CHAPTER 4 Ropes and Knot Tying It is not surprising that rope handling skills are very important to stagehand work, con- sidering that sailors were the originators of our craft. Knowledge about rope selection; coiling skills; and quick, accurate knot tying should be learned early in your training. Poorly executed knots can lead to serious injury for anyone unfortunate enough to be underneath a falling piece of scenery or lighting equipment. Rope lines should be selected with an understanding of the capabilities of the line as they relate to what you want to use them for. Knots should be tied with the same understanding. There are literally hundreds of different kinds of knots. It is best to begin with a few of the most common, so that they can be appropriately mastered. Videos of tying some of these knots, and others, are available on the Web site for this book.