Some of the rigging world’s foremost experts will be speaking at the 2020 New World Rigging Symposium. The third annual NWRS will take place March 31 – April 1st in Houston, Tex., in conjunction with the USITT Conference and Stage Expo. The event provides an opportunity to learn from those at the top of their field, to network with their peers, and discuss current issues and new technologies. A complete schedule, session descriptions and a link to register are available at www.esta.org/nwrs.
Jeanette Farmer kicks off the symposium with the Keynote Address. Her career spans more than three decades of professional theatre technical support, show production, concert/theatre lighting design, theatre design consulting and themed entertainment project management. Then the event dives into one of the hot topics of today’s rigging world, video wall rigging, featuring three speakers with extensive experience: Joe Clayton of Stage Rigging, Tony Galuppi of PRG, and Stefan Pries of Creative Technology.
Three experts on performer flying will focus on emergency response and rescue plans: Fred Caron from Cirque du Soleil, Stu Cox of Sapsis Rigging, and Jim Shumway from TAIT. Joe Champelli of Entertainment Projects, Pete Svitavksy of Wenger/JR Clancy and Nils Becker of ETC will discuss the differences between automation and motorization. Attendees will have the opportunity to question four of the industry’s most respected engineers; Tim Franklin of Theta Consulting, Bill Gorlin of McLaren Engineering, Miriam Paschetto of Geiger Engineers, and Jeff Reder of Clark Reder Engineering. The Symposium will provide 10 ETCP education renewal credits for re-certification.
Sponsors making the 2020 New World Rigging Symposium possible: Stage Rigging (Platinum); ETC and J.R. Clancy (Gold); Certex, Geiger Engineers, Kish Rigging, and TAIT (Silver); CM-ET, H&H Specialties, The Light Source, Motion Labs, Reed Rigging, Reliable Design, Texas Scenic Company, and To the Moon Rigging (Bronze).
