I've tried to contact Jeff Jones by email and through his website.

As I have had no reply, I was wondering is he sill running he business? Maybe he's just a one man band and on a summer holiday?

I'm not in the US, so can't really call. Anyone deal with him recently? Is there a better way to get a response.

I've never bought from him before. So although I like the 30 seconds aspect [the set up time]... I'm losing the trust in all the mentions about how good his customer service is.

Anyone have a Jeff Jones [largest size]

Is it truly 30 seconds to set it up. As I did read that someone was suggesting that's not true. Yet, I have seen a video of JJ putting one up in 30 seconds.

Anyone get one recently - and does the warping [sagging] still happen? Or has that been mitigated in the last 10 years or so.

Thanks for any advice / help... or even suggestions for better solutions

x

I personally know Jeff. He is a good guy and trustworthy.

It is very hard to get in touch with him. He does a lot of fairs and magic conventions in the summer. He is also hard to reach anyway.

His backdrops are wonderful, and they do go up in 30 seconds or less. I can get mine up in about 20 seconds if I really hurry. The quality is superb.

I bought mine maybe 15 years ago. There is a little sag, but not much. You can just tighten things up and the sag will mostly go away. The only way to take the sag away would ruin how quick the setup is and that it does not need to be straight - it can curve like in a corner.

If you want a theater-like backdrop, Jeff's is the only way to go.

The only negative thing I can say about Jeff is he outbid me for a prop in Kidabra. It has been nearly a year and I am still kicking myself for not raising my bid.

Thanks for that.

Hard to reach.

So, I guess the only way is he email address?

Now I have emailed him - I just wait?

Not great, as at some point I will need to get moving on buying a quick to set up back drop.

Regarding your 30 second/20 second set up. I did find it weird people were saying they actually took longer... as there is a video of him doing it in less than 30 seconds.

anyway thanks again for your help

Well, you have to figure in that you might need an extra trip from your car to carry it, you will need to roll it up correctly to fit it back in its bag and that takes time also. You probably shouldn't use it outside due to wind and mud, etc., and it does take up space you won't always have.

Car Space. Yes. That's always a battle - as I do full shows [sets, props, lights, sound, etc]

But this product will take up less space than the tension banners we currently have. Those are meant to take 5 mins to put together, but the connecting tubes often take far longer - and are a real struggle/work out.

The tension wall/banners/what ever they are called - also couldn't be used outside... one guest of wind and most backdrops become a sail/parachute and fly away.

With 60-70 shows in three weeks - I would expect who ever puts it away will become an expert at doing it properly.

It's just a time thing. Need to find ways to speed up our set up. And those tension walls [last year] killed us.

And Dan, thanks for you help. x

I've never tried those tension banners. The space I was talking about was the space at a gig, often there isn't much room. I actually sold my backdrop a few years ago cause I felt like it was more time and trouble than it was worth, I couldn't really make a direct connection between getting more gigs or better paying gigs and using a backdrop, and I really just prefer 1 trip from the car as much as I can, sometimes 2, and simple quick set-up and zip outa there quickly. But of course using them does make sense for some people. Ive also seen people using those smaller 2 or 3' wide ones with a photo and logo, not a backdrop per se but a decorative advertisement.

Yes. I'm do a full show. Like a musical/staged play.

Also the venues may vary in size, but most of them will be big.

I think the tension banners get slightly miss-aligned and take far too long. And as I said, real grunt work, to put up.

We're thinking of having Jeff's Backdrop, well not that he's ever got back to me... and then two double sided roll up banners. That gives us some show art work. Or changes of scene. The roller banners take seconds to put up. They won't look as good as a tension banner... but will save time and effort over the tension banners.

Finally... one trip from the car? Probably six or seven trips last year. Well, we have a full sound system and show full of costumes and props.

This year - we have two giant trolleys. That fold up so small. So - with them, and two of us... it'll be one trip

The only thing I can't shorten the set up time on - is the sound. Both in setting up the speakers, and plugging them all in and testing the headset [sound check]/music/levels.

Other than sound... I think I will cut time from all other parts of the whole set up process.

I'm hoping we can get it down to 15 mins [from over 30 mins] per show. When you have 3 - 4 shows a day - that's a big difference

I will be going to Kidabra next week, and Jeff, I believe, will be there. I will tell him to look at this thread. From what you are saying, his is a lot faster and probably looks more professional.

My speaker system is wireless. No need to search for an outlet, pray it works and plug it in. The wireless mic is built in so it is very quick.

My small shows take 30 minutes to set-up and tear down. I don't see how you could do a big show in 15 minutes. Then I am just one guy.

Yes, I am - two guys....

And we have three or four shows a day - so get very quick....


It's good - as I do the 'manly stuff' like the speakers/lights... and she does all the annoying stuff like the props.... and backdrop. Until she needs my help [with the current backdrop].


We've always bought things to try and speed up set up time.


But I think you are right - ours is maybe around the same set up time as yours... but there are two of us.


I really want to buy one of Jeff's - since this thread I did get some responses... but then he goes dead... I've currently contacted him three times with no response. I'm trying to spend a 1k dollars with him... and he's ignoring me. Fair enough... he's probably busy and can't take my job on too. But it's annoying... I just wish his didn't seem the best solution - so I could walk away... gah.

x

Sorry, he wasn't at this last Kidabra.

I'm sure most have seen it but for those that haven't, here's a YouTube link

It's pretty impressive!

https://youtu.be/Gx_yKpF86U8?si=iUsO2IdsIjVIDHgm