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Festival Rigging Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Event Crew

Alexandria, VA ยท On-site

$22/hr

... festivals, and corporate events throughout the DMV area. We work with some of the biggest ... structures, rigging, and rapidly changing conditions. Communication may occur through spoken ...

Festival Rigging information

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Festival Rigger, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Festival Rigger, you need strong knowledge of rigging principles, safety standards, and experience with stage construction, typically supported by relevant certifications such as Entertainment Rigging or OSHA training. Familiarity with technical equipment like hoists, trussing systems, and load calculation software is essential. Attention to detail, teamwork, and effective communication are critical soft skills for ensuring safety and coordinating with production teams. These skills and qualifications are vital for safely installing and maintaining complex structures in dynamic festival environments.

What are some common challenges faced by festival rigging professionals during large-scale events?

Festival rigging professionals often encounter challenges such as working within tight timeframes, adapting to changing weather conditions, and ensuring strict safety compliance in dynamic environments. Collaborating closely with lighting, sound, and staging teams is essential to coordinate equipment setup and modifications. Staying organized and communicating effectively with the broader production crew help address issues quickly and keep the event running smoothly. Understanding the venue's unique layout and being prepared to troubleshoot on the fly are key to success in this role.

How much do rigging artists get paid?

Rigging artists in the entertainment and event industries typically earn between $20 and $40 per hour, with annual salaries ranging from $40,000 to $80,000 depending on experience, location, and project complexity. Skilled rigging artists often require knowledge of safety standards, rigging tools, and certification in rigging or related fields.

Where do riggers make the most money?

Riggers in the entertainment, live event, and industrial sectors tend to earn higher wages, especially in regions with a high concentration of large-scale productions or infrastructure projects. Experience, specialized skills, certifications, and working in major metropolitan areas or regions with active construction and event industries can also increase earning potential.

What is a festival rigger?

A festival rigger is a professional responsible for installing, maintaining, and dismantling rigging systems used to suspend lighting, sound, and stage equipment at festivals and live events. They work with tools, safety protocols, and often require certifications in rigging and fall protection to ensure safe setup and operation in dynamic environments.

What is the difference between Festival Rigging vs Stage Rigging?

AspectFestival RiggingStage Rigging
CredentialsRigging certifications, OSHA trainingRigging certifications, OSHA training
Work EnvironmentOutdoor festival sites, temporary setupsIndoor theaters, concert halls, permanent venues
Employer & IndustryEvent production companies, festivalsTheater companies, concert venues
Common Search/ComparisonFestival Rigging vs Stage Rigging

Festival rigging and stage rigging share similar skills and certifications, but festival rigging focuses on outdoor, temporary setups for festivals, while stage rigging involves indoor, permanent or semi-permanent venues. Both roles require safety certifications and involve working with rigging equipment, but their environments and specific applications differ.

What is festival rigging?

Festival rigging refers to the process of installing, securing, and managing the equipment used to suspend lighting, audio, video, and scenic elements at festivals. Rigging professionals ensure that all overhead structures are safely and securely set up according to strict safety standards. This includes designing rigging plots, calculating load weights, and operating hoists or trusses. Their work is crucial for both the safety of the performers and attendees, as well as the success of the overall event production.

What jobs pay 2000 a day?

In the field of festival rigging, highly specialized roles such as senior rigging supervisors, project managers, or lead riggers with extensive experience and certifications can earn around $2,000 per day, especially for large-scale events or high-profile festivals. These positions often require advanced skills in rigging, safety standards, and equipment management, and may involve long hours and on-site work. Compensation varies based on project scope, location, and individual expertise.
What are popular job titles related to Festival Rigging jobs in Virginia? For Festival Rigging jobs in Virginia, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Festival Rigging jobs in Virginia look for? The top searched job categories for Festival Rigging jobs in Virginia are:
What cities in Virginia are hiring for Festival Rigging jobs? Cities in Virginia with the most Festival Rigging job openings:
Infographic showing various Festival Rigging job openings in Virginia as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 90% Full Time, 7% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 94% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution.
Stagehand | Part-Time | Sandler Center for the Performing Arts

Stagehand | Part-Time | Sandler Center for the Performing Arts

Spectra

Virginia Beach, VA โ€ข On-site

$18/hr

Part-time

Retirement

Posted 23 days ago


Job description

Oak View Group
Oak View Group (OVG) is the global leader in premium live entertainment infrastructure and services, with a platform spanning venue development and end-to-end capabilities across venue management, hospitality, and sponsorship sales. Founded in 2015, the company serves a collection of seven world-class owned venues and a client roster of the most iconic arenas, stadiums, convention centers, music festivals, performing arts centers, and cultural institutions, spanning four continents.
Overview
A Stagehand will work backstage or behind the scenes supporting all the performances at the performing arts center. The work includes setting up the scenery, lights, sound, props, rigging, and special effects for a production.
This role will start at an hourly rate of $18.00.
For Part-Time roles: Benefits: 401(k) savings plan and 401(k) matching.
This position will remain open until July 31, 2026.
Responsibilities
  • Assist in setup, teardown, and loading of venues for events, conferences, and conventions; set up stage, lighting, sound, and special effects systems.
  • Clean and maintain staging areas and/or staging equipment.
  • Coordinate with event production and management staff to ensure that all staging, equipment, and facilities are set up properly.
  • Manually lift and move all staging, rigging, lighting, and special effects.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications
  • Knowledge of theater construction and rigging.
  • Excellent communication skills.
  • Ability to deal with the public, guests, and employees in a highly stressful environment.
  • Ability to schedule in advance, work nights/holidays/weekends, and show up on time with a positive attitude.
  • High School Diploma or GED preferred.

Strengthened by our Differences. United to Make a Difference
At OVG, we understand that to continue positively disrupting the sports and live entertainment industry, we need a diverse team to help us do it. We also believe that inclusivity drives innovation, strengthens our people, improves our service, and raises our excellence. Our success is rooted in creating environments that reflect and celebrate the diverse communities in which we operate and serve, and this is the reason we are committed to amplifying voices from all different backgrounds.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Oak View Group is committed to equal employment opportunity. We will not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment on any legally recognized basis ("protected class") including, but not limited to veteran status, uniform service member status, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information or any other protected class under federal, state, or local law.