Career Advice Get @Dagger A Job

[Erik456]

Having just come off an international tour of 7 countries in 9 months, visas are a must. Every country is different with their requirements or number of documents required. Some allow you on a 'short term work visa' since most likely your money is still being paid thru the US. But every one is different. We had to frequently pass all our passports to tour management to get new visas put in them for stays over 30 days. Not the most comforting feeling being in a foreign country without your legal ID.

The above posters have nailed the point about travel to Canada from the US (and DUIs). I have had a few fellow roadies held up at the boarder (thus holding up the whole bus) or being left behind. Not something fun to mess with because then they start digging further into everyone (and your stuff) when this happens.

 

[What Rigger?]

Everyone needs permits.... Don't ever get on a plane with the instructions "just tell them you are a tourist". It won't work.

Amen to that. Despite my vehement objections to gigging in South Korea under a tourist visa about 13 years ago, my employer at the time managed to get me on a plane and go do the gig. We were staying over the tourist visa limit of days in the country, so our translator (provided by the client) went with us to get extensions and we reminded her to not say anything about us working. First thing out of her mouth: "These gentlemen are working here for our company and need extensions on their visas." Wham. Boom. My partner and I are separated by immigration, and interviewed to find out what the deal is. The only thing that saved us was that we were separated to cubicles, and I could hear my guy next door who started talking first. I jived my story with his (taking advantage of the language barrier) and we got to walk. Essentially, they got our passport info, our hotel info, the venue info, the client info, ev-ery-dang-thing. We had to sign documents promising we were in country only as visitors and not on the clock. We lied our assets off, got them to buy it that we were on vacation and just hanging out in Seoul and Busan for 6 weeks out of curiosity of how our companies gear was being used in this production of Peter Pan. My bosses weren't too stoked when I threatened to abandon the gig. Looking back on it, I should have. I think we got lucky. Don't be like me, don't be a sucker. Get the correct documents lined up before you go.

 

[Dagger]

Having been in the entertainment industry for a some time I find that I am most interested in staging( building the stage ,; scaffolding , rigging )


From my experience I only know of Stageco, Premier global productions, mountain productions
And Nuessli.

I know also PRG but I am not so much interested in production ( video , lighting etc)

I tried researching for staging companies but couldn't find anything

anyone know of any staging companies?


Thx

 

[Footer]

Tait...

 

[Dagger]

I checked
Out these different companies offering hoist school training

Wondering if any one have experience taking any of these courses?

http://etcp.plasa.org/cert_recognized/training_programs/rigging_list.htm

 

[What Rigger?]

CM is great, and Herb Hart is a very knowledgable guy. I take some sort of class from CM every couple of years or so just to stay up on changes. Plus, tearing apart hoists with no real pressure or deadline behind it is kind of fun.

If you're going to be doing a lot of automation work, especially with Navigator, then Tait's training on it will be worth the considerable price tag. But honestly, my experience is let your employer decide if you need the training and they can pay for it. I've gone through the 5 day software/hardware training and for the 2 weeks after that class, I was amazing! But when nobody wants, or allows, you to have full access to the software and operators are shut out of it, I'm not sure what the point is.

Really, everyone listed on that page is a different kind of specialty. What are you looking to learn? Gravitec is teaching work at height skills, Tait is all about automation and winches, they won't be teaching you how to make a basket on the ground and send it to the up riggers...know what I mean?

 

[Dagger]

I am looking at applying for a position that requires a cm hoist certification , A rigging specialist position

I will have to pay out of my own pocket . Don't know it it's worth it

 

[What Rigger?]

If you need the CM cert for the job, do it! It's good to know about them, the class is really fun and engaging. Make sure to deduct the cost of the class from your taxes. Mountain Productions classes are highly regarded, for sure. I know it sounds weird, but whenever I go, I look at it like vacation days. There's all kinds of things you didn't know you didn't know about chain hoists.

 

[Dagger]

I am looking at the albums of scary rigs

https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...t=a.411350862687.188404.47340927687&source=43

I can only point out some things that are wrong

I clearly don't as much about rigging as I thiught I do . I want to know kore and be able to see whats wrong

I do stage Riggin and never Ra into these type of rigs I seee in the pics.

How does one would know ?
woukd taking rigging / hoisting / chain hoist classes make me better understand it?

 

[RickR]

Classes are great but usually require travel. Costs can add up, but they can be good job security, not to mention avoiding problems. There are some good books too:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_s...prefix=stage+rigg,aps,350&tag=controlbooth-20
The Donovan book is nearly a textbook for the ETCP rigging tests.

 

[lightguyty]

I live and work in Vancouver in the industry, and have for 10 years.

Vancouver is a tricky place, despite the appearance of a bustling busy town there really isn't much work.

Of the two IA locals you have more of a chance of getting work with the Film Local 891, than with Theatre Local 118. There is just not enough work for anyone at 118 in the lower seniority levels to get work, for the first few years I didn't even get arena calls as all of the very senior members get the calls first. Our film local is great if you can get known and prove you do a good job. Once your name is out there you will always stay busy. Of the three major theatre operators in town, the two that are IA again will always get the higher seniority members.

As for non IA calls. The two major companies in town have a list of "A" Team as it were. They get the majority of the work since not much here requires a crew of 10+. Getting on as a Rigger with one of these guys takes years, and even when you have, unless you are one of the top guys your call level will be inconsistent. There are a few times in the year (generally spring) where a large crew is required, but mostly for convention centre work, and the occasional arena load in. Also, getting on a tour while living in Vancouver is not going to happen, again you need to be one of the "A" Team but even then its not guaranteed. Toronto is our hotspot of tour prep and departure, very few shows prep or leave from Vancouver, and with no prior tour experience you aren't going to get called up for a tour spot.

 

[Dagger]

tbe points I get for attending the classes are for renewal only correct?
I can't use those points to take my first time testing? And do points expire?( taking the
Test is very farfetched I worked probably 70 hrs as a rigger- I got a long journey ...)

 

[Dagger]

how long have you been rigging before you got trained to be a rigger.

And how long after that do you only get or take rigging calls from employers?

Mind Sharing some stories ?

 

[Dagger]

I know there are threads about working on cruiseship a but I'm a looking specifically at this one http://www.allcruisejobs.com/i2679/rigging-specialist/

Based on the requirements are cn hoist certifications a good training to attend and what else are there that can help me stand out from the rest ?

 

[Footer]

I have a college buddy who did that job for years and is still with RC as a PM I believe. You need to be first, breathing, second, have a good work ethic, third, not quit. Don't spend money on certs like that, you won't be doing that type of work. They will train you on what you need to know.

 

[egilson1]

Points from education to qualify to take the exam for the first time must come from an accredited college or university. After that classes that are ETCP recognized get you points for your renewal. You must renew every 5 years, so any points you earn in that 5 year period will be used for your next renewal, and you'll have to earn more points over the next 5 year period to renew again. Does that make sense?

 

[Catwalker]

This may not be the point, but, correct me if I'm wrong...

Is the power cable the only thing holding that pipe up? Those steel cables do not look connected.

 

[DuckJordan]

Wire rope clamps and cable are in fact connected... Poorly

Sent from my XT1060 using Tapatalk

 

[DuckJordan]

It took me 2 years before they trained me to rig, my full time job requires I rig everyday. Now for the union calls I get zero rigging calls we haven't had training in the building specifically so only a few people rig in the arena.

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[chawalang]

I agree with what Footer said, Cruise Ship Companies are looking to hire people who want to develop their craft, while they would love to hire a seasoned stagehand most can not afford them or keep the ones who can make a living not on a ship. If you keep to what Footer said you should be fine, especially the breathing part.