How far in advance should I plan rigging for my event?

Rigging should be planned as early as possible in the production process, ideally during the initial design phase. The rigging plan directly affects venue selection (does the venue support the required loads?), budget (motor count, crew size, engineering review), and scheduling (rigging is almost always the first discipline in during load-in and the last out during strike).

For large-scale productions (concerts, arena shows, festivals), rigging is planned weeks or months in advance with full engineering review. For corporate events and galas, rigging requirements should be confirmed at least 2-4 weeks before load-in to allow time for equipment sourcing, rigging plot preparation, and venue approval. Last-minute rigging changes are expensive and can compromise safety.