Caroline
Member
I just got a gig working fly (solo) for a ballet, but when I mentioned the venue to my TD at school he said that the venue has a double purchase system and that I wouldn't be able to operate it alone. He worked a show there last week and they had to hire a second fly op because he couldn't do it on his own. He said that if he jumped and pulled on it with all his body weight (easily 200lbs) that it would still barely move, and he's definitely stronger than I am.
I've only ever operated single-purchase and I can do that no problem. While I've heard that double purchase can be more difficult to operate, it sounds like there's something very wrong with their system if a grown man can't operate it single handedly. It must be weighted wrong, right? But load-in is in a week (and the ballet company is not allowed to be in the theatre until then) and there's no way I'll have time to re-weight their entire system (and I'm unsure if I'd even be allowed to, since I'm a contractor for a company renting space from this venue). I'm strongly considering backing out of this gig, partially because I'm clearly not strong enough to operate their system solo, and I'm concerned that their system is improperly weighted and unsafe. Thoughts?
I've only ever operated single-purchase and I can do that no problem. While I've heard that double purchase can be more difficult to operate, it sounds like there's something very wrong with their system if a grown man can't operate it single handedly. It must be weighted wrong, right? But load-in is in a week (and the ballet company is not allowed to be in the theatre until then) and there's no way I'll have time to re-weight their entire system (and I'm unsure if I'd even be allowed to, since I'm a contractor for a company renting space from this venue). I'm strongly considering backing out of this gig, partially because I'm clearly not strong enough to operate their system solo, and I'm concerned that their system is improperly weighted and unsafe. Thoughts?