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Monday 8am - 4:30pm Tuesday 8am - 4:30pm Wednesday 8am - 4:30pm Thursday 8am - 4:30pm Friday 8am - 4:30pm

Sapsis Rigging, Inc.

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Upper Darby, PA
Sapsis Rigging, Inc.

We stand behind, and under, our work. www.sapsis-rigging.com
http://sapsisriggingphotos.blogspot.com/

03/16/2026

The annual USITT Conference is in Long Beach, Ca. this year. The dates are March 19 – 21 and we’ll be there! Please stop by our booth #1223 and say hello to the gang. Try on a harness, get a T-shirt! And there will be show discounts on all our safety products.

We hope you'll join us at these sessions as well:

Opening Night Reception
Wednesday, March 18 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
They’re going to let Bill give a short speech. 😱
Terrace Theatre

Awards Ceremony
Thursday, March 19 2:00 pm – 3:15 pm
Bill helps induct his good friend Dana Taylor as a USITT Fellow
Terrace Theatre

Early Career Primer
Friday, March 20 11:30am – 12:15pm
Pointers to avoid pitfalls, potholes and precipices when starting your career in the entertainment industry
Career Campus Expo Floor, Exhibit Halls
Camille Petrillo, Eddie Raymond, Bill Sapsis

Stump the Rigger
Saturday, March 21 10:30 am – 11:30 am
Ask a good question - win a prize. Best question takes home the Jack Suesse Memorial Trophy
Expo Stage Hall A
Bill Sapsis, Eric Rouse and a stellar cast of characters.

03/10/2026

Hi all. It’s March! Spring is almost here!

Back in the fall I noted that there’s a change coming for Sapsis Rigging. Well, that time has come. On April 1 I will retire from day-to-day operations and Eric Rouse will become the new owner/CEO of Sapsis Rigging, Inc. But not to worry. The Sapsis Rigging you know and love is staying the same.
• You still get the wonderful folks you’ve worked with at SRI for years.
• You still get the terrific customer service.
• You still have access to the great products and professional services.
• You still get the safety training and inspection services.
• And you still get me.

While it’s true I will no longer be running the company, I will still be providing Eric and the team with advice and consulting when needed. (And sometimes even when it’s not needed.) I'll continue my work with ESTA’s Technical Standards Program and ETCP, for as long as they’ll put up with me, and I'll also continue my work with the Behind the Scenes Foundation.

More importantly, I will still be available to all of you. An interviewer once called me the most accessible rigger in the country, and I will continue to live up to that label. My email address & mobile number remain the same and I’ll stay active on social media. I welcome the opportunity to answer your questions, comment on stuff or just chat.

There are mountains of wonderful memories packed into my 44.5 years at Sapsis Rigging. Thousands of rigging installations around the world. Fashion shows, fashion shows, and more fashion shows. Special events projects in very interesting locations around the country (I’m looking at you St. John’s Cathedral). Training programs on six continents. So. Many. Inspections. Charity motorcycle rides, national and international conferences, trade shows and symposiums. A veritable cornucopia of experiences that make for an amazing legacy.

But none of this would have happened without people. Really great people. SRI has been blessed with fantastic folks across all aspects of the company. Shop and office staff, crew, clients, customers, vendors, friends and colleagues. Your hard work, support and loyalty have meant the world to me. You have encouraged and inspired me. You were always there for me. It’s my memories of working with you that I will cherish for the rest of my days.

To just say thank you seems so inadequate, but please know that my thank you comes from the heart. It has been my honor and my pleasure to know you all and work with you during my career. I look forward to new adventures with you and whatever the future has in store for me.
With love,

Bill
Have fun storming the castle!

02/18/2026

From the new netHEADS newsletter. See link in the comments for more.

Let's Talk About Self-Retracting Lifelines

There’s an old saying that goes, “It’s not the fall that gets you – it's the sudden stop at the bottom.” All too true.

Also true…. The distance a worker falls determines how much force is needed to stop (arrest) the falling worker. A longer fall distance requires a higher level of force to arrest the fall which, in turn, can lead to a higher potential for injury to the worker. Conversely, a shorter fall distance requires less force and the chance for an injury is reduced.

It stands to reason that a worker would want to limit their fall distance as much as possible, but that’s often not what happens. A lack of training, old work habits, or using the wrong equipment for the application can provide a false sense of security. Shock absorbing lanyards, for example, have been the go-to method to connect a worker to an anchorage point or lifeline. However, most shock absorbing lanyards are 6 feet long. While these lanyards work well in some situations, more often than not they’re too long for the location and may allow a worker to fall farther than necessary.
There is an alternative
more...

10/15/2025

We're Back!

We loved having the time off and we’re just as happy to be back to work. Need some rigging stuff? Bring it on! The online store is open, inspections are happening and the installation folks are forging ahead.

By coincidence, this past Monday, October 13th, was the 44th anniversary of the founding of Sapsis Rigging. While it’s a challenge to celebrate remotely, cake and candles were definitely in order. And maybe an adult beverage or two. Thanks to everyone who helped make the first 44 years so special.

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A Note from Uncle Bill:
I started Sapsis Rigging in 1981, mainly because I needed a job and a steady paycheck. Well, it seems to have worked out pretty well even if my paycheck wasn’t all that steady sometimes.

This year’s anniversary is particularly special for me, as it will be my last one at the helm of Sapsis Rigging. I’m stepping down at the end of February. After 44 years it’s time to let the next generation have a go at it.

Not to say I’m fading from sight. You’re not that lucky. More on that later. But for now I’m feeling a bit nostalgic. Care to join me for some cake?

https://conta.cc/4n6PeWq

09/29/2025

PLEASE NOTE: Orders placed after Wednesday October 1 will be filled when we return on 10/13.

09/25/2025

SRI with the Flynn Theatre and eVenti Verticali

Sapsis Rigging teams up with the Flynn Theatre and eVenti Verticali for an aerialist performance in Montpelier, Vermont.

eVenti Verticali, using a truss cube flown by a massive crane, performed in front of the Vermont State House in Montpelier, VT. Sapsis Rigging provided the rigging equipment, labor and supervision for the event.

More from our netHEADS! newsletter: https://conta.cc/46kly2P

09/08/2025

We're taking a vacation!...

07/31/2025

We are looking for people to join us! Please check out the openings for Installation Supervisor and Inspector. We would love to hear from you if you think you're a good fit!

07/09/2025

Behind the Scenes (BTS) has been providing mental health tools and resources for entertainment technology professionals since 2019. A survey was used at that time to help guides BTS in their efforts to offer the most effective services possible.

There have been significant changes within the industry since then and it’s time to conduct another survey to help BTS update and upgrade their services.

Please join me in assisting BTS by taking the Mental Health Initiative survey. See below for the details.

Please visit behindthescenescharity.org for more information on the Behind the Scenes Charity.

Thanks
Bill Sapsis
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Behind the Scenes Requests Industry Participation in Online Survey Exploring Mental Health Needs in a Changing Industry

The Behind the Scenes Mental Health Initiative was launched in 2019 with an industry-wide survey the results of which guided the development of the tools and resources currently available. The entertainment industry has experienced major changes over the ensuing years including a global pandemic, weather related catastrophes, strikes and work slow-downs, and changing business models, so it’s time to once again ask the industry what initiatives would support their mental health and wellbeing.

The Behind the Scenes Mental Health Initiative has done extensive work in the areas of su***de prevention, bullying and harassment, alcohol and substance misuse, finding qualified therapists, providing easy to navigate resources, Mental Health First Aid training, and reducing stigma. Work has recently been started on initiatives to help people improve their communication skills and to assist them in exploring career expansion or transitions to new careers when work is not plentiful enough.

Your response to the 2025 survey will guide the development of new tools and resources to meet your needs as you navigate a rapidly changing industry. To participate in the survey go to: btslink.org/survey

We seek to reach a wide and diverse group of respondents with this survey. Please help us reach as many people as possible by forwarding this survey to your co-workers and colleagues. All information will be reviewed and published only in aggregate and will not include any information that identifies any individual participant. All responses will be kept private and confidential to the extent permitted by law.

To see all the tools and resources currently available visit btshelp.org/mentalhealth. If you have any questions, please contact [email protected].

06/03/2025

The new netHEADS is out! SRI at the Met Gala and more!

SRI at the Met

Sapsis Rigging is proud to have provided the rigging support for the 2025 Met Gala in New York City. SRI has been working with the Metropolitan Museum of Art on the Gala for at least the last 30 years (we’ve kinda lost track) and every year is a creative new adventure. And fun!

In addition to the Gala, SRI has provided rigging services at the museum for special events, exhibits and building support. We’ve also conducted rigging training for the museum staff.

It's an honor to work with the Metropolitan Museum of Art and we’re thankful for their support over the years.

See more: https://conta.cc/4juoVHP

04/17/2025

Safety Inspections and More!

It’s Spring! The Baseball season is upon us AND, it’s time to schedule your annual Rigging Safety Inspection!
A safety inspection will help identify problems, and potential problems, in your rigging system before they become accidents. Additionally, safety inspections are required by a number of ANSI Standards including:
ANSI E1.4-1 – 2022 Manual Counterweight Rigging Systems
ANSI E1.6-1 – 2021 Powered Hoist Systems
ANSI E1.22 – 2022 Fire Safety Curtain Systems
Sapsis Rigging is the recognized leader for rigging safety inspections in North America. Since 1983 we have conducted over 3,000 inspections in theaters, arenas, hotel venues, churches, theme parks and other performance venues around the world.
https://www.sapsis-rigging.com/safetyinspections.html
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Inspection and Training Discount!

Spring is also the busy season for Rigging Training. Whether you’re looking to increase your staff’s knowledge base or ensure your ETCP Certified crew gets their required renewal credits, Sapsis Rigging can provide the training you need. ETCP Recognized Trainers Bill Sapsis & Eric Rouse, lead the industry in rigging training. They bring over 75 years of combined experience to every training session they hold.

In honor of the season, Sapsis Rigging is offering $400.00 off any inspection or training session booked before the end of May. The training or inspection can be held at any time in 2025 but needs to be confirmed by May 31 to be eligible for the discount. Contact us at [email protected] to schedule and save.
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Fiscal Year Ending?

We’d be remiss if we didn’t point out that the fiscal year for most school districts ends on June 30. If you have money left over in your budget, and knowing if you don’t spend it you’ll lose it, may we suggest you look to the Sapsis Rigging online catalog for all your rigging and safety equipment needs. From hardware to hardhats, rope to ratchet straps and books to blocks, we can help you re-stock your supplies for next year.
https://www.sapsis-rigging.com/Merchant5/merchant.mvc

Address

870 Bunting Lane
Upper Darby, PA
19018

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 4:30pm
Tuesday	8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday	8am - 4:30pm
Thursday	8am - 4:30pm
Friday	8am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+12152280888

Website

http://www.sapsis-rigging.com/

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