The Steadicam® Operator's Handbook

Vehicles to avoid

Do not operate off of small camera cranes

Avoid the Tulip crane in particular. If it's on rails, forget it. It will tip over.

All small cranes have a narrow base, and standing up on the platform raises the eg. of the whole crane. A higher than designed for e.g. and a small wheelbase is too tempting for the gods of physics. A little wiggle by you or a grip pushing the base far from the old c.g. will cause the crane to come down.

I learned this lesson the very hard way. In spite of listening to - and repeating - many stories of near disasters, I once got on a Tulip crane.

I was told a different crane was going to show up on set, but there it was, and nothing else was available. I was going to be silling and not standing. Garrett ...