New Photos on Flickr

If you haven’t gone to our Flickr page recently, you are missing out!  There are a ton of new photos there, from a variety of stage drapes and custom backdrops to theatrical equipment such as traveler track and kabuki systems.  I am sure you will see something that will inspire or educate you!  Here is just a small sampling:

Satin Austrian Curtain

I have posted many times on how beautiful Austrian curtains are, and this photo really highlights that beauty!

Traveler Track

There are some great photos in this set that show exactly what each component is and help with the installation process.

Kabuki Systems

I have discussed Kabuki Systems and Solenoids in the past, but I know that sometimes it is hard to visualize from a written post.  Hopefully these photos will help.

Want to hear “Without Warning”?

Check out Without Warning, live from Hemishpere’s Recording Studio this Saturday night at 8:00 PM Pacific Time.

Click this link at eight and rock out for an hour from afar: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/hemispheres-recording

More about “Without Warning”

I told you recently about “Without Warning,” the band that Megan is a member of…Well, John Rios (who designed the logo for “Without Warning”) recently posted a blog talking about his inspiration for the logo design.  

It is really fascinating to me to hear an artist like John talk about his design process.  Want to hear more?  Check out John’s post at the GrafixJam blog.

P.S. Stand by for a surprise post this week.  Hint – it’s some late-breaking news about John Rios!

Without Warning

Here’s something you probably don’t know – Megan sings in the band Without Warning.  The band has recently launched a new website – check it out for bios of the band members, a play list, and much more.

If you are a fan of rock and metal, I’m sure you’ll like the play list, with songs from Ozzy Osborne, Van Halen, Journey, and many more (I personally love Megan’s lead vocals on Metallica’s “Enter Sandman”).

On a personal note, I love the band’s logo, designed by our favorite artist, John Rios of Grafix Jam.  Check it out!

Think of That

I recently learned about an interesting website and blog called “Why Didn’t I Think of That?”, which focuses on stories of business and entrepreneurial success.  The story of how Megan started Sew What? was recently featured on the website as well as in a blog post (the third installment in a series on Business Axioms) titled “Pursue Your Passion.” 

I especially enjoyed the blog post.  The author, Benjamin Christopher, makes a good case for turning your passion into a business, without sugar coating the challenges of doing so.  It seems that there are so many people who are passionate about something but never think outside the box on how that passion could translate into a business.  And there are probably just as many who think that starting a business will be easy as long as it is based on something you are passionate about.  Christopher is both realistic and encouraging in the post, and he offers concrete examples of entrepreneurs who have been successful in turning their passion into a business.

I’m looking forward to reading the first two installments of this blog series – the first titled “Rethinking Your Industry” and the second titled “Apply New Technology to an Existing Product.”

Kids Rock Free

There are many great non-profit organizations today, raising money for everything from saving endangered species to curing cancer.  But I learned about one recently that really struck a chord (as it were).  As you know, Sew What? Inc. provides custom stage curtains, digitally printed theatrical backdrops, and a variety of other soft goods to the tours of major performing artists.  Well, the organization that I have learned about is, perhaps, contributing toward the future of the American music industry.

The organization is called the Fender Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing free and low cost music education to children ages 7 through 17.  Located in the city of Corona, in Southern California, the Fender Center includes a music education wing, a music and arts museum, gift shop, and both indoor and outdoor performing spaces. 

All proceeds from the facility and outside donations go to the Fender Museum of the Arts Foundation to benefit the “Kids Rock Free©” program.  In the program, all children participating receive the first two sessions (16 weeks) of instruction free, after which they can continue in the program for just $150 per eight-week session (though over 70% receive scholarships for continuation sessions).  Instruction is offered in piano, guitar, bass guitar, combo band, vocal performance and drums.

A number of big-name artists and industry professionals are associated with the Fender Center, including Steve Miller, Paul Rodgers, and Joe Walsh, as well as Fender Musical Instruments Corporation.

With drastic cuts to music and arts education taking place in public schools throughout the country, this really is a terrific program – I hope that communities throughout the country (throughout the world even) take inspiration from the Fender Center and start similar programs.

Hollywood Stars Music

There are plenty of music talent competitions on TV these days, but recently we learned of a new competition that really intrigued us.  It is called “Hollywood Stars,” and a number of features make it different from other competitions out there. 

The first is that it is both an online and a live competition.  Unsigned artists initially register for the competition online and submit a digital file of themselves performing at least one original song – making the competition not only about the artist’s performance ability but also about songwriting ability. 

Entrants can choose to participate in the Online Competition only, or can indicate that they would like to be considered for the Live Competition (if they are able to come to Los Angeles to audition).  Both competitions are open to individuals, bands, and vocal groups, and there are no restrictions in regards to age, language, or music genre.  Voting is audience-based, and anyone in the world can register online as a fan for free and vote for their favorite artists.

Another unique aspect of this competition is that it is an international competition.  Artists from around the world are invited to compete – in a quick review of the current finalists this afternoon, I saw performers not just from the United States and Canada, but also from Russia, Hungary, Sweden, Italy, the Phillipines, Brazil, India, Sri Lanka, France, Estonia, Israel, Ireland, and many other countries. 

Anyway, I know this is a bit of a step away from my usual posts about custom stage drapes and theatrical backdrops.  But I just thought it was such a terrific concept – so inclusive – that I just had to put a shout out for it.  And it makes me think, what if the next Lady Gaga is found through “I’m a Hollywood Star”?  Wouldn’t that be great?

Megan on Blog Talk Radio

As a result of her trip to Shanghai in June, Megan was introduced to Angie Strader, host of “What’s Your Bottom Line?” on Diva Toolbox Radio Network, and was asked by Angie to appear on the show.  The show aired live last Tuesday, and it was a really interesting experience, both for Megan and the rest of us here in the office.

Megan was asked to call into the show, as well as go onto the show’s webpage, a few minutes the show went live at 2:00 pm Central Time (noon here on the West Coast).  Angie had another guest for the first 15 minutes of the show and then went live to Megan as that day’s featured guest.

It was really a fun experience here.  Megan sent out a company-wide e-mail asking that she not be disturbed during the live radio interview, and even put a warning sign on her closed door (it reminded me of those red lights at TV studios – “Silence – Taping in Progress). 

Meanwhile, we all logged onto the Internet to listen to the interview while we worked.  It was a great interview, but a little surreal to be sitting in our offices a few feet away from Megan and yet hear her being interviewed on Blog Talk Radio!

If you want to hear more from Angie Strader, you can listen to “What’s Your Bottom Line?” live each Tuesday at 2:00 pm Central Time (3:00 pm Eastern, 12:00 noon Pacific), and there are also a number of previous shows available.  I’ve also just checked out her blog, and I found her posts quite interesting.  I especially liked the post titled, “Why the heck are you going it alone?”

Deadening Sound

While many of our customers revel in loud sound (rock music, anyone?), we also have customers interested in sound absorption.  Now, for heavy duty sound absorption, you really need a professional installation of acoustic products.  There are a variety of products, from acoustic panels to foam products to acoustic insulation.  Commercial recording studios, for example, use a variety of these products (and more), along with specialized building techniques to make sure that sound from outside does not enter the studio (and vice versa).  But there are other instances in which a customer simply wants to minimize the sound transfer a little, perhaps deaden sound a little in confined spaces, and one of the ways to do this is through custom stage curtains.

In some occasions, stage curtains make a lot of sense, both visually and for sound absorption.  For example, a customer may want that “theatrical curtain” appearance but also want to absorb sound.

What are the factors to consider when purchasing custom stage curtains when sound absorption is also needed?  The three main factors are: fabric weight, nap thickness, and curtain fullness (pleating).  The heavier the fabric, the thicker the nap, and the greater amount of fullness (i.e. the greater amount of fabric) that you put in an area, the greater amount of sound that will be absorbed.

For example, I wouldn’t recommend a flat (unpleated) drape in Poly Muslin if the customer is looking for sound absorption.  Poly Muslin has no nap and is relatively lightweight.  It is great for a cyclorama or theatre backdrop, but not for sound absorption.  However, I would recommend a heavy weight velour (such as 25oz Memorable Velour) with 100% fullness.  The combination of the heavy weight and nap of this velour, along with the 100% fullness (with twice as much fabric along the width of the drape than on a flat unpleated drape) allows for greater sound absorbency.  A drape such as this can give you the luxurious look of a theatrical drape along with a pretty good level of sound deadening.

But what if you want to deaden the sound a little, but theatrical drapery doesn’t fit with the look of the space? Well, we recently came upon an interesting product that I thought I’d pass on.  I have never used it myself, but I thought it was fascinating.  It is called PaperForms Acoustic Weave Wallpaper.

Essentially, these are modular 3-D tiles made from recycled paper that you can apply to your walls with wallpaper paste for permanent installation (or with double-sided tape for temporary installations).  You can create a number of different patterns with the tiles (there is a patterns sheet available on the website), and you can even paint them.  Pretty cool – and nice to find a product like this that is do-it-yourself, affordable, and an interesting contemporary design.

The Entertainment Industry Helps Its Own

As the year winds to a close, I started thinking about the organizations that help folks in the entertainment industry.  I count myself lucky to be working at a company that provides steady employment, health benefits, etc., but there are many people working in the entertainment industry who may not work all the time, may not have employer-paid health benefits, or may need financial and emotional support in dealing with a life-threatening illness.  On that note, I thought I’d tell you about a couple of non-profit organizations that provide support to individuals in the entertainment industry and/or to other organizations that provide services to people in the entertainment industry.

Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS

This non-profit organization started in the late ’80s as two separate organizations – Broadway Cares and Equity Fights AIDS.  Broadway Cares was founded by members of The Producers’ Group, while Equity Fights AIDS was started by the Council of Actors’ Equity Association. 

The two organizations merged in 1992 to become Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS, a single not-for-profit organization.  That first year, the new organization gave out just over $1.5 million in grants, some directly to entertainment-industry individuals living with HIV / AIDS and other health-related issues, and some to community-based organizations offering AIDS services.  By 2009, that figure had grown to over $7.9 million in grants this year alone.

Behind the Scenes

Behind the Scenes, sponsored by the non-profit educational organization, The ESTA Foundation, is dedicated to providing financial support to ill or injured entertainment technology professionals and their families.

A relatively new organization, Behind the Scenes has provided over $100,00 in grants since 2006 and is currently working to raise $5 million to create an endowment.

Entertainment Industry Foundation

While the focus of Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS and Behind the Scenes in on the entertainment industry helping “its own,” the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) looks beyond the borders of the industry to help people from all walks of life.  Based in Los Angeles, EIF provides financial support to and awareness of causes as diverse as Stand Up to Cancer, Right Action for Women, Charlize Theron Africa Outrieach Project, Blackeyed Peas Peapod Music and Arts Academy, and John Legend’s Show Me Campaign.