tyler@delongriggingsolutions.com

Tyler DeLong is the founder of DeLong Rigging Solutions. As an ETCP-certified Theatre and Arena Rigger and ETCP-Recognized Trainer, Tyler brings a combination of hands-on field experience, technical knowledge, and practical leadership to every project and training program DRS delivers.

Through DeLong Rigging Solutions, Tyler has worked with schools, theatres, arenas, production companies, and entertainment venues across the country, providing rigging inspections, system installations, safety consultations, maintenance, and workforce training. His work is rooted in the belief that safe and efficient productions are built through preparation, communication, and a strong understanding of both standards and real-world application.

Tyler’s training style reflects the culture of the industry itself: direct, practical, and experience-driven. He specializes in translating complex rigging concepts into approachable, usable information for technicians at every level, from students and educators to seasoned professionals preparing for ETCP certification.

When he is not in a theatre, arena, or classroom, Tyler is actively developing new training programs, educational resources, and industry initiatives aimed at making high-quality technical education more accessible to entertainment technicians worldwide.

caitlyn@delongriggingsolutions.com

Caitlyn is our business manager. She works behind the scenes for DRS and provides much-needed office support. She spent her first few years after high school jumping around to try and discover what career path she wanted to follow. She has worked in many different career fields such as food services, distribution, vet offices, retail, office environments, and most recently banking. She attended Ivy Tech Community College in Bloomington, IN where she earned her associate degree in Business Administration, as well as a few other technical certificates. 

In her spare time, Caitlyn is an avid reader, loves off roading with her Jeep (Jackson), teaching herself how to play piano, playing Stardew Valley, going on adventures with son Grant and husband Tyler, and long lunches with friends.

john@delongriggingsolutions.com

John graduated from Indiana University School of Music, now the Jacob’s School of Music with a Bachelor of Science in Music and an Outside Field, (Stage Technology). For the better part of 15 years John worked mostly as a tour rigger. Occasionally working as an electrician, occasionally as a production manager and between touring gigs did a few months on the night gang at the Metropolitan Opera and most of a year in a New York City scenery shop as a carpenter/welder. Later, taking a stay at home job, John was the Head Carpenter/Stage Manager at Indiana University Auditorium for 27 years. Currently filling the position of Head of Inspections for DRS, John is an ETCP certified Rigger in both Theatrical and Arena Rigging (Certification #691).

ron@delongriggingsolutions.com

Ron joined DeLong Rigging Solutions in late 2024. He has twenty plus years of sales, rental, & installation of theatrical lighting, lighting systems, curtains and tracks. As well as sales & installation of motorized theatre rigging systems (ETC Prodigy certified installer since 2012).

Ron is passionate about many things – including family, friends, his dogs, all things rock-n-roll & race cars. If you want to see him during the month of May, you’ll have to go to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway! While not at work, you can find Ron behind a BBQ grill, enjoying a fine cigar or at a racetrack near or far.

bob@delongriggingsolutions.com

Robert Brown is an enthusiastic and energetic member of the DRS team. Originally from the Chicago area having grown up in Evanston, IL. His interests in all things theatre began in high school and quickly became his career choice while seeking a degree from Indiana University Bloomington. While attending university Bob started the friendships and foundations that would nearly 10 years later become his new career choice with DRS.

In recent years Bob has become a collector of projects ranging from machinery repair to rebuilding motorcycles. He has a profound sense for anything mechanical and most things electrical. His hobbies have provided a wealth of knowledge that transfers seamlessly into automated scenery and mechanical systems found within our work.

chris@delongriggingsolutions.com

Christopher joined the DRS team in 2023 after twenty plus years in academia teaching strong scenery construction and rigging techniques for Indiana University, Department of Theatre and Dance.  His interest has always been rigging and flown scenery.  Christopher’s early career includes stints in regional theatre, exhibit design and construction, scenery carpentry, and as a farm hand on his brother’s midwest farm.  He holds an Associate degree in architecture, Bachelor’s degree in theatre, and a Master of Fine Arts in scenic design.  Christopher is an ETCP certified Rigger in Theatrical Rigging (Certification # 4535).

hartman@delongriggingsolutions.com

My journey to DRS is unconventional yet familiar like I was coming back home.  First and foremost, I am a husband and father of 5, and now a grandpa of 5. I enjoy spending time with family, my Dobermans, watching movies, sports, trying to stay in shape, and a good bourbon. 

The journey started in, 1985-88, at IU-Bloomington Musical Arts Center as an undergraduate stagehand and then an associate instructor (AI), under the “Esteemed” Harold Mack (those who know him are laughing). This in turn led me to meet John Delong, a previous MACK disciple, which means I have known Tyler since he was born.

After learning some theater/rigging knowledge, I left for the East Coast to be a stockbroker for several years.  Soon after moving back, I met my future wife and decided to go back to IU master’s degrees in labor relations & public finance…AND back at the MAC as an AI for a couple more years.  

All of these have contributed to me gaining enough experience to be part of a great idea conceived by Tyler and John, which feels like coming home to the family business.

ben@delongriggingsolutions.com

Ben is one of our Project Managers. He moved to Bloomington IN in 2000 to attend Indiana University, graduating in 2005. After finishing school, he stayed in Bloomington, working at skateboard shops, a screen-printing shop, and a sign shop before becoming a stagehand in 2018. He started theater work with an interest in audio but expanded to include rigging. He became a member of IATSE local 618 in 2021 and joined the DRS team in October of 2024 as a lead installer. Ben has years of hands-on production and installation experience that has transferred over to the theatrical rigging industry very well.

Ben lives on the south side of Bloomington with his wife Angela and son Pedro. In his spare time, he watches baseball, works on house projects, skateboards, and plays and records music with friends.

david@delongriggingsolutions.com

It all started with David’s birth. From his perspective, everything began when he was born. Many significant but largely unrelated things happened over the years before he eventually started college and, without realizing it at the time, began his career in technical theatre.

At Young Harris College, a tiny two-year college in north Georgia, David worked on the school’s theatre productions as an extracurricular activity. When he transferred to the University of Colorado Boulder, he immediately found a student job at Macky Auditorium on campus. He eventually began freelancing at venues throughout the Boulder and Denver markets. Soon afterward, he convinced the management at Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre to let him pull chains, marking the beginning of his rigging career.

Then, about ten years later, the circus came to town.

Cirque du Soleil’s touring production of Quidam was looking for a rigger. David was the right person in the right place at the right time, and when the circus left town, he ran away with it. For more than ten years, he traveled the world with Cirque du Soleil, learning about circus rigging, acrobatic rigging, and performer flying. He quickly climbed the ranks and eventually became Head of the Rigging Department for the Dralion tour.

After leaving Cirque du Soleil, David joined Cavalia’s Odysseo, a production combining horses and circus arts beneath a gigantic big top. So yes, it was another circus. It was there that he met Tyler DeLong, who was fresh out of school at the time. More importantly, it was also where David met his future wife. After eight years of touring together with Cavalia, David moved with her to Bloomington when she returned home.

Following a brief sabbatical—and some time spent adjusting to a settled life in one place—David began accepting rigging jobs throughout Indiana. Less than a week later, Tyler contacted him about working for his company.

And here David is today, living the dream.

aiden@delongriggingsolutions.com

Aiden is our first ever apprentice at DRS. He is our guinea pig as we grow and adapt our apprenticeship program. He landed this role because he wanted to graduate from high school early. In order to do this, he needed to take one more semester and do an “internship” with a company, so he approached his aunt Caitlyn and uncle Tyler to see if they could help him out. He has since completed that semester and has now officially graduated high school and will walk in the ceremony in May. Aiden is looking forward to growing his experience in entertainment rigging and gaining as many life skills as possible while with DRS.

In his spare time, Aiden enjoys camping, bouldering, any other outdoor activities, video games, reading, and watching sports. Aiden also recently purchased a 2000 Jeep Wrangler that he has named Tommy and is in the process of updating and repairing it. 

woody@delongriggingsolutions.com

Woody has lived in the Monroe and Brown County areas all his life. He is family oriented with a loving wife, Debbie of 49 years, 3 children: Sarah, Amy, and Kevin. The proud grandpa/Poppy of 5 grandchildren, and 1 great grandchild. During his early years, he lived at Lake Lemon where he enjoyed all types of water sports. Woody started his employment in the family construction business where he learned masonry, and basic construction. Later became employed at the Bloomington Park and Recreation Dept. After 11 years, moved to the Bloomington Fire Department, where he retired after 30 years of service. In between all that, he worked as a stagehand with IATSE Local 618. This is where he met Leroy, John, and Tyler DeLong, along with several of the DRS team. 

In his spare time, now that he is “semi-retired”, he enjoys camping, traveling with family , fishing, and the occasional golf game. 

jennifer@delongriggingsolutions.com

Jennifer came to work for DRS in December 2024, as our first receptionist. She worked for Caitlyn’s mom (Dianna) for over two years, leaving for greener grasses and quickly realized her error in judgement. After confessing the situation to Dianna, she led Jennifer to DRS. Now she works for Caitlyn, keeping her loyalty to the family!

Jennifer and family moved to Bloomington in 2004 after living in San Diego for 15 years to be closer to family. She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Hanover College. Jennifer is also professionally trained in Acupressure-derived from Traditional Chinese Medical practices and beliefs. After over twenty-five years in the social work field, she needed a change. COVID allowed it to happen, giving me the opportunity to reflect and regroup.

 In her spare time, she loves being at home, being with her family and dogs, traveling and vacationing at the beach. She is passionate about customer service and treating people with dignity and respect. She is looking forward to assisting DRS and the community we serve for years to come.