Tag Archives: Backdrops

As people gather for many reasons, the visual elements of the room or the function are everything. The environment of your event is a tell-tale sign that will dictate how your guests will receive the production or presentation.

A backdrop for a play, musical, recital, or special event is important to the success of the event. It’s the design that everyone’s eyes are fixated upon. Much thought goes into planning sets, backdrops, and backgrounds because if the design doesn’t hold the attention of the crowd, then your event or show can be compromised.

The Visual Experience

Background colors, set design, and backdrop detail all play a huge role in the visual experience received by your crowd. When you know what you want for your creative detail and visuals, you can rent a backdrop that works perfectly for you. Go with something busy, intricate, and detailed, or color based, digitally designed, or simple.

Renting A Backdrop

Renting backdrops can be simple, easy, and save time and money. When you rent a backdrop, you simply hang the canvas and you’re done. Our backdrops are delivered right to your door, and are easy to set up. No struggling, no painting, no carpentry work needed. Just your keen eye for style and matching when choosing from our inventory.

Sometimes you know what you want, but you can’t find it anywhere. For the really important or particular events/shows, consider customizing a backdrop of your own. Knowing what you want for your artwork/design is the most difficult decision.

Customizing A Backdrop

Classic Eternity Backdrop

When you have your plans mapped out, head over to our backdrop customization page for details. You’ll find details, pricing, and shipping and handling. This is truly the best way to get exactly what you want with your backdrop to help you curate your perfect stage or set.

Efficiently Categorized

We categorize our backdrops by seasons, by shows, by themes, and so much more. When you click on a backdrop in our inventory, you’ll see tags on each backdrop that show recommended productions and themes to pair each backdrop with. We’re here to make your set planning and design as simple as possible.

African-Plain-Backdrop

When you’re looking to rent a backdrop, purchase, or customize your own, Backdrops by Charles H. Stewart has thousands of backdrops in inventory for you to choose from. Reach out to Charles H. Stewart at (978) 682-5757. Your perfect backdrop is awaiting you, ready for delivery.

 

At Backdrops by Charles H. Stewart, we’re always adding new backdrops to our inventory. We wrote this blog to highlight some of our new backdrops and give you inspiration and guidance when choosing which backdrops to include in your set design or staging.

 

Check out this elegant drapery backdrop. We added this backdrop to our inventory because we knew our clients would love it. Related products to this novelty, drapery backdrop are extremely popular at this time of year. Use this backdrop for an elementary, high school, or college level dance recital. This backdrop works perfectly for Old English productions and Shakespearean plays and dramas. There are three selections of this backdrop available, all with bright, bursting colors and beautiful, large tassels.

elegant drapery

https://charleshstewart.com/product/elegant-drapery-backdrop/

 

Here’s a new backdrop of a Washington Heights neighborhood in New York City. This one is featuring an elevated train, the George Washington Bridge, and the skyline of New York in the background. This backdrop is made for productions like Little Shop of Horrors, West Side Story, Annie, Hello Dolly, and so many more city-themed productions. With the intricate skylines and beautiful detail in this backdrop, this hanging backdrop can be a captivating addition to your set design.

New York Street Backdrop

https://charleshstewart.com/product/new-york-street-backdrop/

 

Forest backdrops are perfect for productions like Into The Woods, The Jungle Book, Madagascar, Cinderella, The Lion King, and so many more. The extravagant colors, lush green woods, and calming vegetation make for a beautiful background to set the stage.

woods scene backdrop

https://charleshstewart.com/product/forest-backdrop/

 

These backdrops are always in season and work for so many productions. We always recommend productions for certain backdrops to help you categorize and plan your thoughts. If you’re hosting a dance recital, play or production, or holding a celebratory event, a backdrop can bring your event to life in a way like no other. Engage with your audience from the moment the curtain is raised.

 

If you have questions about any of these new backdrops, reach out to us at (978) 682-5757. We’re here to answer your questions and help make your productions a success, every time.

 

Did you enjoy this blog? Share this to your Facebook feed, and let us know what you think. Backdrops by Charles H. Stewart has been your leading edge scenic design and backdrop rental company for over 120 years! Come to us with your theatrical needs to enhance your production with well over 1,500 backdrops, drapes, lames and scrims to choose from.

  • What suggestions do you have on choosing a backdrop for a dance or for a whole dance recital?

Obviously, the first question to be answered is what is the theme of the dance or show?  Once that is determined, finding an appropriate backdrop is relatively easy.  Our backdrops are broken down into categories and by show.  So if someone is looking for a garden backdrop, they should go to our Garden category.  If someone needs a backdrop for Beauty and the Beast, then they can go to our Beauty and the Beast selections.

  • If a studio owner can only have one backdrop for the entire show, what would you recommend?

If only one backdrop can be used, then the owner really has to decide what the overall theme for their show will be.  We could provide a great backdrop for a small portion of their show, but the backdrop might not fit the rest of the show.  My suggestion is that if there is more tap, jazz, and hip hop, then one of our abstract or novelty backdrops would be an excellent choice.  If the show is more of a ballet, maybe a softer scene like clouds or a sunset for example would be the choice.  Another option would be to use different colored lights on a cyclorama curtain.  A simple lighting change can turn the mood of the stage in an instant.  But again, it really is up to the director.

  • What information and dimensions do studio owners need to know before renting a backdrop?

The first thing they should do is talk to the stage manager where they are performing.  They can tell you what size backdrops the venue can accommodate.  Also, when finding out the dimensions of the stage, make sure that when you get the measurements to ask if that is the wall to wall measurement or the proscenium measurement.  Also, ask if the venue can adjust the proscenium for different size backdrops.  For instance, if the venue states that the backdrops should be 22×50, ask if they can mask down the proscenium for an 18×42 or even a 15×36.  It usually isn’t that difficult to drop a border or pull in the wings unless the battens are dead hung (i.e. they don’t drop to the stage).   Now if it’s a small stage, the larger backdrops might be difficult to use.  Another bit of information that would be helpful is to find out how many battens are at your disposal for hanging backdrops.

  • What is the difference between a hand painted and digitally painted backdrop?  What are the pros/cons of each?

Well, we only deal in hand painted backdrops.  Obviously, the hand painted backdrops are more theatrical since they really are a form of art.  Sometimes the digitally printed backdrops aren’t as clear as you might think.  Some can be a little blurry.  The fabrics used for each are different as well.  The hand painted backdrops are typically painted on muslin or scrims and are easy to fold and store.  The digital backdrops are usually printed on a polyester blend fabric and are meant to be rolled.  However, new technology with softer fabrics is starting to emerge.  The digital backdrops are more expensive to produce and not readily available for rent meaning if you want a digital printed backdrop, it would more than likely have to be a custom made one.

  • What are your tips on hanging backdrops for studio owners that have never done so before?  How does a backdrop get hung and what do studio owners need to know ahead of time?

All of our backdrops have grommets and ties across the top for hanging.  You simply tie the backdrop on to one of the stage battens.  One question to ask the stage manager is if the bars can lower down to the stage.  If they do, hanging a backdrop will take about 5-10 minutes.  If the bars do not lower to the stage, then you will have to go up and down a ladder or cherry picker to hang the backdrop, and it will take about 30 minutes to hang one backdrop.  Side note, if you use a cherry picker, please be careful of the lubricated parts of the machine.  If a backdrop comes in contact with the grease, the backdrop will get stained.  And it’s a nasty stain to try to get out.  When hanging, start from the center and work your way out to the ends.  The center line on the backdrop is marked on the back.  The center of the stage should be marked on the bars.  If you have more backdrop than bar, just fold it back and tie it off behind the rest of the drop.

  • What tips do you have to have backdrops look best without wrinkles?

Wrinkles are tricky.  You cannot iron or steam the backdrop.  That will damage the curtain by activating the paint creating water stains or paint runs.  So, my best advice is to hang the backdrop at the venue as soon as possible.  The first chance you get to hang them up, do it.  Second thing to do is make sure that you weight the bottom of the backdrop.  All of my backdrops have a pipe pocket along the bottom.  Ask the venue if they have weights for this.  The weight simply uses gravity to pull the fabric tight to eliminate the wrinkles.

  • How should backdrops be folded for storage or return shipping?

We store our backdrops wrapped in plastic bags inside of cardboard boxes.  The plastic is an extra layer of protection from moisture and dirt.  So when the backdrops are received, they will arrive as such.  There will also be folding instructions inside the box.  There are different ways to fold a backdrop.  We have our own preference which are included in the instructions we provide.  But, the bottom line is to fold them neatly so that they fit back inside the box for shipping.  We also request that our backdrops be placed back inside of a plastic bag and inside the box just like when they received it.  If anything happens in transit, and the backdrop has not been wrapped in plastic and damage has occurred, the customer will be responsible for the damage.  So, when you receive the backdrop, save the box, the bag, and the instructions and repackage the backdrop the way you received it.  If the bag and/or box gets thrown away or is not fit for shipping, then the customer is responsible to get another box and bag for the return.  And lastly, before you lay the backdrop on the stage for hanging or when you are taking it down to repackage, sweep the stage.  We don’t want the backdrop used as the broom especially when you have any of the white or black curtains.

Winter-Trees-Legs-Backdrop

 

During the winter months, there’s a lot going on. We have holidays, the kids are off from school on breaks and vacations, and family is around to visit. There are tons of special events, gatherings, productions, parties, and plays from November through February. These colder months bring holiday cheer, sweet treats, and lots of hot cocoa.

No matter what you’re planning, or what events or productions are during this time of year, you can design an amazing setup with a beautiful winter background to set the scene. Take advantage of the time of year to curate a beautiful setting. Renting a backdrop can be easy for your production or event, and makes the scene or the room look whole and complete.

Winter-Forest-Tab-Backdrop

 

If you are putting on a holiday production at a school or for a drama club, look into our Dickens Street Backdrops. These beautiful backdrops depict Tudor-style buildings with snowy roofs. These backdrops are a classic choice and work perfectly for all kinds of holiday or winter shows.

Our Snowy Landscape Backdrops are great for creating the winter mood. If you’re holding a holiday event, and want a seasonal backdrop to set the mood, look into these snowy landscape backdrops. We have tons of different styles of trees, some with hills and mountains, and different types of snowfall on trees. Look into a snow-covered hillside, or fir trees covered with heavy snow to set the mood for your winter event.

Dickens-Street-Cut-Backdrop

 

If you’re having a holiday party, you can rent a winter backdrop for whatever age your party or celebration is catered to. Our Snowflake Backdrop is perfect for a children’s party during the winter. Our Snow Forest Backdrop is a classic and would be perfect at any holiday party or celebration.

Planning events or productions requires many steps in the process. When you’re ready to think about setup, design, and curation, look to our backdrops to really set the mood for whatever you’re planning this winter season. Add a finishing touch to your production, event, or party with a beautiful winter backdrop from Backdrops by Charles H. Stewart.