Join master rigger Roy Bickel of Origin Productions for his keynote address – From Human Cannonball to Award Winner: The Extraordinary Journey of Roy Bickel – at RIGZ! on Saturday, December 6 from 9:15-10am at LDI2025 in Las Vegas.
For over six decades, Roy Bickel has climbed higher, flown farther, and built safer stages for the world to stand on. From launching out of cannons with the circus to rigging stages for Elvis, Broadway, and the Olympics, Roy’s keynote, “From Human Cannonball to Award Winner,” is a celebration of courage, creativity, and the power of saying “yes” to every challenge. Join us as Roy shares the stories behind the ropes, the innovations that changed live production forever, the unforgettable moments on and above the stage, and the lessons that remind us all to “Climb Safe.”
Bickel was a circus rigger and performer prior to being hired as the head rigger for the first “Disney on Parade” show in 1969. He continued until 1974 when he left for Broadway to work for Pete Feller. After a time there, he went on to do the Rolling Stones tour in 1975. That was the beginning of a long career as a “rock & roll” rigger.
As the first head rigger on the Disney on Parade shows, he trained people in climbing techniques, rigging procedures, and physical fitness regimens to keep in great shape. Bickel's techniques were taught to many of the first-generation entertainment riggers. This training very much helped the rapid expansion of the industry during the rock & roll explosion.
Bickel was and is a true innovator. Perhaps the two most notable contributions that changed the rigging world to what it looks like today was the introduction of slings with screw pin anchor shackles around 50 years ago. Along with the sling development, he specified the orientation and sizes of shackles used with the slings; these methods are still in use today.
Bickel received the ESTA Lifetime Technical Achievement Award in 2021.
In addition to his RIGZ! keynote, Bickel will also be a panelist on Show Wreckers : When Things Go Wrong (and How the Pros Fix It) “The Show Must Go On at XLIVE: The Concert Touring Sessions at LDI, also on Saturday, December 6.
He is also a "dino" at the Dining With Dinosaurs event on Saturday evening, December 6 at LDI, presented by Geezers of Gear.
Use code ROY20 for 20% off RIGZ! and join Roy Bickel and a A-list of riggers at RIGZ!, LDI's two-day rigging intensive on Saturday and Sunday, December 6 & 7.