If you’re in the touring industry, chances are that at some point you’ve done (or will soon do) a show on a Stageline mobile stage. For over 25 years, they’ve been providing mobile staging for not only outdoor concerts, but also marketing events, mobile theatres, and custom projects of every sort. With an eye for detail and a team with years of experience, their stages are used on the biggest festivals and events around the world, with their popular SAM555 model providing staging and protection from the elements for hundreds of shows since its inception.
After seeing a gradual and steady increase in the requested weight capacity for the SAM555, the creative team at Stageline realized that the time had come to build a model that would fit into the same size class, but feature increased rigging capacity and an expanded array of options to support ever-heavier lighting and sound requirements. What emerged after three years of research and development was the SAM575 mobile stage, the latest offering from the Canada-based company.
Double the Load
Like its predecessor, the basic SAM575 stage has a deck footprint 50 feet wide and 38 feet deep, with a maximum trim height of 30 feet to the rigging points. The layout of the rigging points remains largely the same, but the similarities end there. Utilizing improvements in materials science and infrastructure design, the SAM575 has more than twice the rigging capacity of the SAM555, an improvement that allows truly massive production such as LED walls, massive lighting rigs, or serious line arrays to be hung without compromising either safety or the artistry of the production. The six truss rigging points have been increased from 4,000 pounds per truss to 10,000 pounds per truss, with one point on the second truss hang being rated for 6,000 pounds. The capacities for the movable beams have all doubled from 2,000 pounds to 4,000 pounds each, while the side fly bays have increased from 8,000 pounds to 12,000 pounds for large LED screens or PA.
Like the SAM555, the SAM575 has four movable rigging points to allow maximum versatility for hanging configurations — you aren’t limited to just the static points. Additionally, realizing the increased demand for side-hung LED screens on shows, Stageline added 3,000 pound capacity rigging points to the previously unused space downstage in front of the corner columns, allowing productions to hang a line array there. This configuration frees up the side hang bays for LED screens and feature 1.5-ton capacity points. At the Tortuga Music Festival in Fort Lauderdale, FL earlier this year, this feature let organizers hang two massive LED walls (See photo, this page). Stageline further realized the need to be able to raise or lower both the rear backdrop and lateral banners in the event of inclement weather. They added a convenient and reliable pulley system for the walls, which means taking these down during a storm has never been faster — or safer.
While these improvements afford designers and audio engineers additional creative freedom, what isn’t increased is the already fast setup time. Setup for the full SAM575 package with covered side wings and rear-loading dock can be completely completed with a crew of 12 in six to 10 hours, with hands normally being cut after six to eight hours.
Safety, of course, is the primary configuration, and during the course of their 25 years of manufacturing stages, no Stageline stage has ever experienced an equipment malfunction resulting in a collapse. Their commitment to crew, artist, and audience safety continues with this stage, which features all the proven safety features of the SAM555, including durable hand railings on stairs, a 2:1 safety ratio on all rigging capacities, 150 pound per square foot deck capacity, and fire-retardant vinyl or mesh wind walls on three sides for protection from inclement weather.
Eye on the Sky
Weather safety is always a primary concern for any outdoor show, and Stageline’s safety program for all its mobile stages recently expanded to include a partnership with professional meteorological service WeatherOps (plsn.me/WeatherOps). Now, instead of being reactive with just an anemometer on the roof of the stage structure, this service connects the onsite Stageline tech and the concert promoter with a 24/7 on-call professional meteorologist. Critical information about incoming weather systems is relayed proactively — not only through direct calls, but phone and web apps that provide up-to-the-second information about a wide variety of outdoor threats, including high winds and lighting strikes. They also provide detailed seven-day forecasts, so that your event will have access to critical weather and safety information.
At a Glance:
A Proven Performer
Having already been used by Tortuga, Carolina Country Music Fest, Bonnaroo, Free Press Summer Festival and Welcome to Rockville, the SAM575 has emerged as a trusted mid- to large-size mobile stage well suited to the needs of a wide range of touring productions, festivals and outdoor events. With their proven safety record, advanced features, and top-tier support, their mobile stages are built to withstand the most demanding tours and events for years to come.
Stageline SAM575 Mobile Stage
Stage Size: 50’ x 38’ (up to 90’ x 56’ w/wings & backstage)
Rigging Capacity: 94,000 lbs. total
Trim Height: 30’
Wind Resistance: 90 mph (w/o windwalls); 60 mph (w/ windwalls)
Setup Requirements: 6-10 hours (w/ 12 workers)
More Info: www.stageline.com
