Advancements in Technology for Stage Truss and Rigging Construction.

Stage construction is a vital element of any music festival site build, and advancements in technology will probably make life easier for festival organisers. Balancing costs against durability and time constraints for stage rigging can be challenging for organisers but what technology changes are taking place that will have a positive impact for the future.

Traditional stage construction usually requires the installation of aluminium truss rigging for lighting, speakers, roofing or other design features. The suppliers of rigging are specialist companies who will source the most appropriate components and should have certified installation technicians. Due to potential safety concerns all rigging must be installed by qualified individuals who meet the relevant health and safety protocols. Adverse weather can be a concern for organisers and there have been several instances recently of stage and rigging collapses at festivals. 

Material Changes.
Manufacturers of truss rigging are moving away from traditional aluminium in favour of more advanced materials. There is now a focus on composite materials like carbon fibre or graphene which make trusses lighter and stronger. This provides more flexibility in design and are potentially easier to install as well as being safer. In addition to composite materials some manufactures are also exploring shape memory alloys which can self-adapt to the stresses often experienced from heavy equipment and high winds for example. In an attempt to be more sustainable manufacturers are also looking for materials that are potentially recyclable or biodegradable, but this development is ongoing and is something that will be of interest to festival organisers trying to meet their sustainability credentials. 

Assembly Advancements. 
Although truss and rigging require specialist installation there is more demand for modular systems that have easy click and lock assembly mechanisms. This can reduce installation and dismantling time for rigging teams and potentially means festival organisers can squeeze their site build schedules. Some rigging installers are now using advanced software to model their stage rigging plans so that they can simulate stress limits allowing them to specify height and weight limits along with maximum wind tolerances before any installation takes place. 

Safety and Monitoring. 
Advanced sensors are becoming more prevalent for larger rigging installations and increase the levels of safety during installation and use. Real time monitoring of stress levels, vibrations and wind loads can help alert staff of pending dangers. Combined with modelling software rigging installers can work closely with festival organisers to ensure that loads from stage design and equipment requirements are accurately predicted. 

These advancements in truss rigging manufacture and installation will impact on festival stage construction. Speedy installation will increase schedule flexibility for organisers and overall costs could come down over time. The increases in safety will be a major bonus for organisers who desire worry free use of stage truss rigging for their events. 

For festival organisers planning their events using a software management platform like Festival Pro gives them all the functionality they need manage every aspect of their event logistics. The guys who are responsible for this software have been in the front line of event management for many years and the features are built from that experience and are performance artists themselves. The Festival Pro platform is easy to use and has comprehensive features with specific modules for managing artists, contractors, venues/stages, vendors, volunteers, sponsors, guestlists, ticketing, cashless payments and contactless ordering.

Image by Ri_Ya via Pixabay

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