Parisii, we are very worried about our younger members reading something on the internet and saying "that doesn't sound so dangerous" and trying crazy things on their own without training. We don't like the need for the rules but feel it's critical for the
safety of our young technician readers (who make up half the membership). If you are a real rigger you certainly understand the scary thought of someone giving rigging advice over the internet. (How do you know I'm not really a 12 year old girl named Sally?) That said, the basics of how an
Olio works has been discussed here several times in the past. I think I can help you without violating the TOS. I built an
Olio for a show last year. This was my second
Olio build. It was 20' wide and the curtain about 15' high. So about half the size of yours but I had it hung and working in about two hours. I can't tell you how to rig it but I can tell you the process I used and give you some
safety tips. If you are not a qualified rigger do not consider attempting to hang an
Olio on your own consult a real rigger.
1) Hang the drape.
2) Attach the drape to the pickup spool after it is hung (not telling how to do that here on CB).
3) Rig the mechanism and attach the ropes to the pickup spool (not telling you how to do that here on CB).
4) Buy extra long ropes so you can initially coil the rope around the pickup spool while it's on the
ground. This removes the danger of trying to
roll the
drop up while you are on a genie lift. Just use rope long enough you can coil it while everything is on the
ground. Pull the rope and it magically
flies away. Yes you'll have a bunch of left over rope on the other end. Either deal with it or cut it off once you have the correct amount of rope in the
system. A few extra bucks wasted on rope makes this process significantly safer. Do not attempt the alternative!
5)
Roll it up and down and adjust the connection of the drape to the spool until you get it nice and straight. Since my
drop was only traveling about 15 feet this was quiet easily done. My guess is this will take you a lot longer to get right.
6)
Mark the zone of the
stage where the
olio hits the
deck. While the show is in early rehearsal, tell the director all scenes must take place either up or
downstage of that zone.
Mark the zone in the rehearsal
hall as well. Actors must
pass through that area quickly. No one is allowed to linger in that zone. TAKE TIME TO TEACH YOUR CAST AND CREW
SAFETY PROTOCOLS as soon as the
olio is hung!
7) Only put the
Olio in the up position when you absolutely must. ALWAYS leave it in the down position as much as is absolutely possible. If you must leave the
olio up for a long portion of the show and only
drop it briefly, rig up a
safety device to prevent the pickup spool from falling should your primary mechanism be accidentally released or fail. I can't tell you how to do that here either... but again if you are a real rigger you can figure that out on your own, if you aren't a rigger find one.