In July 2015, the Musilac music festival (Aix-les-Bains, France) was in full swing. Just a few hours prior to the festival, riggers were busy setting up the lighting and sound systems for the massive stage on the shores of Lake Bourget. Learn more about the intricacies of this interesting profession through an interview with Ben Mazuer, rigger.
What does rigging consist of? What is truly unique about your profession?
"Rigging consists of raising and securing decorations, lights, and sound systems at height. The unique aspect of rigging is that we always have tight deadlines and have to work quickly. In general, we have very little time to work between setup and take down, one full day at most. Work days are long, often starting at six or seven in the morning, and setup can last until at least noon. The event in question takes place at the site, and then we dismantle everything right afterwards, usually involoving one to three hours of work, so we finish our day at midnight or even one in the morning depending on the work site. In general, we don't work in the afternoon, but sometimes the larger events require us to work straight through if the production team shows up late or if the artist plans something unique, like flying high above the stage."
.jpg)
You're working the Musiclac festival, what are the specific aspects of this site?
"This year is pretty unique since there will be a Johnny Hallyday concert ten days before the festival and a Muse concert right after Musilac.
So we plan to set up the stage for Johnny and then leave everything in place for four days. Then Musilac will use the stage for three days, and after the festival we will probably have to make some adjustments to the structure to set up for Muse.
At festivals our days are extremely long. We sometimes have to make changes in the middle of the night to be able to use the stage and systems the next day at one in the afternoon. For a big job like this one, there are four riggers available around the clock, and in general we rotate in two-person teams."
With a work site as large and complex as this one, how are you organized technically speaking?
"We try to stay alert. In terms of safety, we have techniques that allow us to mitigate the risks. We always work in pairs, and we are never more than ten or fifteen meters from one another. The person on the ground has to react quickly if there is a problem."
.jpg)
Is everyone on your team a formally trained rigger?
"Rigging-specific training programs are starting to emerge. They focus primarily on hanging and distributing loads, touching less on moving around and safety.
On our team, even if we have not gone through a dedicated training program, several of us are well trained. We have either French C.A.T.S.C. certification (Certificate of Aptitude for Rope Access Work), or are state-certified climbing instructors. Among us, there are IFMGA certified high-mountain guides who have worked other professions in the mountains, and that also helps.
From time to time, we review techniques and conduct evacuation exercises.
The leading cause of accidents in rigging is fatigue. When tired, you're less attentive while handling equipment, and working non-stop can lead to forgetting to take the proper safety measures. This is why we do our best to rotate each team."
What advice would you give to someone interested in rigging?
"You need to have the passion! Rigging involves a pretty unique routine, where you alternate between periods of intense activity and laying low. My first piece of advice for someone who would like to enter the profession is to start by offering to lend a helping hand to local productions, pushing crates around, assisting a little with stage, lighting, sound, and video setup. That will allow you to see if the field is for you and if it's compatible with your lifestyle and daily routine.
If what you're really interested in is climbing, introduce yourself to local riggers. The key is to get your foot in the door. Next, training is important even if not required, and I would highly recommend having rope access skills. Completing a rigging specific training program is a plus but not required. The key to entering the field is not through training but by networking and building relationships."
.jpg)
What is your best work site memory?
"Probably the adrenaline rush and the satisfaction after a show with a job well done.
A few years ago we were working a show at Tony Garnier Hall for a French comedian; the team before us had set up the stage during the night. When we arrived in the morning everything was going well, and we started working on the rig. At about eleven in the morning, as we were making the final adjustments to fine tune the sound system, we could see people starting to move about down below to set up additional seating, and recounting. It turned out there was an entire section missing! The missing ten-meter deep section represented 900 seats.
Even if layer systems are a bit like LEGOS®, the setup still weights 15 tons! There were 80 to 100 of us to dismantle everything and to move the stage back 10 meters; it required precise coordination, and the adrenaline was pumping for sure. Time was also a factor since we still had to adjust the lighting and balance everything. There's a reason why we left a six-hour buffer before the auditorium opened its doors.
Once we had (re)set everything up, several people from the building said in relief, "at least we now know what we're capable of doing." Everyone was really pleased with the job well done."
Copyright Septembre 2015 - PETZL
Please find the full article at: https://www.petzl.com/CH/fr/Professionnel/Actu/2015-9-18/Metier-de-passion---rigger#
I’d need to talk with you here. Which is not some thing I usually do! I spend time reading an article that will get people to believe. Also, many thanks for permitting me to comment! glo carts