Requirements for the stiltwalkers at events
Empress stiltwalkers are easy to work with and adaptable to a great range of environments. We can walk comfortably in crowds, indoors and out, can squeeze through doorways, navigate a wide range of surfaces and can tough it out in most weather.
Here is a guideline to what we do and don’t need…
Stilt Up:
Empress works with tall stilts. We often get asked how we get up and down! To get up on our stilts we need to sit somewhere higher than a table. Often a chair on a table, a car roof or a packing crate will do the trick. If there is nothing around you can help us by providing a large box, some chairs and sturdy table.
Height:
Each of the EMPRESS stilt characters measures approx 3.5 – 5 meters in total height (depending on the costume). We are also often very wide and take up a lot of space. Please take this into account when booking and check the height of your ceiling after lights, decor and other rigging is hung.
Performance Area:
When presenting walkabout acts the stiltdancers need enough room to move comfortably between people and a large flat, dry area to walk in.
Surface requirements:
The EMPRESS Stiltdancers cannot perform on wet, slippery, muddy or deep sandy surfaces. Any sign of liquid on a glossy surface is extremely hazardous to stilt walkers.
Steps:
The EMPRESS Stiltdancers cannot walk up or down long flights of steps. Please make sure that the pathway between backstage and performance does not involve steps and that they can avoid steps in the performance zone.
Dressing Rooms:
A dressing room must be supplied as close to the performance area as possible. Whilst this room does not have to be high, it must be private and have good access to performance site.
Rain and gale force winds:
The EMPRESS performers cannot perform in rain or gale force winds. EMPRESS will be at the event (unless cancelled) and wait to be rescheduled (by negotiation) on the day of performance. If there is no possibility of performance (and those appearances are cancelled) EMPRESS will invoice for 100% of the total fee.
