It害羞草研究所檚 no easy task when it comes to unloading 17 semi-trailers full of equipment and setting up for a show with the scope of Cirque du Soleil害羞草研究所檚 Crystal.
A group of local impromptu stagehands got a glimpse of just how much work it takes to transform a building the size of the South Okanagan Events Centre into Cirque害羞草研究所檚 trademark wonderland for opening night Wednesday.
The locally-hired employees were released onto the ice surface Tuesday morning after the critical pre-rigging work had been completed the day before.
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The first thing that was done was unloading the parade of trailers parked outside the SOEC and then began the task of putting together the giant jigsaw puzzle that will be the set for the shows through Sunday.
害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 no way we could build it all by ourselves,害羞草研究所� said Crystal production manager Chris Koury who has been with Cirque for just over a year and now lives in Florida. 害羞草研究所淪o we employ anywhere from 75 to 85 local labour stagehands in every city for the setup and the teardown in addition to our 28 crew that travel with us. We really couldn害羞草研究所檛 do it without them.
害羞草研究所淓veryplace is different and there害羞草研究所檚 obviously a level of difficulty. There害羞草研究所檚 a lot of challenges we have to look at in advance, maybe the ice is smaller, maybe the roof is lower.害羞草研究所�
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The overhead rigging, because of the load, is one of the key components to be installed, especially with the frequency performers are hoisted nearly to the rafters and the equipment it supports.
害羞草研究所淪afety is the number one concern, for sure. We have a very strict safety policy which allows for us to do what we害羞草研究所檙e doing in a very professional way,害羞草研究所� said Koury. 害羞草研究所淭he SOEC is a good venue to work in. It is very well organized and makes our job much easier to do.害羞草研究所�
Richard Haughian of Penticton is no stranger to rigging and stage work, a member of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE). He works many of the big name acts that come to the SOEC.
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Haughian was on shift both Monday and Tuesday and even got jobs for some of the residents and staff of Discovery House where he works during the week.
害羞草研究所淚 got pretty much all the guys in the house, I got them all work for the load in, setting up and the loadout Sunday to take it down,害羞草研究所� said Haughian, who also does volunteer spotlight work for the Vees. 害羞草研究所淭hese guys loved doing it (setting up). It害羞草研究所檚 quite the experience to watch this stuff come off 17 trucks and see it get all hooked up, the lighting and audio get flown and then the ice castle at the end get put together.害羞草研究所�
He added it is a real treat to work for organizations like Cirque because of their professionalism which was a large part of the reason he recruited the inexperienced residents of Discovery.
害羞草研究所淵ou know, they害羞草研究所檙e great, their crews are amazing,害羞草研究所� said Haughian. 害羞草研究所淭hey害羞草研究所檙e very easy going and they give you guidance and direction and tell you exactly what they want and expect of you.
害羞草研究所淭hese guys don害羞草研究所檛 get all flustered if things are taking too long. There害羞草研究所檚 no yelling, they come and help you and show you every step of the way what they want, they害羞草研究所檙e great to work with.害羞草研究所�
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According to Haughian, after the set up one of the Cirque road managers told him the local union members were some of the best they had worked with in their recent months of travel.
害羞草研究所淥ur IATSE crew has a reputation all over North America with management companies and crews. We get them out of here in record time,害羞草研究所� he said.
Local workers will be standing by on the sidelines at the finish of the final Penticton Crystal show Sunday night to begin the loadout.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 amazing how quick that stuff gets down to the floor and unhooked and back in the cases,害羞草研究所� said Haughian. 害羞草研究所淲e should have them out of here in three and a half hours.害羞草研究所�
Remaining shows are 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 1:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. Sunday. Tickets for the Penticton show are available in person at the , over the phone at 1-877-763-2849 or online.
