Theatrical Rigging Systems (Fly Systems)

[@GigiHudnall]

Thanks so much for making these videos! I teach at a community college and it is difficult to show students what I am talking about without actually taking them to the stage and doing it. You make it fun and relatable! I appreciate what you do!

[@govertvanwesting5599]

Fun video to watch. Over here in The Netherlands all of our medium to large theatres have motorised (and mostly computer controlled) systems, due to changes in the Working Conditons Act in the early 2000's. They limited the maximum allowed weight per hand operated batten and the maximum amound of hand operated battens per stage.

[@Jedi_Jed]

So cool. Thank you! I’ve been working as a stage hand but haven’t taken any classes yet so this is a great introduction that they don’t usually have time for at work. Very interesting.

[@charlotteice5704]

I work in a smaller theatre in Germany and the biggest difference I've noticed is the look of the weights and arbors. In English-speaking videos, I've only seen long and flat weights with small slits on both ends and the lock rail features a small metal ring sliding over the rope and lever serving as a locking mechanism. Here, the only stage weights I've seen are shaped a lot like bricks, they have a nudge in the middle and a wider slit going only from the side to the middle, so the arbors have one post in the middle that the weights fit around (you alternate which side the slit is on for more safety) and there is a small metal thingy that slides up and down on the middle post of the arbor and you put it over the nudge and lock it in place so the weights would not be able to seperate vertically if the arbor were to fall and thus not be affected by gravity and because of the nudges they can't fly off to the sides if they're pressed down vertically. As for the lock rail safety mechanism, the systems vary, but with most you have to pull up the knob on the lever for it to unlock and it locks right back into place when the lever is back in the up position. There are also metal clamp thingies we use for pressing the ropes together when the line set is unbalanced for additional safety.

[@gemtachataj6119]

Really needed the double purchase system, thank you!!

[@BradiKal61]

Great video. I work in theaters and trying to explain to someone how the fly system works without images is very difficult. The animations are critical to the explanation because most videos like this show footage of actual systems but they are too big to see all in one image . Seeing the big picture is important.

[@MrZeus232323]

Can you do a video on the automation of rigging?

[@NickAchBackstage]

I am not super familiar with automation rigging, most of that has been out of the budget for the theaters I've worked with - but I can look into it!

[@sgt_paskie_1017]

Here in Qatar National Convention Center, our Theatre Fly System was constructed by Wagner Biro of Austria. Very nice and reliable.

[@inancbjk06]

Great video, also Gala Stage Enginnering is the best for motorised systems

[@HudgeTV]

ETC Prodigy

[@rennoruutli5267]

OR buy a motorized hoist.