Indy fair stage collapse

[67 ford f100s rule]

Has anyone else on here heard about the collapse at Indiana's state fair? Sugarland was about to perform when a gust of wind blew the stage over onto the people underneath it. So far 5 people are dead and 40 more are injured. A cousin of mine was involved in the collapse and she is in critical condition. Her friend who was standing right beside her was dead on the scene. It is crazy that when a tragedy happens it can sometime hit so close to home.

[Ranchero50]

Wow, that's really unfortunate, been thinking about those poor folks since the photo's and story showed up last night. I was never a big fan of those mobile stages, if it's taller than wide, it will fall over given enough 'push'.

Jamie

[67 ford f100s rule]

Yeah those things are nothing but trouble. I think there was a pretty big design flaw after watching the collapse. It was like the stage had no support to keep it from pushing over.

[champdog]

Good morning all. Well this is what I do for a living. I have worked in the industry for 25 years and have put togater hundreds of stages. The type of stage is called a Self Climber. It is not designed for strong wind. Climbers and wind don't mix. They are very weak when it comes to wind. I have had to lower many of tops down to the deck so it would blow over. That has always been one of my fears is a top blowing over or even a earthquake getting it swinging. once it swinging over it goes. The reason they use them is they are supper fast to assemble and disassemble . You could put them up and then down in 24 hour period So after the the last show by morning you would be gone so the venue can do a non concert event.

I have worked Sugar Land ( the band that was playing) before at out local arena and they have a very large rig. If you look closly you can see there rig hanging under the top. Very heavy. I think IMO that they were starting to get ready for the wind that was coming dew to the fact that a Union stage hand brother from local 30 was in the rigging when it fell. I think they were starting but it was to late IMO. If you look in the interweb you will find more of that type of stage falling over in wind Recently in July Cheep Trick was on stage when it fell, no one was hurt. A big African self climber fell not to long ago. I think there is defiantly a safety issue with that type of stage in a outdoor environment . I don't know how to fix the problem I don't design them I just put them together. There is a lot of money involved with this buisnes and there is a lot of pressure to get the show going. Is sad but true Sometimes safety concerns are outvoted by money issues. There is definitely going to be industry wide changes after this. My payers go out to all that has been touched by this. Frank

[67 ford f100s rule]

Good morning all. Well this is what I do for a living. I have worked in the industry for 25 years and have put togater hundreds of stages. The type of stage is called a Self Climber. It is not designed for strong wind. Climbers and wind don't mix. They are very weak when it comes to wind. I have had to lower many of tops down to the deck so it would blow over. That has always been one of my fears is a top blowing over or even a earthquake getting it swinging. once it swinging over it goes. The reason they use them is they are supper fast to assemble and disassemble . You could put them up and then down in 24 hour period So after the the last show by morning you would be gone so the venue can do a non concert event.

I have worked Sugar Land ( the band that was playing) before at out local arena and they have a very large rig. If you look closly you can see there rig hanging under the top. Very heavy. I think IMO that they were starting to get ready for the wind that was coming dew to the fact that a Union stage hand brother from local 30 was in the rigging when it fell. I think they were starting but it was to late IMO. If you look in the interweb you will find more of that type of stage falling over in wind Recently in July Cheep Trick was on stage when it fell, no one was hurt. A big African self climber fell not to long ago. I think there is defiantly a safety issue with that type of stage in a outdoor environment . I don't know how to fix the problem I don't design them I just put them together. There is a lot of money involved with this buisnes and there is a lot of pressure to get the show going. Is sad but true Sometimes safety concerns are outvoted by money issues. There is definitely going to be industry wide changes after this. My payers go out to all that has been touched by this. Frank

Thank you for your insight Frank. You are probably the first person on this forum to have experience in that field. It is indeed sad that innocent people had to die. Maybe this will cause a major redesign in the self-climbers to prevent a much worse tragedy? Also, Welcome to the forums.

[FLATBEDFORD]

I am also a 20 year plus stagehand, but I have very little experience with self climbing rigs. What I do have is plenty experience with safety concerns being outvoted by money concerns. Any accident is preventable. I hope they figure out what went wrong. This won't bring back those who were lost, or heal those injured, but maybe prevent such a thing from happening again. 4 Local 30 IATSE stagehands "rode" the rig down. One is dead, and one severely injured. Prayers to all and their families.

Champdog,
I am a member of both Local One, NY stagehands, and Local 52 NY, NJ Motion Picture Studio Mechanics.

[champdog]

Good afternoon As Flatbedford said we did loose a hand from local 30 and 3 are badly hurt. They did not have enough time to evacuate the trusses before they fell. Y they were not on the deck earlier will be determined along with the collapse. I found out that the company that supplied the rig has a very good safety record. I just want every one to know is, all of us that work in this industry are trying our best to make a safe and enjoyable environment for us and the patrons that attend shows and sporting events. We are professionals that take our craft very seriously. We also take events like this very seriously also. There will be changes and new designs to stop, to the best of our ability, things like this from happening. You have a better chance of getting hurt from a Air plain accident than a concert due to mechanical break down. Please do not let something like this hamper you from going out to see a show or other event.

Flatbedford I am in Local 215 Bakersfield CA. I also have a good house gig at our local university for the last 10 years. Are you mostly movie production. Ours is a mixed and we don't get a lot of movie work. Frank

[FLATBEDFORD]

As champdog said, we the behind the scenes professionals in the entertainment industry take safety very seriously. Our international and local unions put a lot of time effort and money into training and safety. We are the people who do our best to make sure that the producers don't put the patrons, talent or us in danger. We work above below and all around the talent and the paying customers. We are there hours or days before you and will stay long after you leave. If something goes wrong we will always be the ones most at risk. We do this work every day all over the US and Canada and accidents like this are very rare. In the 20+ years I have been in this industry in NY, I can not recall an accidental death.

champdog,
In NYC Local 52 is the motion picture local. The film industry is very busy here, Hollywood East. There are always a dozen or so movies on the streets and several TV shows too. I have not worked in the movies for a few years, but spent 5 years on the streets in all seasons and all weather. We were even hit be a suspected tornado while shooting Godzilla back in 1997. We have about 3000 working members.
Local One is the stagehand local. We do Broadway, all the indoor and outdoor concert venues and most other theaters and shops. There are about 3000 working members in Local One as well.
I have had a house job at The Metropolitan Opera for 11 years now and will most likely retire from here. It is nice to work indoors. The weather is more predictable.

[champdog]

Flatbedford, Sounds like were on the same path. Got too old and tired for all the outside stuff. Love my house gig. I love being in control of the weather. I still work as much as I can at the local Arena, When the other gig alowes. I am the steward for all sporting advents. We have a ECHL hockey team and the university basketball team. Well for movies we get boned being so close to LA and only having about 45 members, they bring in there own people and unfortunately there is not a lot we can do. They actually film a lot here. O well. But we have become a rehearsal venue for bands starting there tours. Send me a PM and we can do a shirt exchange. Love to have a local 1 bug. Frank

[basketcase0302]

Jeff,
Very sorry for your friends loss. Them being my favorite band I found out very shortly after it happened. If you go to the band's page they too are very upset this happened and look for answers. They have also announced a personal memorial service for the family of those that perished there, (only after their family's have had the time they need). Very tragic indeed, but how could you possibly prepare for the wrath of "mother nature"? Maybe codes similar to our "hurricane proofing-wind codes" we applied everyday life to in Florida applied to the stages?

[FLATBEDFORD]

The best way to prepare for "the wrath of nature" is to follow the basic safety rules for the equipment in use. From what I have been reading on industry sites and forums and from what my coworkers have told me, this "accident" was very preventable. The producers were aware of the forecast severe thunderstorms for hours before the show. Most who regularly work with that style of self climbing rigs know that in extreme weather they should lowered to at least 1/2 height and that nobody should be in the rigging. Another problem is that there was no inspection of the rig. The city could not inspect it because it was on state property and the state did not either. The rig may have been overloaded by all the band's gear. There are many questions, and there will be answers. It seems pretty clear that the main objective was to do the show and not necessarily do what was safest for the crew, the talent or the ticket holders. The problem is that if the show is canceled, you have to give the people their money back, but you still have to pay the talent and the crew. How can you make any money if you do that? Once the lawyers are done with this, the whole out door concert business will be very different. Unfortunately, those who were killed will still be dead, those injured will have to live with their scars and pain, and those who lost family and friends won't get them back.