The third New World Rigging Symposium, produced by ESTA and USITT, will take place March 31 through April 1, 2020, in conjunction with the USITT Conference and Stage Expo in Houston, TX. The event provides an opportunity for riggers and those interested in the entertainment rigging industry to network, discuss current issues and new technologies, and help shape the future of the industry. 

Over the two days, participants will be given a range of opportunities to further their technical knowledge in sessions on “Video Wall Rigging - What You Need to Know.” “Automation vs Motorization. Do you know the difference?” and “Tension Grids in Arenas. Help or Hinderance? A Case Study.”

They’ll keep up to date with codes and standards in “OSHA, ANSI & ICOPER. Really. Helpful. Documents,” and have the ability to get some of their most pressing questions answered by the experts in “Got Questions? Get Answers. Ask the Engineers.” Attendees will learn about working in other segments of the industry with “Cinema Rigging: How Did They Get a Camera THERE?” and “Performer Flying/Rescue – Safe Travels.” 

Additional sessions include shedding light on an important job in “The Indispensable Role of Ground Riggers. Try Doing a Show Without One,” and improving communication skills in “’Cause I Said So’ Just Isn’t Helpful.” 

The Symposium will close with a “Rigging Cornucopia” session which will touch on a wide variety of technical questions and issues raised at the 2019 event and in the post-event attendee survey.

The Keynote Speaker will be Jeanette Farmer whose career spans three decades of professional theatre technical support, show production, concert and theatre lighting design, theatre consulting, themed entertainment project management and supplier and manufacturer business development. Her background includes supporting the evolution of the Las Vegas mega-spectacles era including work on Siegfried and Roy at the Mirage, Cher, and Disney on Ice. She supported Cirque du Soleil’s Las Vegas productions for 18 years as a theatre consultant, lighting director, and production master electrician.  

Jeanette’s career in recent years has focused on the emerging technologies of theatrical rigging and scenic automation and LED technology, working with automation pioneer Scott Fisher on projects including Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark on Broadway, Disney’s Cars Land - Radiator Springs Racers attraction, and winning top honors at the Shanghai World Expo for the Kinetic Spheres sculpture. She has continued to design and consult for shows both around the globe and locally.

The Symposium also includes numerous opportunities for attendees to network over morning coffee breaks, lunch, and evening cocktails. Attendees will receive free show floor passes to the USITT Stage Expo opening on April 2 as well as a discount on the full conference registration. The Symposium will carry 10 ETCP education renewal credits for re-certification. Learn more here.

Thank you to our sponsors for 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).