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The Technical Standards Program of ESTA

Educational Session

Richard will talk about and receive questions about ESTA and the establishment of technical standards for the live performance industry. Those attending will have a fuller understanding of how and why standards are established, and why we (as in industry) are wise to abide by those standards. Additionally, questions may be asked on specific technical issues.

Presenter: Richard Nix | Moderated by Rock Boychuk

Richard Nix has over 35 years of practical experience in the entertainment and special events industry, with nearly 30 years' participation in ESTA's Technical Standards Program. During this time he has been chair, co-chair or active member on several task groups, in the development of many published ANSI or current draft BSR documents. Many of you know Richard as a standards evangelist for the Entertainment, tent and special event industries. He became ESTA's Assistant Technical Standards Manager in 2018, and now serves as the Technical Standards Program Manager with responsibilities for maintaining and administrating ESTA’s consensus-based standards development program, policies, and procedures.

Rick Boychuk is an author, inventor, designer and consultant specializing in permanent stage rigging. A theatre practitioner since the late 1970’s, his career has evolved through positions as technical director, production manager, designer of sets, lighting and costume, university lecturer and theatre consultant, in which he specialized in stage safety. His most recent career iteration is as an inventor of safety devices for stage rigging systems. His devices are installed in the many professional, amateur and educational theatres around North America. You can learn more at www.gridwellinc.com. Boychuk possesses a unique body of knowledge about historical counterweight rigging systems, having written Nobody Looks Up: The History of the Counterweight Rigging System: 1500 to 1925.