It91裸聊视频檚 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 Soleil91裸聊视频檚 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 Cirque91裸聊视频檚 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.
91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 no way we could build it all by ourselves,91裸聊视频� said Crystal production manager Chris Koury who has been with Cirque for just over a year and now lives in Florida. 91裸聊视频淪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 couldn91裸聊视频檛 do it without them.
91裸聊视频淓veryplace is different and there91裸聊视频檚 obviously a level of difficulty. There91裸聊视频檚 a lot of challenges we have to look at in advance, maybe the ice is smaller, maybe the roof is lower.91裸聊视频�
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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.
91裸聊视频淪afety is the number one concern, for sure. We have a very strict safety policy which allows for us to do what we91裸聊视频檙e doing in a very professional way,91裸聊视频� said Koury. 91裸聊视频淭he SOEC is a good venue to work in. It is very well organized and makes our job much easier to do.91裸聊视频�
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.
91裸聊视频淚 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,91裸聊视频� said Haughian, who also does volunteer spotlight work for the Vees. 91裸聊视频淭hese guys loved doing it (setting up). It91裸聊视频檚 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.91裸聊视频�
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.
91裸聊视频淵ou know, they91裸聊视频檙e great, their crews are amazing,91裸聊视频� said Haughian. 91裸聊视频淭hey91裸聊视频檙e very easy going and they give you guidance and direction and tell you exactly what they want and expect of you.
91裸聊视频淭hese guys don91裸聊视频檛 get all flustered if things are taking too long. There91裸聊视频檚 no yelling, they come and help you and show you every step of the way what they want, they91裸聊视频檙e great to work with.91裸聊视频�
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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.
91裸聊视频淥ur IATSE crew has a reputation all over North America with management companies and crews. We get them out of here in record time,91裸聊视频� 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.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 amazing how quick that stuff gets down to the floor and unhooked and back in the cases,91裸聊视频� said Haughian. 91裸聊视频淲e should have them out of here in three and a half hours.91裸聊视频�
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.
