Derek Epstein is a senior rigging manager at Encore. He is an ETCP Certified Rigger and Recognized Trainer, and will be leading the session Ballroom Rigging - Things to Consider, Standards and Room Layout at RIGZ! on Saturday, December 6, with speakers Kris Ackerman and Stephanie Trinh, also from Encore.
Live Design: Can you describe yourself in less than 50 words?
Derek Epstein: Experienced senior rigging manager with ETCP Rigging certification and Recognized Trainer status. I lead complex rigging operations for Encore’s Special Ops team, ensuring safety, precision, and excellence. Passionate about mentoring, engineering solutions, and advancing industry standards.
LD: Please give a brief overview of your training/education/career path.
DE: went to schools and got a BFA in Scenic Design from the University of Wyoming. I am an ETCP Certified Rigger, Certified in CM motor maintenance and Motion Labs Portable power repair!
LD: Please describe your most recent project.
DE: Just before LDI I will have led a team in hanging my largest LED wall to date, a 415' wide LED wall for a conference in San Francisco!
LD: What are you teaching at LDI and who is your target audience?
DE: A session about Ballroom Rigging, and it is open to people of any experience level who are interested in rigging!
LD: What has been the biggest challenge of your career to date?
DE: The biggest challenge of my career has been transitioning from theater into the corporate AV rigging world while rebuilding my career after my college position was cut. I had to learn a new environment, new expectations, and new operational demands, all while establishing credibility with teams across multiple regions. That shift pushed me to grow quickly, adapt my approach, and become a stronger and more versatile rigging leader.
LD: What is your advice for people just getting into the industry?
DE: Make friends, network, shadow when you can, and ask questions. Yes, there are stupid questions. Ask them anyway. If you do not ask, you will miss out on the stories and lessons that help you avoid issues and mistakes in the future.
Attending conferences like this and walking up to people to introduce yourself can shape your entire career. After introducing myself to a group of people in 2010 I ended up getting two full-time jobs from those connections. I hope the same opportunities find you.