Theatre Design & Technology - Spring 2004 - 71

WHAT'S IN THE BOOK?
Entertainment Rigging starts off with "The
Basics" (the standard hardware and point rigging types defined), "Work Methods" (the
craft of getting the right gear up and down
safely), and "Rigging 101" (the standard practices of how the hardware is assembled). The
rest of the book concerns itself with the skill
set of the master rigger. Initial chapters are
"Liability," "Accident Prevention," and "Safety"
(essays on judgment and attitude), followed by
chapters covering safe use of equipment:
"Safety Use and Strength Reduction," "Load Increase Factors," "Shock Loads, and Safeties."
Chapters on basic math-"Vectors" and "Algebra 101"-set the stage for "Engineering 101,"
followed by basic arena rigging concepts-
"Deadhangs 101," "Horizontal Force," "Resultants," "Loads," "Balance and Center of
Gravity"-and more specifics of hanging
points-"Advanced Deadhangs," "Breastlines,"
"Bridles," "Bridle Forces," and "Three-point
Bridles." "Cable Sag" is addressed at the end of
the book along with an extensive set of appendices: "Information and Equipment Sources,"

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S P R I N G

2 0 0 4

TD & T

"OSHA," "Weights," Rated Capacity Table,"
"Common Rigging Formulas," and "Bridle Leg
Tables."

APPLICATION
The early chapters document the practical application of the craft of the arena rigger with
detailed line drawings (by Don Ferguson) that
illustrate the exacting skills of the arena rigger.
To mention a few: how to assemble the gear on
the ground, how and where to tie long, short, and
standard bowlines through a basket hitch for
hauling aloft, how to walk a beam that's 100 feet
off the ground, how to rig from a personnel
lift, how to pad a beam with burlap, how to assemble a basket hitch around the beam on which
you're sitting, or how and where to attach lifting
roundslings to lighting trusses. Donovan wisely illustrates the wrong way to do many things, and
explains the dire consequences of each. The
drawings and the accompanying text in these
chapters are an invaluable part of Entertainment
Rigging and should be in every rigger's road box
or tool bag for quick reference.
Unfortunately, these early chapters lack

consistent narrative organization and the author too often assumes the reader already has
basic knowledge about arena rigging. For instance, "Roundslings and Trusses" occupies eight
pages with illustrations and brief explanations
showing the right and wrong ways to use
roundslings with aluminum lighting trusses.
However, Donovan never identifies the truss as
aluminum lighting truss, and he uses trussspecific terms such as cords and panel points
without ever defining them. In a reference
book such as this, specific terms must be defined when they are introduced, the definitions
must be repeated in a thorough glossary, and
every topic should be cross-referenced in an index. In these respects, Entertainment Rigging
falls short. Donovan's failure to adequately define
terms is a crucial one in a young field such as
arena rigging where there are still multiple terms
for things. (Is a sling hanging down from a bridle
a "stinger," a "drop," or a "down," or are all
terms valid?) A first-on-the-scene reference
book such as this needs to begin the process of
standardization of the jargon so workers can
more confidently use and understand each
other as they tour the country.
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Theatre Design & Technology - Spring 2004
