A weblog about theatrical drapery and stage curtains for Production Managers, Set Designers, Custom Drapery Resellers, and local/school/church Productions
Recently, Rent What? had the honor to be selected by Dell Computers to be featured in an online video on America’s Favorite Small Business. It was a great opportunity for Megan and Marce and all the folks at Rent What? to discuss the committment that the company has to provide high quality, innovative custom stage curtains and hardware for rental.
I think the folks at Dell did a great job in capturing what it is like to run a small business, ensuring that your business is well run and your customers are provided the highest quality product along with the best customer service possible. As the Rent What? motto goes, “Ultimate Rentals. Extreme Service.”
Continuing with my series of hardware systems available for rent at Rent What? (including kabuki solenoid systems, traveler track, and pop up! dressing rooms), today I thought I’d tell you about our rental lift systems. When you are touring with an Austrian, a Braille, or any curtain that you want to lift, this system does the job.
Rental Hardware Collection – Lift Systems
Specifics
60 foot wide life system with 16 lines 4′ on center
Lifts an Austrian or Braille drape up to 40 feet high
Proven Reliability
Fixed speed / Up, Down & Stop
Operates on Single Phase 220v power.
A La Carte or Turn-key System
Compatible with any curtain which has lift lines on 4 foot centers. 16 fully connected lines spanning 60 continuous running feet. Single Controller for Up, Down and Stop commands. Centralized Motor. Ships in one crate with (optional) drape attached.
Why We Love It:
A motorized drape reveal with an exotic detailed drapery does not have to be a designer fantasy. This system is compact, user friendly and affordable . Take your show or event to the next level………whatever you plan to reveal – make it special
Famous Friends:
Our Ivory Austrian on this lift system is a tough act to follow…. Luckily the act was Lady Gaga! One of the most (in)famous artists in the industry, she wowed audiences with her performance “in between” our spectacular curtain moves.
I’ve told you about several of the hardware systems that we have available for rental through Rent What?, from kabuki solenoid systems to traveler track.
Today I thought I’d tell you about the dressing rooms / changing rooms that we offer. They really do fill a niche in the touring marketplace.
Rental Hardware Collection – Pop Up! Portable Dressing Rooms and Changing Rooms
Specifics:
8′ x 8′ x 7h’
Strong Steel Frame
Wheeled Molded Carry Case
Black Outside, White Inside
Flame Retardant
Mirror Panel
110v Plug and Play Light
Flat Roof
Overlapping Door for Privacy
Weighs less than 100 lbs. in case
Why You’ll Love Them:
You are going to love the convenience of our portable pop up rooms. Use them to create tech spaces, or as dressing rooms. Gang them together to make a green room. They are quick and easy to set up and travel conveniently in a roadworthy wheeled case.
Famous Friends:
We’ve dressed the best – Usher, Trey Songz, Jonas Brothers, AR Rahman and Foreigner.
Continuing with my series of posts on hardware collections available for rent through Rent What?, today I thought I’d tell you about traveler track. Most people think of traveler track as a permanent installation, but it is actually a terrific option for tours when clamped to truss.
Rental Hardware Collection – Traveler Track
Specifics:
Variable Width
Rope Operated or Walk Along
One Way or Bi-Parting
Strong Steel Construction
Powercoated Black
Durable, Quiet Carriers
10′ and 5′ Sections for Easy Install
“Burgers” Clamp Straight to Truss
Why You’ll Love Our Track:
Just as important as having beautiful curtains is have reliable tracks that support and transport them across the stage. And when the drape fits the track and the track fits the drape, you’re in for a show!
We’re proud to feature a full complement of superior-quality American-made curtain tracks by ADC, one of the premier manufactures of theatrical curtain transport systems and the only brand that has won UL approval.
Available as a rental from the most basic manual walk along to a rope pull system, ADC tracks assure a moving performance at the highest standards.
Famous Friends:
R Kelly and Victoria’s Secret are just a couple of shows that opened far, using this Travel Far! Road Ready Traveler Track!
I’ll told you a little bit about the different drapery collections that we have available for rental at Rent What? But did you know that we also rent a variety of hardware systems to be used in conjunction with either our rental drapes or your own drapes? From curtain track to pipe and base, we’ve got a wide selection to choose from. Today I’ll focus on our solenoid systems.
Rental Hardware Profile – Kabuki Solenoid Systems
Rental System specifics:
1 Solenoid Holds over 500 Lbs
Proven Release Locking System
Single Or Double Hand Controller
Operates on Standard 110v Outlet
A La Carte or Turn-key Rental System
Solenoid Head
Single Controller
Double Controller
5 way loom
AC Cable
Travel Case
Why We Love Kabuki Systems:
There is nothing quite like the rush of excitement as the music builds, the lights illuminate the band and then the drape drops.
Just watch while the audience goes wild! This easy to assemble and easy to use Kabuki Solenoid System allows you to “reveal, drop and roll” just about any drapery element or backdrop.
Famous Friends:
Alice in Chains decomposed their stage scene with our Solenoid System while Brooks and Dunn illuminated their drapes with a mouth dropping Kabuki reveal. Even Jay-Z and Maxwell have rocked out from behind our magical Kabuki reveals!
Back in July, I posted a photo of a cool drape that we made for our sister company, Rent What?, from aluminum mesh. Well, I thought it was time that I told you more about it.
If you are looking for a cool industrial look, a metal mesh drape is a great option. It is very dramatic and provides a textured background for effective and unique lighting effects. It is also available in different tints, giving interesting color and texture even when in an unlit condition.
It is also surprisingly light – a 30′ h x 10′ w leg weighs just 15 pounds (compare that to an unpleated Commando leg of the same size – which weights about 25 to 30 pounds).
And when you are loading out the show, just push the mesh drape into a hamper – no folding required. When you get to the next venue, pull it out, hang it, and “fluff it” to size. After all, wrinkles are not only expected – they’re preferred with a metal mesh drape!
This really is a great option for a tour – as a matter of fact, it was just what legendary rock band Journey wanted for their 2009 tour, and Rent What? was ready and able to provide them.
I love this Mesh Drape that Sew What? made for Rent What?, part of their Industrial Textures Series. It is actually made of Aluminum Mesh (think window screen), which gives it a great “crinkly” look and allows the light to catch it at different angles.
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.
In the last few years, we started hearing from a lot of our customers that they wished we offered soft goods for rent. That way, they could maximize their budget – buy a few custom stage curtains and then also rent some of the pieces. In July 2008, in answer to those requests, Rent What? Inc. was born.
Rent What? is a sister company to Sew What? (separate but equal I guess you could say ), owned & operated by Megan Duckett (Sew What? founder) and Marce Forrester. Sew What? makes the drapes and then Rent What? rents them out. It’s the best of both worlds. Customers get the same high quality products as those bought directly from Sew What? but as a rental for the length of time needed – a week, a month, whatever. When Rent What? first started out, the focus was on black masking drapes, but now they have built a stock of some absolutely gorgeous specialty drapes (pictures in a future post) as well as LED drapes.
So if you find yourself in need of a rental, give Rent What? a call – Marce & Megan would be glad to help you.
), owned & operated by Megan Duckett (Sew What? founder) and Marce Forrester. Sew What? makes the drapes and then Rent What? rents them out. It’s the best of both worlds. Customers get the same high quality products as those bought directly from Sew What? but as a rental for the length of time needed – a week, a month, whatever. When Rent What? first started out, the focus was on black masking drapes, but now they have built a stock of some absolutely gorgeous specialty drapes (pictures in a future post) as well as LED drapes.