What is rigging in the entertainment industry?

Rigging is the practice of suspending production equipment (lighting fixtures, speakers, LED screens, scenic elements, and other gear) from overhead structural points using specialized hardware, motors, and truss systems. It's what puts the show in the air. Nearly every element of a professional production that's above the stage floor is held there by rigging.

Entertainment rigging is its own discipline with specific safety standards, certification programs (like ETCP), and regulatory requirements. It draws from the same physics and engineering principles as industrial rigging and construction, but the equipment, techniques, and environment are purpose-built for the unique demands of live events: temporary installations, fast load-ins, variable venues, and equipment that needs to fly, move, and be struck safely on tight schedules.