Special Event Design

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Special Event Design

• Backdrops and Physical Design

Virginia Stipp Lawrence, MHM
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Physical Design-The Designers Items

• Backdrops
• Props
• Fabrics
• Objectives
• Where do you go to pick these items?
• How do you handle these items?
• How do you stage these items?
• Risk Management

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Designing with Backdrops and Props-An Introduction

• Entrance into an arena Challenge
• Very large area
• Culinary classic
• Concept Culinary Olympic Team was training for
  Brussels World Championship and taking Cajun
  Cuisine
• Concept-Enter into a swamp (pg. 103)
• How did we create it?

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• Pineapple fountain donated from local high end
  nursery who became sponsor and got table (800)
• Water to fountain from wall set up for
  concessions had to be covered by swamp
• For overhang we used PVC pipe and based cement
  blocks that we filled with terra cotta pots and
  quick set cement
• Cement blocks were covered with moss
• Lighting (green corded B lights) and lantern
  lights were used for lighting and moss
• Benches were used for under overhang
• On either side of overhang we used visquine bags
  for swamp that was graduated with stumps and
  surrounded it with foilage
• A stuffed alligator was donated from Prejeans
  Restaurant (10 ft) for the swamp as well as a
  boat
• Guests had to walk through the overhang to get to
  the event and we used trees and foliage in a
  graduated V for the opening to the event

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Risk Management

• People Walking Under them?
• Fire Code and ADA?
• Flame Retardant?
• I D? Truck Height Dock?
• Movement in an Emergency Situation
• Lighting
• Crowd Density
• Distractions by Backdrops and Props (obstacles)

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Contracting

• Theaters
• Party Prop Warehouses
• www.partypropsinc.com
• Event Décor Studios
• www.artattackco.com
• Web Resources (from Book)
• Dream World Backdrops
• Grosh Scenic Rentals
• Olphiant Studios

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Backdrops

• Painted Backdrops-painted in perspective (gives
  the illusion of photographic reality)
• Flat Fell Seams (muslin backdrops for
  images)-Jute Web at top and Pipe Pockets at
  bottom for weights
• Images
• Narciso Rodriguez Show
• Muslin Films
• Light Hula-Hoops

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Alternative Backdrops

• Scrim
• Opaque when lighted from front and translucent
  when lighted from rear
• Painted with dyes to maintain transparency for
  special effects
• Pulled tight to look like wall

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Props- 2 D

• Flats decoratively painted or covered with
  fabric
• Profile piece- outline cutout (usually of
  something representing life)
• Ease in Storage and Transportation
• Less Expensive
• Can create illusion of depth and dimension
• (one in front of another-need lighting effects
  though and room must be right)

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Props 3 D

• Either constructed or sculpted
• Expensive , but illusion is perfect
• http//mardigrasworld.com

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Constructing Props

• Materials
• Fir Plywood very heavy
• Plastic Foam Core, Gatorfoam- very easy to use
  sometimes can warp when paint is applied so
  special paint materials must be used
• Use of orthographic projector to project image is
  best

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Types of Props

• Objects and Built Props
• Objects
• Load in/out
• Fire Code (i.e. car example)
• Built
• Do guests touch them and are they safe?
• Do they move?
• Knowing what materials can be used together
• Example petroleum products cannot be used w/foam
  so you can use a latex stucco so you can paint
  it-used for Mardi Gras floats
• You will also be using hot materials (example-
  hot wire cutters for frames sculpting)

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Staging

• Types
• Come in blocks 4 x 4 or 4 x 8
• Come in 6 ft or 8 ft sections that can be rolled
• Hotel staging (ht 8 inch increments) Theatrical
  (ht 6 inch increments)
• Skirting or Facing

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• The precision choreographed staging of Radio
  City Music Hall offers size and versatility,
  unlike any other. Built in 1932 by Peter Clark,
  its innovative elevator system is a forerunner of
  other stage designs (including the Metropolitan
  Opera House)
• These elevators can handle people, animals, props
  and scenery at variable speeds, delivering them
  to the stage or above and also dropping out of
  sight in front to reappear again in the back,
  just as effectively.
• The stage (100 feet wide) consists of four
  moveable platforms (two pistons each), one of
  which carries the orchestras bandwagon.  The
  orchestra bandwagon is a self-propelled car,
  accommodating a 35-piece orchestra and its
  accouterments including two grand pianos.  It
  typically travels some 200 feet a show,
  horizontally or vertically along an elevator
  shaft that allows it to shuttle back and forth
  from the sub-basement level or to the rear of the
  stage. Jumping on the bandwagon has never been
  so apropos.
• The other three platform stages (each 70 feet
  wide and 12-16 feet deep) move, using the
  hydraulic system, independently or together from
  a point 27 feet below to 13 feet above the stage
  level, at a rate of 1 foot a second. When the
  three platform stages are at the same elevation,
  they can combine into a 43-foot diameter
  turntable that rotates (on rollers driven by a
  motor) in either direction. The staging then can
  be programmed to coordinate with the
  performances. 

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Fabrics
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Event Fabrics

• Criteria
• Fire Resistance through flame retardant
  treatment. Think about this when you are
  purchasing material for use in events (swags,
  chuppahs, or anything next to flames/candles/etc
• Suitability (color, texture, surface, feel)
• Service Ability (drape, hang, no crush, wrinkles,
  no crease, laundering)
• Cost-Effectiveness

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Types

• Theatrical
• Traveler Curtains-open and close horizontally
• Legs/Tormentors vertical drapes, frame stage
• Valance/Teasers-horizontal that finish top edge
  of stage picture
• Sky Drop stretched curtain is at very back of
  stage that is lighted to look like sky
• Exhibition
• Divider draperiers
• Back and side
• Navy and black are most common (up against grey
  floor
• Banjo Cloth, Poly Velour/Velvet, Convention Vinyl
• Display (used for display and temporary
  decorations)
• Some are not FR because they were not initially
  intended to be used for public access areas and
  FR treatment would ruin the fabric

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Wall Treatment

• Pipe and Drape
• 8 ft and 10 ft (top rod, up right, base, panels)
• Navy and Black most common (up against gray
  backgrounds most often)
• 2 ft of gathered material 36-48 in of material
  (this will make it look full and finished)
• Semicustom Drapes
• Neoclassical Swags-pipe and drape, use a wooden
  horizontal batten and staple or pin the fabric
• Valances

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Ceiling Treatments

• Banner
• Canopy
• http//www.bellagio.com/restaurants/le-cirque.aspx
  
• Valance-Louver Style
• http//www.bellagio.com/restaurants/circo.aspx
• Considerations
• Must be point or points to attach it to, must
  have structural integrity and have permission to
  attach
• Air conditioning
• Sprinkler systems

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Table Linens

• Rules of Linens
• Order Extra
• Double Linens Moletens
• Overlays
• Know Fabrics
• Dress the room wall to wall
• Know of the resources you have at no charge
• Do not dress the room until the lighting crew
  come in and let the crew know what colors and
  linens you are using
• Linens are best placed once you everything else
  is done
• Floor Length, Lap Length, Rounds, Squares, Serps,
  Overlays
• Buffet Skirting Pinning (french pinning, box
  pinning), Velcro
• Napkins Folds and Using Glasses/Cups
• Chair Covers Stacks, Chiavari, Wedding
• Bows, Knots, Tuxedo, Stretch, Translucent
• Covers or no Cover