Love those specialty drapes from Rent What?

Last month I posted about how beautiful Silver Satin is for lighting, and I mentioned in that post that we made a number of drapes in this fabric for our sister company, Rent What?  Well, Rent What? has recently upgraded their website, and there is some fantastic info there on the specialty drapes available for rent, including the Silver Satin Series.

The information that has been added to the website is terrific.  One upgrade that I particularly like is the addition of the Specialty Drapery Series page.  Not only are pictures included for each of the four specialty drapery series (Silver Satin, Rockin Red, Ivory Scene, and Industrial Textures – all manufactured by Sew What?), but there are even links to printable versions of the “Profiles” of each series.  These are great – not only informative, but well-designed and clever. 

They have also added a number of other products to their website, including LED drapes, Kabukis, traveller track, portable dressing rooms and much more.  Congrats to Megan and Marce (owners of Rent What?) for this impressive upgrade to their website.

If you are looking for stage or special event rentals, make sure you check out Rent What?  You won’t be disappointed. 

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Pipe & Drape – It’s Not Just for Trade Shows Anymore

You may not know what it is called, but you have probably seen pipe and drape at some point.  If you have gone to a home or craft show at your local convention center, if you have gone to a convention for your business association and there was an exhibitor hall at the hotel…chances are, you’ve seen pipe and drape systems (also called exhibit supply).

“Pipe and drape” is the common term for the components used to make trade show booths.  Depending on the components selected, pipe and drape can be used to make a single back wall, an individual booth or even a series of connected booths.  And they are easy to put together.  Simply place the bases on the ground, insert the uprights, thread the drapes onto the telescopic drape supports, and insert the drape supports to the top of the uprights.  No wonder they are used for trade shows – they are quick and easy to set up and take down and they are relatively inexpensive.

These same features of pipe and drape make it a great alternative for many applications outside the trade show circuit.  With just a few components, a church can have a 3 foot high privacy screen in front of the choir onstage.  If the choir isn’t singing for a service, the privacy screen can be quickly dismantled and placed offstage.  A high school can use pipe and base to decorate the school gym for the prom.  Instead of looking at gym walls and bleachers, the students could be looking at beautiful satin or voile drapery, easily displayed around the entire perimeter of the gym on pipe and base hardware.  A retail store could use pipe and drape as a backdrop to an open window display.  Radio stations could use pipe and base, along with digitally printed backdrops displaying the station’s logo, to make promotional booths outside rock concerts.

The possibilities are endless.  All it takes is a little imagination.

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No Auditorium, and No Money to Build One?

A lot of schools out there are small and (unfortunately) rather old, so not all have theatres or auditoriums dedicated to the performing arts.  One way to solve this problem is to convert an existing area, such as a gym or cafeteria, into a multipurpose room by building a stage at one end.  If you have the space for the stage (and the ceiling height), you can build a stage, install curtain track, and hang bi-parting stage curtains.  Maybe hang some basic stage lights.  Voila!  You have a simple stage area for music performances, school plays, and much more. 

On a daily basis, the room is used for its typical purpose (basketball practice, lunch, whatever).  The stage sits there at the end, drapes closed.  But on the nights that you have a recital scheduled, the transformation begins.  Bleachers or lunch tables are moved out or masked off from view.  Chairs are set up in rows facing the stage.  Lights are dimmed a little.  The audience enters and is seated.  Curtains open and the show begins.

Obviously, this is not an ideal solution.  But let’s face it, budgets are tight right now, especially in public education.  Construction projects (new schools, new buildings at existing schools) are being put on hold.  And the PTA isn’t going to be able to raise a million dollars for a new building.  But maybe they can raise the money for a project such as this (especially if there are parents in the construction industry willing to donate labor or materials). 

Just something to think about…

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Why is one quote for stage curtains so much lower?

So, you’ve gotten two bids on new custom stage curtains, and one quote is lower than the other.  What could be the differentiating factor between two otherwise identical quotes? 

There are many factors that can affect pricing – some good, some bad (at least from the buyer’s perspective):

• Substitution of a “no-name” fabric
• Old materials / materials whose flame retardancy is close to expiration
• Returned / used fabrics
• Sub-standard workmanship

These all sound like scary reasons for a lower bid.  But there are also some positive reasons that one vendor can offer a lower bid than another:

• Lower overhead
• More efficient production methods
• Greater purchasing power
• Leaner profit margins 

The fact is, there is no easy way to know if a lower price is better, and so in my opinion, decisions should be based on more than price.  Yes, price has to be considered, especially in light of today’s economy.  But it shouldn’t be the only consideration. 

Does one company have a reputation of offering superior workmanship?  Has one company provided timely, prompt customer service?  Have you received fabric samples from both vendors and, if so, are the fabrics identical, or does one fabric appear to be of higher quality?

After evaluating all of the factors – price, product quality, company reputation, customer service – you will then be able to make an informed decision as to which quote to accept.  You may still choose the lower quote, or you may decide to choose the other bid despite the higher price.  Either way, you will feel more comfortable with your decision in the long run.

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Thinking about fabric longevity

As I have been on a bit of a “green” tangent lately, investigating the availability and viability of “eco-friendly” theatrical fabrics, digital printing inks, etc., it has also lead me to consider the durability and longevity of theatrical drapery fabrics, and how they impact the earth.

Yes, I do understand the impact that the manufacture of synthetic fabrics has on the environment.  But I also recognize that, in most cases, a custom stage curtain manufactured from a synthetic velour  will be much more durable and therefore should last much longer than a curtain manufactured from cotton velour. 

Now, that is obviously a negative if we are talking about a short-term-use curtain that is destined for a landfill.  But what about the school, the church, the theatre that is purchasing a grand drape for longterm use?  Is it really better to buy a cotton drape?  Yes, the cotton drape may be a better choice, environmentally speaking, when initially manufactured.  But is it really better over the long term? 

Cotton velour drapes need to be topically treated for flame retardancy, on average once every five years, releasing more chemicals into the environment each time.  Cotton velour is also less durable and therefore the organization would need to replace the drapes sooner than synthetic velour drapes.  An synthetic velour drape, in comparison, has no topical flame retardancy treatment, and therefore no retreatment is required.  The drape should also last longer, as polyester fibers are more durable than cotton. 

So is it better for a theatre to purchase, for example, 4 sets of cotton velour grand drapes over the course of, say, 50 years?  Or would it be better if they bought 2 sets of synthetic velour grand drapes over that same time frame?  Something to think about.

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Is there such a thing as a “Green” ink for digital printing?

As I continue to explore the question of eco-friendly textiles, I have been thinking about digital printing. As more and more artists become interested in protecting the environment, we have begun to have more requests for “green” custom band backdrops.  We already have some eco-friendly options available for the fabric substrate, but what about the inks used in digital printing?  UV Curable, Water-based, EcoSolvent, Mild/Light Solvent, Full Solvent – which is best, ecologically speaking?

I would assume (based on the name) that a great choice for digital printing would be to use eco solvent inks.  The reality, however, is that these inks aren’t nearly as ecologically friendly as the name implies.  In researching eco solvent inks, I learned that they contain HAPs (Hazardous Air Pollutants) and VOCs (Volatile Organic Components).  Maybe eco solvent inks are better in comparison to other types of solvent inks, but that doesn’t mean they are good for us.

I’m interested in a new type of ink being touted by EFI – Bio-Solvents.  According to a white paper by EFI, bio-solvent Inks “contain no harmful VOCs and have the best health and environmental profiles available”.  EFI does make a bio-solvent ink (BioVu), so they aren’t exactly an unbiased source.  However, their literature does display the Environmental Protection Agency’s DfE logo, so I am feeling more confident (though I will continue to research this new category of inks before making a decision).

If this is all true, then bio-solvents may be the wave of the future.  Right now, EFI’s BioVu inks are only available for use with one printer type – EFI’s VUTEk 3360 product line – but they say that they have plans to roll it out to other product lines in the future.  I’ll keep my eyes out for it and let you know.

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Wondering how to clean velour drapes?

Cleaning cotton velour stage curtains can be tricky.  The biggest issue is flame retardancy.  Cotton velours are topically treated for flame retardancy with a water-soluble chemical.  This means that, if the fabric is washed, the drape will no longer be flame retardant (requiring costly re-treatment).  Periodic maintenance, along with dry-cleaning only when absolutely necessary, will keep your drapes looking great for years to come. 

MAINTENANCE

Dust accumulation and repeated dry-cleaning can damage drapery.  I recommend removing the dust using a soft brush, first on the back of the drape and then on the front (detailed instructions are here).

CLEANING

Cotton velour drapes must be professionally dry-cleaned.  Small drapes may be taken to any good dry-cleaner.  For larger drapes, I suggest checking with the Executive Housekeeper of a large hotel / resort in your area to get a recommendation of a good commercial cleaner.  Request the use of 100% pure solvents under easy care conditions.  Spot-cleaning by a dry-cleaner is also an option but may affect the appearance of the drape.

Keep in mind, however, that even dry cleaning will eventually cause your drapery to loss its flame retardancy.  I recommend that you have your drapery tested annually, and have them professionally re-treated for flame retardancy as needed. 

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What does “Eco-Friendly” really mean for stage fabrics?

I am starting to hear a lot about “eco-friendly” textiles.  My first reaction was, “Yes, of course, eco-friendly fabrics are the way to go.”  Use biodegradable fabrics as much as possible.  That’s not as easy as it sounds, especially in the theatrical marketplace.

For example, let’s say I decide to use a 100% cotton fabric.  That should be a “green” option, right?  Cotton is a natural fiber and therefore should be 100% biodegradable.

 But what if it isn’t?  I just read a post on “O Ecotextiles” that talks about the many chemicals that 100% cotton may be treated with in the manufacturing process.  Suddenly, 100% cotton doesn’t sound so “green” anymore.

Then you add on the flame retardancy requirements for stage curtains.  How “green” can a fabric be, regardless of the fiber content, if it has been topically treated with a flame retardancy chemical?  So is a topically treated 100% cotton fabric really better for the environment than a 100% Avora polyester fabric that is inherently flame retardant?

Hummm…a lot to think about, too much to put down in this single post (stay tuned for more thoughts on this subject in the future).

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I Love Austrians!

In my opinion, Austrian drapes are the most beautiful style of custom stage curtains out there.  Even if you have never heard the term “Austrian,” I am sure that you have seen one at some point – Austrians are the gorgeous curtains that lift straight-up in a series of soft swags (or “smiles,” as they are sometimes called).

Unfortunately, operable Austrian drapes are not usually found in a school or church, because they require complex motorized lift systems that generally are not practical for smaller applications.  But for a grand theatre or a major music tour, I can’t think of much that can beat an Austrian to make a dramatic, breathtaking statement.

Take a look at these Austrians we’ve made – I think you’ll agree!

Want to see another example of an Austrian drape? Check out John Mayer at the Nokia.

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