Rigging electrician

The job

You work on the rigging crew: installing lamps, cable, distribution and control on sets and locations before the shooting crew arrives, and de-rigging after. On stage that often means working at height on rails, trusses or scaffold.

The rigging crew has its own ladder: rigging electrician, rigging chargehand, rigging gaffer (who plans the rig with the gaffer). On big shows it can outnumber the shooting crew.

A typical day

Start from the rigging gaffer's plan for the next set.
Rig rails or trusses with the grips or construction.
Hang and cable lamps, run distribution, set up DMX.
Test every lamp and circuit and label them for the desk op.
Later, de-rig a set the unit has finished. Your hours may differ from the shooting crew's.

When the shooting crew walk on, the lamps should already be hung, powered, patched and labelled, so lighting starts the moment camera is placed.

Skills

Electrical knowledge and safe working practice.
Working at height, with the right training.
Reading rigging plans.
Physical fitness.
Accuracy in labelling and documenting the rig.

Who you report to

You report to the rigging chargehand and the rigging gaffer, who work with the gaffer. Trainees may work with you.

How people get in

Many rigging electricians start as sparks or trainees, and some come from theatre or live events rigging. Working-at-height training is usually expected. ScreenSkills publishes a lighting technician skills checklist that covers rigging tasks.

Next step up

Rigging chargehand, then rigging gaffer. Some move to the shooting crew as best boy or gaffer.

The rigging electrician gets the set lit before the unit arrives.