AGMA Regulations for Safety with Swords and/or Props and Weapons. For the purposes of this Agreement all props used as weapons, including but not limited to swords, sharp implements, knives, poles or any other like instrument, shall be referred to as weapons. The EMPLOYER agrees that whenever a production requires the use of weapons, the following regulations shall apply.
1. The EMPLOYER shall engage a Fight Director (see subparagraph 9 below.) who shall be thoroughly familiar with the proper use and maintenance of the weapons required in the production. The Fight Director will be engaged during the rehearsal process to work with the ARTIST(S) and understudies in collaboration with the Choreographer or Stages. Instruction in the proper and safe use of the weapons shall be a prerequisite prior to the issuance of any weapon to any ARTIST for any rehearsal or performance. Where a question of safety exists in the opinion of the Fight Director, the Choreographer or Xxxxxx may not overrule the Fight Director's expert judgment.
2. No ARTIST shall be required or permitted to handle any weapon in either rehearsal or performance until the ARTIST feels confident that they have received adequate instructions.
3. All weapons shall be in the possession of the Stage Manager/Property Master when not actually in use during rehearsal or performance.
4. It is agreed that at the commencement of each rehearsal involving weapons, performance tempos shall be modified to facilitate a proper warm-up and orientation prior to rehearsing at a performance- level tempo.
5. All weapons will be thoroughly inspected, cleaned and inventoried by the Stage Manager/Property Master at the end of each rehearsal and performance.
6. At the conclusion of the weapons scene all weapons shall be returned to the Stage Manager/Property Master and stored for safekeeping.
7. The Fight Director will be present for at least one on-stage technical rehearsal to observe and to supervise the actual staging of the fight sequence.
8. In the event that the performance parameters change (by way of example without limitation: where a smaller stage diminishes individual ARTIST's parameters of safety necessitating fewer ARTISTS, fewer weapons, or revised choreography, the Fight Director will supervise restaging. Such restaging may be devised in advance in anticipation of a change in performance parameters (by way of example without limitation: in preparation for performances on smaller stages during tours).
