of "backstage texture."

I've seen this unit on many different occasions. I am fairly certain I have fabricated and installed this unit on more than two occasions. But as a theatre technician I have a problem with it. The problem is this: a batten, even a backstage batten in a theatre with no set, would never look like this. I guess there might be a batten with some random sandbags hanging on it. The stage left bag in the sketch above is at least plausible. But the stage right sandbag and the interestingly festooned rope just really make no sense. There are many things that get stored on battens. Usually sandbags aren't one of them, and random swags of rope are far from the top of the list.

Curiously, many of the things that do store on battens wouldn't evoke the correct mood or to a non-technician would just look stupid. Strip lights, which often store on battens would just look like more lighting instruments. With the design aesthetic we're used to an audience might not register that as scenery at all. A ladder, something which also often gets stored in the air, would just look weird to a lay person.

So this is a strange situation. The rope and sandbag, while totally wrong, appears to work well. I wonder how many other work environments designers would choose to depict in a way that would ring true to laypeople but come off totally fake to experts.

The public service? World, that's not what "backstage" looks like. But I think my chances of never running into this unit again are fairly slim. How's it go? If it ain't broke (to most people), don't fix it.

Woohoo!

I am now a recognized ETCP Rigging Trainer. Who'd-a-thunk it? I wonder if this will lead to people from outside the school taking my class for renewal credits. Really I wonder if this means I ought to get off my butt and do some workshops.

Who am I kidding, I just like having the recognition.