Shackles, Burlap, & Lies
Shackles, Burlap, & Lies is a Podcast about the entertainment rigging industry & the people in it
Episodes
October 20, 2026 • 75 mins
Episode 03 - Phil Van Hest from Bigger Hammer Productions joins us this episode to discuss his role as the rigging and safety supervisor for a labor comany.
https://vimeo.com/showcase/7082170
https://www.protoindustrial.com/en/industrial-tools/Proto/Tethered-Tools/SkyHook-Transfer-System/f391117c-f8e8-4e6f-8668-b8058ee6b843_Proto%C2%AE-SkyHook%E2%84%A2-Kits/#
https://www.amazon.com/Stage-Rigging-Handbook-Third-Glerum/dp/0809327414...
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October 20, 2026 • 92 mins
Episode 04 - ETCP with Meredith Moseley-Bennett.
This episode we’re joined by Meredith Moseley-Bennet, the Entertainment Technician Certification Program (ETCP) manager. We talk about all things ETCP, from how to qualify and apply for the exams, to how the tests are created. This episode is jammed packed with great information about the ETCP. And we even have a HUGE announcement about the exams.
Etcp.esta.org
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October 20, 2026 • 67 mins
Episode 05 - Gareth Connor.
This weeks episode we dive, (or is it move?) into the world of automation with Gareth Connor, President of Creative Connors, Inc. We discuss the differences between traditional rigging and automation, how it's implemented, and how and when it can be a useful tool.
https://creativeconners.com/
https://www.amazon.com/Scenic-Automation-Handbook-Gareth-Conner/dp/1138850276
https://www.amazon.com/Automate...
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March 21, 2021 • 105 mins
Currently the Assistant Technical Director at The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Arts in Hollywood CA, Claudia Peterson joins the podcast to discuss her path in the industry and how she has dealt with the sexism that still exists.
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March 10, 2021 • 52 mins
Our simulcast with the Event Safety Alliance on Counter Weight Rigging! Host Danielle Hernandez and Ethan talk about counter weight rigging and a few things to consider when we are allowed back on stage.
Event Safety Alliance - https://www.eventsafetyalliance.org/
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January 15, 2021 • 88 mins
From starting his rigging career at a national corporation with 892 venues (think bread sticks), to working for Disney, to his current role as Senior Technical Trainer at the most well know electric hoist manufacturer (CM), Brian Leister talks about his journey, the usefulness of rope access training, and the awesome CM training facility at Rock Lititz. And a NEW “regular” question makes its debut!
CM at Rock Lititz - ...
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December 18, 2020 • 101 mins
Duel ETCP certified Rigger Tyler Delong of Delong Rigging Solutions spends some time discussing his experience touring with Broadway shows such as Mama Mia, The Adams Family, Blue Man Group, & Feld Entertainment. Most recently he and his father started Delong Rigging Solutions and has been producing “One shot Training” which are short topic specific videos teaching rigging concepts for beginners.
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December 9, 2020 • 100 mins
From the Tony Award winning Broadway production of Wicked to Cathy Rigby's Emmy Award winning DVD of Peter Pan and everything in between, aerial choreographer “The Fly Guy” Paul Rubin has created some of the most memorable aerial performance pieces of the last 3 decades. We discuss his journey from starting at Flying By Foy and then co-founding ZFX Flying Effects, to his current role as an aerial choreographer where we ...
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November 18, 2020 • 102 mins
Owner of BNW rigging and all-around great person Tony Bonilla joins us to talk about rigging in the big city of New York. From being a great box pusher and rigging for the circus to creative problem solving installing 4 ton window shades in a venue in Manhattan, Tony shares some great stories and some bad jokes.
BNW social media - https://www.facebook.com/BNWRigger
The Shed in NYC - https://theshed.org/about/building
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November 3, 2020 • 105 mins
Working for Disney, the $130 Billion dollar corporation, certainly has its perks. But your average green horn rigger does not just roll out of bed and start re-rigging a fully functional replica of the first American ship to circumnavigate the globe. There are a few “stops” along the way. In this weeks episode we talk to Brian Reed, stage hand, rigger, and rope access technician who discusses his journey from being an a...
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October 28, 2020 • 75 mins
Ever think you would hear truss compared to milk? Well now you can. This week’s guest, Patrick Santini, CEO and founder of Modtruss talks about what makes Modtuss different than the traditional truss we use in the entertainment industry. We discuss how he started the company, some of the challenges of breaking into an already established market, some of the projects he is proudest of, and much much more!
Modtruss web site - h...
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October 21, 2020 • 96 mins
From being born in a trunk at the Princess Theater in Pocatello Idaho to founding LISTON Flying Trapeze in New Windsor New York with his daughter, Jonathan Deull dons his waders as we journey into the weeds on performer flying, circus rigging, chandeliers falling around masked opera singers, and a whole lot more.
E1.43-2016 Perform Flying Systems - https://tsp.esta.org/tsp/documents/published_docs.php
LISTO Flying Trapeze facebook...
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October 13, 2020 • 79 mins
Motion Labs VP of Eastern US & Canadian sales Rick Montgomery smartens up our host about chain hoist control and other related topics. Rick shares with us his top items to check on every controller, a few tricks and tips, and of course some laughs.
Motion Labs web site - https://www.motionlabs.com/
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October 6, 2020 • 114 mins
New England Center for Circus Arts Facilities Manager & Rigger, Andy Schmitz joins us to talk about his start in theatre, his first time operating a fly system, & working for Las Vegas “Spectacle“ shows. We discuss counter weight rigging and if it is a lost art and has new technology replaced the need for older methods? We also spent some time talking about aerial performance and the rigging used for it.
Zephyr ...
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September 22, 2020 • 50 mins
This week we change things up a little. Two previous guests, Dave Carmack and Meredith Moseley-Bennett bring their partner Jennifer Wilson to the mic to talk about their new endeavor, The Collaborative Artists Network also known as C.A.N. which they hope to develop into an online community to assist people with everything from training (rigging, electrics, wardrobe, etc.) to access to life coaches who can help anyone who is struggl...
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September 15, 2020 • 117 mins
ESTA board member and Technical Standards Committee member Mike Garl spends some time with us to discuss his part in bringing James Thomas Engineering truss manufacturing to Knoxville TN, his time at Tomcat, and his involvement as a board member of ESTA and a member of the TSP, which oversees the process if creating ANSI standards for the entertainment industry.
TSP website where you can download FREE ANSI standards! - https://tsp....
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September 9, 2020 • 96 mins
Senior Project Manager (and founder) of Chicago Flyhouse Inc. Mark Witteveen joins us to talk about avoiding high school classes by doing theatre, starting Flyhouse in 1998 and getting involved in performer flying. We also discuss early automation and areas that need improvement. We even talk about how Wii remotes influenced automated rigging and why user thoughts and opinions are important in standard writing.
Chicago Flyhouse we...
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September 1, 2020 • 51 mins
Episode 19 – Rigging Roundtable
Recoding live from Burlington VT we’re joined by three industry friends, Alex Kennedy, Paul “Luke” Lewkowicz, and David Neone.
Kiss load in video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVJcaYJmRSM
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August 25, 2020 • 130 mins
Vice President of Entertainment Project Services, Joe Champelli shares his journey through entertainment rigging and automation with stories from his first job installing the Pirate Show at Treasure Island in Las Vegas to his current position working with clients such as large theme parks in Anaheim California. We also discuss his involvement with submitting the original request to the ESTA Technical Standards Program to create the...
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August 18, 2020 • 75 mins
United Staging & Rigging President and Owner Jon Sharpe joins us today to talk about the history of USR and the process of going from a truck driver to a business owner. We discuss some of the new services and their new “Big Tool” they use for custom solutions for the clients as well as some of their higher profile and challenging projects. We also talk about the benefits USR has seen as a member and sponsor of the ...
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