H'okay, h'okay. Maybe not died, but it sure was scary!
My work-study is Technical Theatre and Stagecraft. From time to time, we have to go up on some pretty sizeable A-frame ladders. The one in Slade Theatre (the bigger proceneum space) is like 18', with the fixtures at 20'. In the Lab Theatre (blackbox/flexible space), the ladder is like 14' and on wheels with the fixtures at 16.5'. So you really have to get up there. I'm not afraid of heights. I love climbing trees, indoor rock climbing, rope adventure courses, all that stuff. But A-frame ladders, well those are different. I can totally do your normal built-into-the-wall ladder, but get one that is self suppourting, and thats a whole different matter. What if I tip it over? Yeah, I'd fall and die.
Today, I had to reterive a source 4 parkane from up in storage (on the electrics, but offstage). This involved going up very high on the one with wheels! I was literally dripping sweat. It turned out that I got the wrong light (hey, I havn't taken lighting design yet!) Then, I had to hang it at an angle, not just straigt down like it was stored. This required going up even higher on the ladder...I braved it. I was at the top-okay, well two steps away from the top. I was sure I was going to die. I needed to be at a different angle, so I thought of what I'd seen others do. I was going to straddle the ladder. Woah. Having one foot on it for a prolonged period of time. And with the deep desire to let my supervisor know that I'm not useless to have around, I did it.
And then, in the end, I had to take the light down. And it was hot. So I could only hold on to the C-clamp. But I did it.
Yay for conquering fears!
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