In this week’s edition, I’m continuing my discussion about show stops and emergency situations. Last week, I discussed how to assess risk so that we can mitigate events from happening, but when we do experience a show stop scenario, we have a foundational knowledge of what potential risks could happen and how to solve them. […]
In this week’s edition, I’m discussing show stops and emergency situations. Sometimes things don’t go according to plan and the show cannot go on due to an artist injury, a technical issue, or unforeseen circumstance that could be out of your control. We can prepare for these situations and make plans for how our team […]
Anything Doesn’t Go is the new campaign from BECTU (The Broadcasting, Entertainment, Communications and Theatre Union) which aims to tackle Anti-social behaviour in UK theatres. Following a ‘mini riot’ that broke out in Manchester earlier in April at a performance of The Bodyguard, new measures are being taken to protect those who work in the […]
Just recently, a good old friend and work colleague posted a photo on Facebook showing a gender-neutral toilet seen backstage at Cirque du Soleil’s Ka in Las Vegas. As happy as I was about seeing this lovely sight, it also reminded me of how disappointed I continuously am regarding the – in my opinion – very poor efforts made by the entertainment industry towards diversity and inclusion.
The world has changed. A global pandemic, the rise of Black Lives Matter and social justice movements, and the intensifying climate crisis have altered how we live and work. This includes the theatrical industry. These changes, however, have been happening while theaters have been closed. It’s been an opportunity for us to reflect and look critically at our own industry. As live performance returns, it is crucial that theatre makers address how these issues affect our process of theatre making. We are re-opening in a new era, it’s not the world of 2019, this is 2021.
At any kind of live show or event, while performers shine on stage and get a great deal of audience attention, there are many hardworking event staff backstage or in the hall working to make the production happen. As a Gold Supporter of Event Safety Alliance (ESA), and leading staging company in North America for 40 years, we, at Mountain Productions, understand the importance of stage safety. Therefore, we would like to share some important workplace safety basics with those who are new to this industry.
In preventing inappropriate behaviour, it is essential for managers to encourage a workplace culture where employees support each other and diversity is valued.
There’s been a few big accidents in entertainment recently, most notably a well experienced rigger took a 60ft fall at Coachella and didn’t survive. I read that he was a father of two daughters, amongst other less important things. As riggers, we get into potentially dangerous situations, however, those situations aren’t dangerous if you take the personal responsibility to keep yourself safe.
When it comes to automation programming, it is important to trust your team’s key strokes, but for everyone’s safety, trust, but verify. Verification of a cue requires one thing, validation.
Rough day at the office? Equipment issues? Running low on operators, maintenance technicians, show callers or artists due to illness? Well, for all those cast and crew members working in the circus, resident theatres, cruise ships, rock tours or anywhere else in the live entertainment industry, we have all heard the old saying, “The show must go on.”
Leon Lai is one of the “Four Heavenly Kings” of Hong Kong; superstar HK actor and famous Cantopop singer from the 90’s. His songs are well known across Asia-Pacific and Mainland China and because his live concerts are limited, there’s huge anticipation and crowd turnout every time he performs.
Recently, I returned from doing a show at a large union venue in Chicago. I know that a lot of people have worked in venues around the US that are run by IATSE (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees). I am sure the experiences are both positive and negative. Some cities are better than others. But what had recently changed at this venue in Chicago was the addition of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) to any outside venue hirer for some portions of the labor.
What can we do as lighting professionals to save lives in an emergency situation?
It is with the heaviest of hearts that I write the hardest article I have ever written. I would much rather write an opinion piece on my feelings about rainbow chases and load-in puppy play days.
I am currently sitting in an office in Zurich, Switzerland, designing presentations for a global consulting company. It’s reasonably creative. Work conditions are excellent. Great infrastructure. Superb management. And smooth teamwork due to everyone being highly trained for their assigned roles.
Once again, social media has been bombarded with tales of St Kentigern College in the suburbs of Auckland and its horrific production of Sweeney Todd, Jr., where two students were severely injured by a real straight razor during the show. The rehash in the news is due to publication of the New Zealand WorkSafe incident report on the April 2016 event.
Entertainment events are generally held indoors in theatres and arenas, but some occur outside in a variety of different conditions. When events are held outdoors, it becomes a challenge for all staff members. Extra consideration must be held when performers are required to perform in special circumstances such as parades, publicity events, and television appearances.
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