Theatres with a harness?

Hi Everyone Just doing some research at the mo... Does any theatre out there have a harness? (you know the type that you can suspend someone in mid air with) Can it be hired, borrowed or whatever? Regards Kate

You might want to put a more defined location. If you are in Melbourne, Swinburne Uni uses one, and they may be willing to hire it out. The Prompt Copy Networking emerging theatre professionals www.thepromptcopy.com Sticky Apple Legs http://stickyapplelegs.artsblogs.com Puppets in Melbourne www.freewebs.com/puppetsinmelbourne

Please be extremely careful about flying people as many people have been hurt in the process.I suggest you talk to a rigger, maybe at one of the climbing venues around every town and get some professional advice.

Kate Willard

BCCT (Blacktown City Community Theatre)

Thanks Naomi. I'm actually located in Sydney, but knowing there's one there is great. Cheers Kate

Kate Willard

BCCT (Blacktown City Community Theatre)

Thanks David. It goes without saying we would look to getting advice on how to stage what we want and make sure a knowledgeable technician handles the rigging. At the mo, we are just researching whether a harness is available in the Sydney area. Cheers Kate

No worries :) Harnesses are wonderfully useful things... The Prompt Copy Networking emerging theatre professionals www.thepromptcopy.com Sticky Apple Legs http://stickyapplelegs.artsblogs.com Puppets in Melbourne www.freewebs.com/puppetsinmelbourne

What you need is a five point harness that are available at a saftey shop. They are not terribly expensive and then you now the history of the harness you are using. With a borrowed you don't. Also you want to make sure that a qualified rigger handles the rigging not just a knowledgeable technician. Sorry to sound anal but have seen a situation were some one has been seriously injured and has no recourse because a qualified rigger with theatrical knowledge was not used. a wheel chair is now their mode of transport

Hi Kate, I understand you are researching harnesses. Showtech can help. we have been flying people for over 20 years in Australia. Some other things you need to consider Your Licenced rigger should have at least 5 years experience in flying people and have a minimum level of Rigging intermediate. you will need to do a jsa or risk assessment documentaton Check your level of insurance cover. Your policy must state that you are doing aerial flying, because your current normal level of insurance may not cover you. as a expert rigging company in all things flying, our insurance premium is extremly high because of the aerial flying we do as part of our business activities. do not just think your normal level of insurance will cover you, because if it all goes wrong your insurance wont cover you.

HI, I work with Gosford Musical Society and am the Stage Manager for the upcoming show of Peter Pan, We will be flying kids during our show (we have done this before and we always use experianced people, in fact this time becuase we are flying 4 kids and moving them sideways as well as vertically we are using a "proffesional" flymen for the job. All of our flymen have undertaken a flying course run by Jans. We are also looking to buy some harnesses can anyone tell me the best place to buy them form in Sydney Ta Ken

Dear Ken and all I understand your "flymen" have done a course with Jands. This course is NOT designed for flying people and only for "flymen" in the term for Theatrical Flying grids. You will also find that some flying grids are not rated to fly people. I cannot emphasise enough to all that Flying people is a very dangerous excersise. It seems easy just to put a person in a harness and suspend them from a rope however there is much more that you need to know about harnesses, the body and rigging standards and regulations. It is a proven fact that if you do not fit a harness correctly or if the person is in the harness too long they can incur DVT or other serious conditions including DEATH. Flying people and harnesses MUST be done by professional WORKSAFE LICENCED riggers who have had extensive experience in flying people. there are also many regulations that you must comply with under workcover and australian standards. Fall arrest harnesses that you find in the safety shops are NOT suitable and NOT designed to fly people they are designed as a fall arrest system. If you fly people in these harneses and you have an accident you will not be covered by insurance. rock climbing harnesses are NOT suitable and NOT designed to fly people, these are specifically designed for rock climbing. all harnesses fall under standards australia and must be used in accordance with the regulations they are designed for. Flying harnesses for flying people in a theatrical or stunt sequence are SPECIFICALLY designed for that purpose, they need to be fitted for the stunt and the person. Remember you are putting someones life in your hands. Safety MUST NEVER be compromised by budget or lack of knowledge. Our public liability insurance costs us over $80,000.00 to cover us for flying people....do you have that level of cover???? There are very few people in Australia qualified to Fly people. Make sure your production not the next fatality!!!! Could you live with yourself if you left someone incapacitated, or at worst DEAD!!!!! Robyn Good General Manager Showtech Australia Pty Ltd

Robyn I fully endorse your comments on the risks involved and safety systems that must be in place. Using experienced people is a good point however in two post you have used a circular argument on the experience required. >>>Flying people and harnesses MUST be done by professional WORKSAFE LICENCED riggers who have had extensive experience in flying people.<<< >>>Your Licenced rigger should have at least 5 years experience in flying people.<<< How can a rigger get 5 years experience in flying people if you should only use people with 5 years experience. This style of experience requirement is used so heavily by HR departments today that it is surprising that they have anyone qualified for the jobs they advertise. I have refused 2 production in my theatre in recent years as they wanted to do 'RAG engineering' when flying people. It just not worth the risk to anyone. Cheers Pacman