Ask Andy #1: Ever Gotten Hurt?
“Have you ever gotten hurt doing the show?” – Elizabeth, Milwaukee
Never during the show. When I was first learning how to use the Van de Graaff generator, I did manage to charge myself up with static electricity and then give myself a series of very painful shocks. After that, I made sure I understood how to use the equipment BEFORE turning it on. Learn from my mistakes!
Some of the equipment onstage is very dangerous, but we have a very skilled crew of technicians whose job it is to make sure all that equipment is working properly and is being used safely. Plus, we have a couple of switches near the stage which can instantly cut off all the power going to the equipment. Any time I’m using more than a small amount of electricity, I put on a pair of big thick insulated gloves. So no matter what happens, everyone in the room is completely safe at all times.
-Andy
