Is anyone on the board familiar with commando cloth, and if so can you tell the difference as compared to velvet on stage as drapes?

Definitely go with the velvet. Commando cloth is basically just flocked paper. It has it's uses, but it's more of a a one time use sorta thing.

--Dave

Commando cloth, aka duvetyne, (aka "duv"), aka velourette (though I only know one person who calls it that) is a bit sturdier than paper, in my experience. Comes in different weights.

As drapes, it's "flatter" than velvet, so it does tend to reflect a bit of light = however, this really depends on how far away from the audience they are, how fully they are gathered, what color you're using, and what you need them to hide.

They gather dust pretty quickly; are relatively durable (depending on weight) but don't look as nice as a velour or a velvet.

If you're looking to get that velvet LOOK without quite the price, I'd recommend a velour.

Hope this helps!

Awesome moth! Thanks for the insight!!

-Adam

Velour (or velvet) has an actual nape, which can give the material some serious weight and subsuquent lux appearance and feel, especially when lit with commercial lighting fixtures........Commando Cloth basically looks like a lightly flocked black material with not much body or weight. It's also quite stiff and difficult to make look good on stage.

Commando Cloth is about 1/30th (or more depending on where you live) the cost of even the cheapest velour curtains, and therein lies the primary difference between the two!

Silverking is right, and I stand corrected -

Most of what you see and think of as "that's a velvet curtain" is really a velour - velvet is rarely used anymore (wonder if it ever was...) the fabric is made differently, but the look is very ver similar - esp. when you get into those weights.

WEIGHT IS KEY! Heavier means fuller-looking. I still think you can get away with a very heavy commando cloth "passing" as a stage drape, if from a distance. However, a lighter weight velour will look MUCH better for longer.

Just as a fast FYI,
whatever product you decide upon,
make certain it can be flame-proofed,
as this will most always be required.

Magically,
Walt