Technical Design Solutions for Theatre

Offset Flying

John C. Howard

 

With increased concern over fleet angles, the Mount Holyoke technical staff have been less inclined to give in when designers ask to have loft blocks moved “just a few inches upstage.” In order to meet designers’ needs, we’ve begun using C-clamps as shown in Figure 1 to offset the placement of very light scenic units without having to move loft blocks. In such rigs, a system pipe is prevented from turning by clamping one or two side arms to the pipe and attaching them to the pipe’s lead lines, as is often done when electrics are overhung, rather than hung directly under their pipe. We usually side-arm the lines that are carrying most of the unit’s weight. Once the pipe has been rigged to prevent rotation, the ...