New Technology – Rent What QR Code

We here at Rent What? Inc. try to stay on the forefront of technology in order to provide our clients with the best, most innovative service. In light of that, we have developed a QR Code for our website, which we’ve attached to all of our pipe and drape hardware, hampers, dressing rooms, and other rented goods.

All you have to do is download a free app on your smartphone which is called a “scanner” or “QR reader”, which gives you the ability to literally “take a picture” of these funny looking squares filled with what looks like random dots. However, once you scan it (even on your computer moniter—go ahead and give it a try!), all of our company’s vital information pops up on your phone. You can see our website, address, email, phone number, and even GPS location which can be used in any mapping program your phone has. You can then save us on your master Contact list, which is a great way for our clients to have all of our information at the tip of their fingertips in case they are out on an install and need some assistance from us.

We strive to stay ahead of the game here at Rent What? Inc., and utilizing new technology has proven to be a great way for us to do that.

DiversityBusiness.com Top Business

We are so proud to be selected by DiversityBusiness.com as a 2012 “Top Business.”  We were one of just 2,500 companies selected from more than 1.2 million privately held businesses that completed surveys.

This award is granted to businesses that demonstrate dedication, hard work, and stimulation of economic growth in the United States.  Pretty exciting to know that we have been recognized alongside such amazing companies as Dell and IBM!

Leader of the pack

Downtown for the Holidays.

So you want to create your own downtown scene and make it either quaint or edgy, uptown or downtown, back alley or main street. This is not a problem.

We recently created a downtown scene for a theater group in Deadwood S.D. for their Christmas show, and the end result was impressive. The objective was to make a believable looking street in Downtown Deadwood. The problem was they needed stores and shops that are not necessarily in the same proximity to appear on the backdrop as if they where actually there.

Using several provided digital assets, we created the new custom street digitally, complete with window decorations, snow, wreaths and the like to make the audience feel like they where standing in the actual street days before Christmas.

The end product was not only believable, but it put you in the mood for the holidays at first glance.

Denim? done’em

In the United States today, and maybe across the world, nothing is more beloved than a good pair of jeans. That emotional attachment can be used on a grand scale on a backdrop, without having to rip up the entire crew’s wardrobe to make it happen. Why not use digital denim?

Illustrated or photographically rendered denim can be created to whatever custom color or texture, stone wash or weathered style that fits your needs. Illustrated seams and rivets can be added to add accents in just any way your heart desires. Actual rips and tears can be added to areas to reveal back graphics or add a glow of light.

It’s all about capturing the essence of the artist and emotion at your show.

Texture and print

One thing I do as an illustrator is mixed media. The thought occurred to me that this might be a great approach with soft goods. I mean, why not mix printed pieces with fabric that is lush or textural? Mixing things up opens creative doors and makes things possible that aren’t possible with just one fabric or process.

Thinking out of the box like an interior designer/decorator. Create an experience and mood with your far out ideas, mixing smooth printed pieces with textured lush fabric, cutouts or icons or logos tour theme art will give your backdrop dimension and set you apart.

Urban fabric graphics-

Sometimes you want your show to convey an urban edge. Nitty Gritty, concrete and steel, graffiti and decay. Attitude! I recently designed just such a graphic for a touring band. Using several concrete photographic assets, I created a 40′ wall that looked like it was straight out of south Detroit.

We added the band name in chipped paint like it had seen seven years of rain and snow. The thing that I think would put it over the top would be to have custom cut graffiti letters sewn to sharks tooth scrim and drop down over the wall like the logo and wall had been tagged.

The power of the progressive unveil. Something to think about when planning your show.

Cambio Projection Screens on Display

For a versatile and affordable projection screen option, Cambio! is a great alternative to traditional projection screen material.  With its slight sheen, it lights beautifully and is suitable for both front and rear projection.

As the fabric is 10 feet wide, a seamless screen can be made up to 10′ x 10′, and larger screens can be made with minimal seams (that typically disappear when projected on).  Webbing on all four sides minimizes “hourglassing”, and the addition of grommets and ties allows the screen to be hung from the top and, if desired, tied to fixed uprights on the sides.  Screen too large to tie off to uprights, or no room on the stage for uprights?  Strategically placing a sandbag on each bottom corner will keep the screen taut.

A Cambio! projection screen can also be complimented by coordinating stretch shapes, also made of Cambio!  Stretch shapes are available in a variety of shapes, from triangles to stars to batwings, and in sizes up to 24′ x 40′.

This summer and fall, we worked with Faith Bible Church of The Woodlands, Texas, on just such a project.  We created a 19′ h x 32′ w Projection Screen in Cambio!, accompanied by three Triangle Shapes, 18′ x 18′, also in Cambio!  The pieces worked great for the church, and we were so pleased to be mentioned in the church’s blog.  Want to see a Cambio! Projection Screen in action?  Check out their blog.

Digitally Speaking

Creating graphics the size of a building can be an intimidating prospect for some people. I deal with the issues of proper files set up all day. Questions like “should the art be vector or raster, what resolution do I need to provide and so on come up every day. I’ve found, over the last few months, that if you provide your artwork as a .tif file with an end resolution of at least 75 ppi, you should be golden. Most artwork doesn’t need more than that. If you are doing something complex in Illustrator, I find that it’s the file rips and works better if you rasterize your art before you send it to us. In other words, give us a .tif file. For the most part, a .tif is the least complex of digital files from a data standpoint and the simplicity rips and prints much easier. You can call me if you are in doubt but for the most part, this is the case.

Teaching Opportunities

You may remember that, a couple of years ago, I posted about the Metal Mesh drapes that we made for The Decemberists.  Through the brilliance of lighting designer Anne Militello, the metal mesh took on the appearance of any amazing Impressionistic oil painting.  Well, Anne is also Head of the Lighting Design Program at California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), so when Anne approached Megan to be a guest speaker to a Lighting Lab class, Megan was excited to participate.

Though the focus of the class is on theatrical lighting, it is important that lighting designers be familiar with the many types of stage drapes, as the style and fabric of drapery can impact and be impacted by the lighting design.  Megan began the session by explaining the various types of stage curtains, from Grand Drapes to Backdrops, from Austrians to Tab Curtains, utilizing a Power Point presentation to show the students specific examples of each type of drape.  Here’s one of the slides that was included in the presentation:

But the session was more than just a lecture.  After the Power Point presentation, the session became even more interactive.  Megan brought large samples of a number of different theatrical fabrics, including Cambio, Glimmerine, Poly Silk, Sharkstooth Scrim, and Metal Mesh.  Using the lighting lab equipment, students were able to able to try out a variety of lighting designs and techniques on the various fabrics, to get hands-on experience on how each fabric is transformed by lighting.

All in all, it was a great evening – Megan really enjoyed teaching and interacting with all the talented and creative students.