USITT Electrical Workshop participants in Phoenix, Arizona had a chance for a bit of fresh air as well as an in-depth look at the equipment. Mitch Hefter, who led the Phoenix PDW will again be on hand for the Basic/Intermediate PDW in 2009.

Photo/Mitch Hefter

Barbara E.R. Lucas
Sightlines Editor

Professional Development Workshops, offered before the start of the 2009 Annual Conference, have been balanced to offer a wide variety of training, information, and hands-on experiences. These extra-cost workshops allow greater exploration of a topic than would be possible during a Conference session. To learn more about all PDWs, click here.

Two PDWs, USITT Electrical Workshop - Basic/Intermediate on Monday evening and all day Tuesday, and Stage Rigging with Jay O. Glerum, all day Monday and Tuesday, may be used to gain ETCP Renewal Credits for certified electricians or riggers.

USITT Electrical Workshop - Basic/Intermediate covers many items in the ETCP Electrician Candidate Handbook outline.  It will explain the basics of entertainment electrical systems, including an overview of the National Electrical Code® and NFPA 70E: Standard for Electrical Safety Requirements for Employee Workplaces.

The presenters, drawn from all segments of the entertainment industry, are members of ESTA's Technical Standards Program and serve on industry standards committees. Several are ETCP Recognized Electrical Trainers.

Stage Rigging with Jay O. Glerum features Mr. Glerum, author of Stage Rigging Handbook and an approved trainer for ETCP renewal credits, covering the physics of rigging, hardware design and selection, operation and procedures, and inspections and maintenance practices. Each student must have a copy of the Stage Rigging Handbook, Third Edition which is available from the USITT web site or by calling 800-938-7488.

The first PDW starts on Sunday, March 15 when Ben Sammler presents Structural Design for the Stage, which covers the first five chapters of his Structural Design for the Stage, a text co-authored with Alys Holden. Technical directors of resident performance companies and academic institutions will leave with the tools needed to design wooden beams as well as the background for further study in structural design.

For a more hands-on approach, Designing and Rigging Simple Performer Flying Effects will start in the classroom for a section on the physics and principles of rigging simple performer flying systems, while the 'hands-on' section will allow participants to actually rig many of these systems and see firsthand how they work. Other topics will include equipment vendors, choreography, and working with a professional flying effects company.

Rosetta Stone Studios, based in Cincinnati, will be the setting for New Methods, New Audiences: Building Patron Relationships Through Multimedia Marketing on Tuesday, March 17. The high-energy multimedia presentation on High Tech Multimedia Marketing comes with case studies, research, on-screen examples, video, Q&A, and useful take-away materials. This is the place to learn about blogging, YouTube, social networking, podcasts, videos on the web, multimedia DVDs, and more. Learn how to take advantage of a full portfolio of multimedia tools to build and maintain relationships with audience members and donors. Organizers say this session is highly recommended for marketing and development staff, executive directors and general managers, membership and audience services managers, as well as any manager, designer, or technician who may be interested in the creation and implementation of new media technology.

Photographing your Lighting Design, chaired by Richard Finkelstein who has created stunning photos of the Prague Quadrennial as well as numerous USITT Conferences and other events, will lead participants as they learn tips and tricks for photographing lighting designs. The first step is getting the image into the camera by shooting under stage conditions at a venue, and then the work flow process needed to get the image processed for prints and for the web will be covered extensively.

A very specialized workshop, Now You See It, Now You Don't: Painting with UV Sensitive Pigment, will guide people through a project using ultraviolet sensitive pigment. The process allows artists to view projects under UV light while painting, and at the conclusion of the day-long session. Results are expected to go on display after the workshop. Possible paints include Wildfire, Rosco invisible, clear, and/or neon.

To sign up for any of these PDWs, visit www.usitt.org/cincy and click on the registration link, or call 800-938-7488, extension 101.

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