Hi,

I know how you feel. Lots of time this stuff falls on my too. Is there a local lighting company in your area? I am in are a fairly small city and there are two places that rent and sell lighting equipment. They are both wonderful and always happy to help. I would go to a place like that with your questions. They will be able to show you samples and even explain how everything works. I just got help figuring out how to get the exact right special effect I needed with equipment I already had. They didn't just tell me, they showed me. Actually, they talked me out of buying something I didn't need. So, I left with 6 rolls of gaffers tape! I will use it eventually.

L.

With shadow effects, this will depend upon the amount of space upstage of the cloth available & a lot of experimenting.

I have used scrims on occasions for this, however in most cases I use the Cyclorama or the cyc?s reflector cloth.

I have used scrims effectively, as they are primarily a lighting transposition cloths, & to gain the dual effect of a silhouette from upstage, with a ?Z? [floor] position lamp & being able to have the upstage scene appear & disappear, by swapping from upstage lighting, to only having downstage light from the ?Y? [30 degree] & defusing the cloth, assisted by the ?X?[overhead] position lamps.

As for the material & depending upon the size of the space, if it is only a small venue, shadecloth is the cheapest way to go. You can get this in 3.6 metre [12 foot] width rolls, that would do most community venues. They are available in black & white. White would suit your requirements if you get upto the 90% shade type.

Being woven plastic, it will bounce a sheen from the lamps, which might be a problem only with downstage lighting.

There are a number of materials available in various sharktooth weave, depending upon the density required, it is based on how many teeth per inch, this establishes it?s ability to be transparent.

Also I believe Bobbinet is a good stage material, because crease & fold marks will come out, in a very short hanging period.

Comparing the price of a scrim or cyc purchase from a supplier, this will depend on how many gold bricks you have. Most scrims &/or cyc?s start upwards from $1500 AUD, for the average community teatre, [4 x 7 metre] where by shade cloth is about $ 100 AUD, which is a cheaper option by at least 90%.

You can use canvas repair kit eyelet?s, for hanging to the batten, you can use reusable plastic ties to make up the tail pocket to hold the tail batten in.