We fight a constant battle between the production value for a program and the budget. I find myself supporting some of the same shows each year and see the struggle between how to make this year better and stay in the budget from last year.
A lot of what comes next depends on what a client has to spend. At the end of the day, we are filling an event space with audio, visual, and maybe scenic support. At what level this happens depends on the creative aspect, as well as the budget.
I have worked many programs over many years and have found that in the project’s overall creative that includes a scenic element, the program will have a better chance of creating a lasting memory. There are several levels of scenic elements that can be employed, from a complete scenic build to rental items.
There are companies that have a complete inventory of corporate scenic sets and podiums that complement the audio/visual support for an event. At this level, you would employ flats, screen surrounds, headers, printed graphics, custom lecterns. This normally includes the scenic vendor supplying labor to set and strike and shipping.
Employing the DIY (Do It Yourself) scenic is the most cost-effective and can give you a good bang for the buck. One type of scenic requires renting pre-manufactured elements that normally hang from a truss to provide a backdrop that can then enhanced by lighting. This type of scenic would require extra stagehands to install and remove. The amount of this labor would be determined by the type and number of elements on the project.
Another scenic treatment for the stage could come from companies that rent spandex shapes. Many can be used on and off stage and can complement an event. They come in many shapes like walls, arch’s, circles, pillars, and more. This type of scenic is almost always white in color so lighting is a big factor in making the items look good and have pop. Transformit and Moss are two of many rental outlets in this space.
The use of technology is always an option by using Truss on stage, LED backdrops, Projection Mapping, Lighting, and other equipment to enhance the stage look. The options are endless, and the budgeting of these elements can be costly.
As you can see, you have many options and a wide price range should you decide to move beyond the traditional pipe and drape program.
