Does anyone use a portable backdrop for the gigs they do? In late December and early January I will be doing much less walk around and more stand up shows (holiday parties). I want to up the production value by having some sort of back drop. I don't think it will be possible for 1 or 2 since the crowds are only about 50 people in smaller, elegant rooms.

I'd love to get some advice on choosing/making a good backdrop, and times when you feel it is appropriate to set up. Thanks!

Dave

I made my own backdrop using a photo backdrop stand. You can get them cheap on ebay. With basic sewing machine skills, you can make a really nice backdrop.

See this thread for many ideas:

--> Magic Café thread titled... Magi......Resource

It's a sticky thread in the "F/X" area.

- Donald

I've been very satisfied with my jet set from Abbott's. I bought the 8 foot high by 8 foot wide. I found some nice material at Walmart a sewed myself a nice curtain. Sets up quickly and is light weight. I use it in schools and have used it for B-day parties.

John

I did exactly the same as Matthew, photo stands on 2 tripods from eBay. It's your cheapest option, then you can try spider backdrops and other brands names.

Photo back drop, use one that can be customised for size mine goes from 3 feet to 18 feet wide and can be up to ten feet high, Add decent quality curtains and you will look pretty snazzy. It could be pushed bigger but I have never found a need.
Go online or to a photography store to get the rigging and then to a fabric store for the curtain. My rigging packs down and can be carried complete by one person total weight is under 20 pounds.
Put your curtaining into a plastic tub to keep it clean after every show. You can also use this for smaller corporate clients as a logo hanger backdrop, get their logo printed and place it on your backdrop and use it in your demo video for a good type of "Social Proof"

Hope this helps
Jesse

I have 2 pull up banners that I push together to make look like a big stage back drop (cheaper)....you'll need a few sand bags if you're gigging out doors because they blow over easily....as a result 1 of mine is a little wonky.

Three words…
Jeff Jones Magicbackdrops

Using it at my San Francisco Magic Parlor nightly, amazing, sturdy, and creates ambiance. Search the Café lots of info about them.

My two-cents,
Walt

You're a magician, right? You want either a Spider system or a Jeff Jones Magicbackdrop.
They both get reactions from the audience when you set them up. People are impressed before you even do a trick.

Joey D

Here is another vote for the Jeff Jones Magic Backdrops. Easy to set-up and take down, easy to store, always looks great right out of the bag.

The Magic Backdrops from Jeff Jones look very nice on the website. I like the endorsements he has received. Prices seem very reasonable too. Thanks for sharing.

MagicBackdrops.com is the way to go and Jeff is a really nice person to deal with.

Rodney

Is there a video showing how the jeff jones system sets up?

Thanks for the great recommendations. I decided to hold off but will keep these in mind in the future. They look great

I have mine airbrushed.