The Syracuse, N.Y.-based United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) and the backstage community celebrated Arbor Day this year by declaring April 24 “Rigging Safety Day,” a day to promote safer stages by posting and tweeting with the hashtag #RigSafe.
USITT got the idea from the UK's successful Stage Management Day on Oct. 10, 2014, and #LoveTheatre Day Nov. 19, 2014. USITT hopes to make Arbor Day an annual way to support rigging safety programs and raise awareness of backstage safety.
To add impact and awareness for Rigging Safety Day, JR Clancy shared its famous Scary Rigging photos, and the Entertainment Technician Certification Program (ETCP) posted information on its offerings. A host of other participating organizations and companies also prepared #RigSafe posts.
For the past two years, USITT has used Arbor Day to hold fund-raisers for its Rigging Safety Initiative, playing on the word “arbor” as a support for stage rigging.
USITT Executive Director David Grindle says that as USITT's rigging safety efforts grow, it wants to raise awareness of that system of weights, pulleys, ropes, and machinery used to hang and move curtains, scenery, and flying apparatus over the stage.
“We would love it if Arbor Day became the day for all performance venues to ask when their rigging was last inspected and when they last held safety training, just like Daylight Saving has become the time to check your home smoke detectors,” Grindle says.
Find out more about USITT and get on board for 2016's Rigging Safety Day at www.usitt.org.
