Convertible counterweight rigging system

A counterweighted theatrical rigging system comprising:

• a head block and a plurality of loft blocks provided at an elevated height above a stage floor;
• a plurality of lift lines extending over the head block and the plurality of loft blocks;
• a batten configured to be loaded with theatrical equipment, the batten coupled with first ends of the plurality of lift lines;
• a counterweight arbor configured to balance and offset the weight of the loaded batten, wherein the counterweight arbor is coupled with second ends of the plurality of lift lines;
• a lift line lock configured to selectively lock the second ends of the plurality of lift lines to the counterweight arbor;
• and
• a winch configured to selectively reel in or let out the second ends of the plurality of lift lines from the counterweight arbor when the lift line lock is not locked.

A method of operating a counterweighted theatrical rigging system, the method comprising:

• loading theatrical equipment to a batten from the stage floor with the batten in a lowered position;
• from the stage floor, ballasting a counterweight arbor that is coupled to the batten while the batten is in the lowered position;
• and
• after loading the batten and ballasting the counterweight arbor, converting the rigging system from a loading configuration in which the batten can move vertically without movement of the counterweight arbor into an operating configuration in which the batten and the counterweight arbor are linked for corresponding movement in opposite vertical directions.