Last year I bought a PA and am very pleased with the dramatic improvement in presentation this has made. I am now looking to add a portable backdrop to enhance the professionalism of my shows. How many times have you been asked to perform standing in front of a busy background, or worse a window?

Just about every backdrop I have seen would have a problem even with light wind.

I have thought about using the rig photographers use: tripod stands w/ Cross bar. I can weight the stands or perhaps even stake them. I would make a "vented" backdrop to use on those occasions.

If anybody has antother approach or can reccomend anything, I would appreciate it.

Thanks,
Bruce

The power of even a light breeze is incredible - just ask someone who sails.

Vents won't keep your darned tripods up - think of maybe an EZ-Up tent (correctly staked to the ground at each corner - ask a camper or a Boy Scout) as your "backstage dressing room", with your backdrop as the front sidewall of the tent - play in front of that - and don't try to extend it outward much if at all.

How is my idea of staking the tripods different than using an E-Z up tent (also know as midway tumbleweeds)?

Thanks for answering

Certainly a light breeze can push a sheet of cloth very hard. However, if correctly rigged with guy ropes and decent sized pegs even a strong wind would have trouble causing a problem. I am a scout leader and we have always used a canvas screen for our urinal area on camp. Nobody has yet had cause for embarrasment even though the weather has not always been favourable!

I would recommend the old fashioned wooden pegs about 12 inches long. They grip the ground much better than modern pegs when used correctly.

Best of luck

Harry

Folks,

95% of my shows are outdoors and I use a backdrop in medium wind conditions when necessary. Here is the secret:

Photo Tripods pretty much SUCK for outdoor show, the tripods are small and thin as well as the cross bar, they are used to HOLD ROLLS OF PAPER INDOORS for photographers. Sorry if you bought them.

You need a Lighting Truss System, here is the one I use:

http://www.americandj.com/product.asp?Pr......t=Stands

They are used so 200 lbs of lighting equipment can be hung from them, which means the tri-pods are bigger and thicker.

Now in moderate up to 40 mph wind conditions. You can only raise the tripods to about 6-7 feet high, less is better, you have to heavy duty CLAMP the cloth-backdrop to the tripod, HOMEDEPOT sells clamps (swamp meet type clamps).

The tripod legs have to be open pretty wide. You also have to figure out how to place the tripods legs according to wind direction. What ever direction the wind is blowing is how you direct the legs. You have to see this for yourself by rotating the tripods.

Finally place something heavy, on the backdrop behind it. My backdrop is 10 feet high and in high winds I only raise it 6-7 feet max high, which gives me slack at the bottom to place a heavy object.

I would set the backdrop first and then the rest of your show. You got to make sure it will not tip over with the wind. Also work in front of it a few feet away and have your audience further back. Just incase a freak wind builds up, it only falls on you and it does not injure a audience memember. Use common sense.

Finally I do not work at American DJ or do I sell Light Truss systems, other brand names exist besides American DJ.

USE THIS INFO AT YOUR OWN RISK.

G0THIKE

If your plan is to work festivals or fair events with an outdoor backdrop, my personal feeling from years of experience is to not bother. I say this for several reasons. In most festival situations, you do not have the luxury of having the stage for the entire time you are there. In many cases you share the stage area with other performers that day and what you take on and take off usually has to happen within 20 mins. This has been the norm for my wife and I.

Another factor certainly is wind. Even the lightest breeze can take that backdrop and send it to the moon. I know because I once tried it and realized it just was not worth the aggravation. You spend way too much time trying to anchor it down properly.

Another reason is that site lines at the festival or at the event get hindered or blocked if a backdrop is set up. In some places, this can be a problem for the client and certainly something you will want to address ahead of time with them.

Rosss gives a great idea and one I use for festival and outdoor events where I need to create my own stage area. I simply use a 10' by 10' QuickShade awning. It packs up tight and can be set up quickly. It provides shade for you between performances and acts as both a backdroip, staging area and dressing room for your show while at your event. You can also buy weights to anchor it down to any gress or pavement. Because your sides are open, the wind is much less a factor in this manner and you still retain sitelines.

You can certainly use a backdrop if you feel one is needed for your event. Just keep in mind that you want to research them ahead of time and make sure you have the proper items needed to avoid the weather and wind issue. There is nothing that draws attention more away from you and your performance, then a backdrop blowing all over the place.

Kyle

Having just performed an outdoor show in a covered area, I tried to secure a backdrop with a lighting tripod. Needless to say, this was futile despite the pourous material in my backdrop. I like the tent idea.

Dan.

The tent and quickshade idea works really well if you are outdoors at a block party of a festival or backyard situation on the grass. It works anywhere you need to set up a stage area for an outdoor event but nothing is provided for you. It sets up quick and provides ample shade for you without the wiond being as much of a factor.

You have a place to store your props that is out of the sun and out of any weather problems in the event it rains etc. It acts as a nice central stage area that people can focus on. You can also get a simple banner and tie that at top so that people can know who you are and you can market yourself in this manner while at the event.

Kyle

Staking the tripods gives you a staked base about 1 or 2 feet (the width of the legs) - staking a 10-foot tent gives you a more secure, staked base of 10 feet. Which would you prefer to depend on when a breeze comes up?

But my real preference, as others have suggested above, is to forget a backdrop - if you want to appear "more professional", improve your outdoor (un-miked) crowd communication skills.

When doing outdoor shows at festivals are larger venues, I always m ake sure to mic myself. If the audience can not hear you, then you mine as well not even be on stage. Having a sound system is essential for this purpose.

If you are only doing a small size crowd say at an outdoor b-day party or are doing strolling magic, then a sound system may not be needed. Just make sure you know the size of your audiences ahead of time to get the right information for what you will need.

As Ross stated, an awning style tent is much easier to work with then a backdrop cause of the 4 bases you have and the fact that the awning is over top and parallel to the wind. It works better.

Kyle

Kyle and Ross, Thank you for your recommendations. The pop up tent is probably the way I will go initially since I can use it in other places as well. For example, we were already considering buying one because I pitch Svengali decks occasionally @ flea markets.

GOThike: I looked at the website you recommended and for the incremental difference in the investment it probably makes sense to go with the heavy duty version.

However, if I am only using it inside I think I can save a couple of bucks and weight. I have seen the photo backdrops used with a fairly heavy velvet curtain. It seemed to hold up fine.

A big advantage to the truss system is that using the corner extensions you might be able to hook up a couple of spot lights to light your stage better. Combine that with a floor light box and a light that shines behind you to get rid of shadows and you have a pretty good set up for not a lot of money. It has been suggested that lights can be mounted on speaker stands below the speaker.

As you can see, I am still somewhat undecided on the indoor backdrop. Since I have a bunch of outdoor shows, on the flat w/no stage, we will get the pop-up tent with the flaps. Any one have any ideas on how much it costs to make a banner? Could I just use “iron on” printer paper on fabric? Hoe about having an artist spray paint it? What material would you use? Have I started a 2nd topic?

As always, thanks to all,
Bruce

Bruce,

If you have not already done so, I would start that as a new topic and I can then post some suggestions there for you. I would hate for this to go off topic by me going into detail here. I would be happy to help though give you some ideas.

The tent concept has worked amazingly well for me for my outdoor venues and also serves as a place to do my BOR sales between shows as well.

Kyle

I have seen the photo backdrops used with a fairly heavy velvet curtain. It seemed to hold up fine.
[/quote]

DON'T USE VELVET! You'll always look dowdy from the fact that it picks up EVERY FLAKE OF DIRT WITHIN 100 FEET and holds it tenaciously (and, by the way, the dirt is always white against your lovely rich-color velvet).

No, use a polyester of medium weight - I had my wife sew channels along the top for my backdrop's lateral pole - the fabric won't wrinkle and looks fine. Better to use several panels than one long width, and make sure you have enough - can't hang it stretched flat across, you need fullness.

If using the photographer's stands, always take a screwdriver - the manual locks tend to come out of adjustment and need on-the-spot tightening sometimes, or you'll find yourself without a backdrop by surprise.

Have a good sign shop do the banner - if you try iron-ons, again, you'll look like an amateur. They don't cost too much (maybe $100 tops) and they look fabulous, plus they last - the shop will even put grommets on for you to hang it. I found that metal shower-curtain rings (the wire ones with a safety-pin-like action) worked well to suspend it from a photographer's backdrop.

So what material would you suggest to use outdoors. have this stage we are using this october but it has these thing that will go on the back of the stage. we are going to put up like a backdrop that has a back to it. Like a puppet stage.

I simply would stay away from backdrops in outdoor festival events. I know this is only my own opinion, but this is from years and many many festivals of experience. They just become way more hassle and problems then they are worth.

Not only do you have the problem with the wind and weather, but it becomes even more of a problem for the festival crew who hired you. At times your backdrop may block lines of site that the festival wants to keep open. They may also cause problems if you have to share the stage with other performers who may be on before or after you.

If you do want to get one, then make sure you get one that is solid structure that can stand up and withstand the wind and anything you throw at it. There is nothing more distracting for an audience then a backdrop causing noise, flapping around or falling down in the middle of your show.

My humble opinion.

Kyle

The EZ up is what I use. It works well and you can use your photo backdrop within the tent. Thus giving you a "Backstage" as spoke about. I did a outdoor show last Sunday and the tent was a real life saver when it started to rain. Kept me, my props and equipment totally dry! The crowd on the other hand well they got wet. The tent does require a little more set up time and space in your car but outdoor shows can present some problems. My feeling if I charge enough for my show then I can justify spending a little more time setting up and giving the client the best show I can. It also makes your show look bigger and keeps you out of sun on sunny days.

I always use a quickshade if I have to set up my own staging area and if one is not given to me in the agreement with the festival I work for. It is indeed a lifesavor as it keeps you out of the sun, protects if it rains and makes for a nice stage area if you have to create your own. The quick shade tent sets up fast and breaks down fast and does take up room, but not as much as you may think.

Kyle

I have used the EZ up tents as well with some success over the years. Costco is now selling them with extra set of both full and half walls in a set which really helps. You can basically quickly convert from a sealed "backstage" configuration to a back of room sales "booth". Pretty neat.

I also have a good friend who is getting into painting custom canvass "sideshow" style custom banners and ridiculously low prices. She just did one for me I have been using this season and it really gets attention! I am not affiliated with her or anything but if you PM me if you are interested and I will get you her info.

Keith Stickley
http://www.howtobookfestivals.com

The EZ up tents or Quickshade tents work wonders for me and my wife when we do the many outdoor shows that we do. I do not use a backdrop, but this tent, I use quite often as a means of setting up a quick stage area in the event that the place I am working at does not have one for me. It creates a nice stage area in the ahde and I can set up my sound system easily to create a nice stage area that does not take up a lot of room either.

Kyle

Hi Bruce.

There are makeshift solutions, but some of them can look bad. I've done some Renfair stuff and in that sort of environment, if it looks authentic it doesn't have to look glitzy.

One arrangement was to drive in two 'star' pickets (watch out for underground powerlines etc.) and have a painted light canvas backdrop with sewn 'sleeves' that slotted over. You then secured the tops and there was very little likelihood of it going anywhere. You were covered to a height of about four feet that way, but that may not be ideal if you levitate. Most people took the hint and went to the front to see the show.

The backdrop was painted, Fleur de Lis or Moons and Stars (our choice) etc. constituted a nice touch in my opinion. But your name and a logo (very simply done by a signwriter against traditional black)is cool too. It looked reasonable, but I have a degree in fine arts, so I do a nice backdrop.

In my not sure how you want it to look, but driving some really long stakes in and having a tasteful backdrop made of some strong material that slots over may be okay.