The production world was rocked by the collapse of the stage rigging at the Indiana State Fair. Many of us have watched the video of the huge truss towers falling down into the crowd, as well as the photos of the aftermath with horror. Of course our reaction as humans and Christians must be one of deep grief and sadness over the loss of life and the debilitating injuries. Additionally, we should be praying for the victims and their families, as well as for those in the production and decision-making roles for the event. But one question rang in my mind over the last few days: what can church technology leaders learn from this?
We do know that high winds arriving ahead of the actual storm caused the collapse in Indiana. Several investigations have been launched to help deterimine any other causes, and what could have been done to prevent or avoid this disaster. We also know that Mid-America Sound, Inc. of Greenfield, Ind, which owns the collapsed rigging system has launched it's own investigation. Mid-America has constructed and operated similar rigging systems in a vast number of locations over many years. They are professionals who are called upon to do the job right --- something they have done dozens, if not hundreds of times without this result.
Since the disaster, published reports, including USA Today, are saying that permitting and inspections of portable rigging systems were not required for the Indiana State Fair. However, in nearby Chicago, a rigorous permitting and inspection process is required.
What can churches learn from the disaster? It's no secret that churches often use creative and sometimes less-than-professional engineering tactics to accomplish their production goals when operating on a tight budget. In a sense this is admirable, as we desire to spend money wisely and to honor God by finding less expensive ways to do things. However there are many reasons for professional standards in the production world --- standards and codes that can easily be bypassed due to a wide range of factors. Sometimes churches are just unaware that such regulations exist simply because they don't have the experience or industry knowledge.
One typical example is fire retardation requirements with curtains, acoustic absorption, and other types of products. I have been asked more times than I can remember why eggshell foam or some other non-fire retardant product or substance cannot be purchased and used to line the walls of smaller church spaces where budget concerns are a factor. While the spirit behind this type of thinking may be admirable, it ignores the reality of the dangers to large crowds in buildings lined with flammable material.
How many churches run standard audio cable, be it in an XLR cable or an audio snake, through walls and ceilings? Specific types of cable, that happen to be more expensive, are required to reduce the chance of fire when used in spaces that facilitate airflow (drop ceilings are often an example).
Rigging for loudspeakers, lighting fixtures or scenery pieces should never be attempted by amateurs, and yet we can all think of examples where we've “MacGyver'd” something in one of those categories. But did you know that rigging should, in fact, make up a significant part of most system integration and production costs? Given that most churches do not have an in-house rigging expert,hiring a certified rigger is a vital part of integrity and safety for the church.
The Indiana incident reminds me of some of the temporary structures and setups I have seen at church events over the years. Here again, most mistakes and risks are a result of a combination of ignorance and the desire to spend money wisely. The fact remains that most churches need help to accurately assess the risks and requirements surrounding live events.
The event in Indiana has been running with the same production providers for over a decade --- people who knew the surrounding infrastructure and site well. Still, accidents can happen even when we have the best of plans. Our goal should be to plan as thoroughly as we can, because we are taking responsibility for the safety of those attending our events.
For outdoor events, where weather is a risk factor, the Indiana event teaches us to err on the side of conservatism. From initial reports, it seems that the organizers in Indiana had information that the storm was more than 30 minutes away when the 60-70 mile per hour wind struck the stage rigging. It surely seemed unreasonable to call off the show and evacuate at that point. Yet, now we know differently.
While we'll all be curious to learn the investigator's conclusions on the incident at the Indiana State Fair, the situation should cause us to step back and examine the way we employ technology at our home churches. First, let us continue to pray for those who mourn. As the investigation unfolds and the production industry reacts, there will undoubtedly be changes and additions to standards both for rigging, and live events in general. As technology leaders within the church, it is our responsibility to keep up with these developments, or, at the very least, maintain a working and trusting relationship with someone who does. In the end, it's usually what we don't know that can hurt us, so our priority should be to protect the church and maintain its integrity.
