It can be learned if they get the proper time in there. Best thing is if the local guys get brought in to help in the install, especially if the installer is an IA shop. On top of that, the first dozen or two shows can't be huge musicals with
unistrut and hard scenery.
My
current head flyman had never ran a double
purchase rail and had little experience on a single
purchase rail as of June of this year. Since, he has put probably 50-60 shows onstage and has really turned around just in the last month to the
point where I don't really question him. I probably spent at least 3 or 4 8 hour days with just us in the space playing with stuff. He was also there for a full
strike and re-hang of all of our
soft goods which really drilled in snub procedures and such. He know the rigging from his time with the circus, so that helped. However, he had to develop his touch with the lines and be able to feel the loads... and you can only learn that with time.
It is possible to turn
arena up/down guys into
theatre riggers. The finesse is different of course and that's the one thing they really have to learn. However, with
current Broadway tours more stuff goings into the air on
truss and motors then it does on battens. So, in
effect, they need to know both.
Its going to be rough for awhile. Get on the
ETCP site and see if there are any
theatre certified riggers in the area and get them on the calls for the first few months. Really though, there is no other way to learn then to just do it. With a good
ETCP guy on staff he/she will be able to show the tricks that make working with a
counterweight system safely and quickly. Dealing with show operation and loading out of weight/wacky loads is also something that is just learned over time. There is a reason
ETCP requires 3,000 hours before they will even let you take the test.
Unfortunately though, I have seen more then one
arena rigger look at
theatre rigging as
play things/toys and don't pay attention to what they are doing, so
safety and respect for the systems need to be drilled into their heads.