,which took place from January 27-31, 2025, at their state-of-the-art custom training facility in Thousand Oaks, California. The one-week course welcomed 50 attendees from across the United States, Canada, and overseas, offering a unique educational experience focused on entertainment industry rigging, structures, and engineering.

The course provided attendees with expert-led sessions covering key areas of the entertainment rigging industry, with hands-on instruction and insights from renowned professionals. Highlights of the week included:

• Aluminum Truss Structures in the Entertainment Industry: Taught by TOMCAT's own Adrian Forbes-Black and Keith Bohn, this one-day class explored the design, application, and safety standards of aluminum trusses used in entertainment technology.
• Outdoor Structures in the Entertainment Industry: Engineering legend Jeff Reder, of Clark Reder Engineering, led a full-day session, delving into the intricacies of creating safe and reliable outdoor structures for live events.
• Entertainment Rigging Principles: The three-day rigging course, led by Sapsis Rigging’s Eric Rouse, covered the fundamentals of rigging, safety protocols, and the latest techniques in entertainment rigging. The course was further enriched by a special guest appearance from the iconic 'Uncle' Bill Sapsis, whose contributions to the industry were celebrated by all attendees.

In addition to the educational sessions, attendees were treated to a night of friendly competition at a local karting track, where the 2025 champion, Tyler Copland of SMI Audio Visual, was crowned. The week also featured an evening of axe throwing, tacos, and a swag-filled celebration that helped foster a sense of community among the attendees.
"We are thrilled to have hosted such a diverse and engaged group of professionals from all over the world," said Adrian Forbes-Black, Vice President of TOMCAT USA. "TOMCAT University is all about providing top-tier education while building relationships within the industry. This year’s event was an incredible success, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds for our alumni."

 
TOMCAT USA extends its heartfelt gratitude to its sponsors—Killswitch Inc., Dirty Rigger, and Motion Laboratories—for their generous support and contributions to the event. Their commitment to the industry and their swag giveaways helped make TOMCAT University 2025 an even more memorable experience for attendees.
For those interested in attending TOMCAT University 2026, the waitlist is already open. To learn more about the program or to be added to the waitlist for next year, please visit www.tomcatuniversity.com or email tomcatu@tomcatusa.com.

About TOMCAT USA
TOMCAT USA is a leading manufacturer and supplier of innovative rigging and trussing solutions for the entertainment industry. With a commitment to safety, precision, and cutting-edge design, TOMCAT University provides high-quality and world-class training for rigging professionals.