If you’ve worked with rigging much of your career, chances are that you own a copy of the definitive Stage Rigging Handbook. This resource—the most respected textbook in the industry—provides the sum total of the knowledge of Jay O. Glerum, one of the live performance industry’s most respected rigging professionals and teachersß. Glerum was well known as an instructor who emphasized the highest standards for safety and technical knowledge to anyone who used stage rigging, whether they volunteered at their local high school or ran complex systems for Broadway productions.
Glerum passed away in 2014, and USITT found the perfect way to honor his memory. In summer 2016, USITT will launch the Jay O. Glerum Rigging Master Classes, training sessions that will take place in a number of locations across the country. J. R. Clancy, Inc., is a lead sponsor of this new initiative.
“Many theatre technology professionals point to Jay Glerum as their teacher and mentor in the proper way to use rigging technology, from counterweight to automated systems,” said Mike Murphy, J. R. Clancy president. “Naming a series of master classes after Jay is a fitting tribute to one of the most influential people in our profession. We at J. R. Clancy are honored to have this opportunity to remember him.”
The classes will include beginner and advanced levels each year; USITT is exploring the possibility of offering ETCP credit for the advanced classes and Continuing Education Credits for educators at the entry level.
Early career classes will cover rigging basics and cost $60 to $150, said David Grindle, USITT’s executive director. Advanced classes are expected to include high-speed motorized rigging and motor control.
If you want to be sure to get one of the first available spaces in these classes, bookmark www.usitt.org/rigsafe, and check back periodically for updates.
