Back Drop Help

[dannydishcloth]

I am trying to complete a lazy tong booth . I have canvased the booth , nearly added the side prosceniums and need to next sort the back drop.

Please can any one help as I don't quite understand how this works.

I plan to perform with hands in front of face, so , I need to learn:

What type of fabric to use?
Can the fabric be found in most fabric shops?
How can I see without being seen?
Do I look through the backdrop (some how?)....Do I use gauze , or do I hang it short or long?
What is the best paint to use
Do I need to paint it in a way that I can see through it?
How far back from the playboard should I hang the backdrop?
Has any one got an unwanted back drop for sale?

Sorry , to ask so many questions, but I don't want to do it wrong. All help is greatly appreciated.

THANK YOU

[Chris]

Before posting a question here it is always a good idea to look on the main website to see if it has already been answered. Punchman's Tips contains much valuable information on working Hands-in-Front, it won't answer all your questions but will answer some.

[dannydishcloth]

Thanks for pointing out punchman's tips. (unfortuanltey the images don't show on my computer).

It has been useful reading the inforamtion. I am still unclear on how to do it and hope someone could help me clear a few bits up before I visit the haberdasheries.

I plan to get some black out material for behind me to line the bacl and side of the awning. Also, to hang some material to absorb my saliva near where my mouth sprays. And (Er??) Some black gauze for the back drop??) Can I paint all of the gauze or do I leave a part where I see out of? (I don't quite get this part at all, and I still don't understand how I am to see through the back drop). I plan to paint the backdrop but doubt that I would be able to see through paint? So I use acrylic paint?

Please could some one help!

Thank you.

[Chris]

I'm not sure why images don't show on your computer. Do you mean all images? The only ones in the article I mentioned are these:


Does your computer show those?

There are many different ways of painting your backcloth. But you don't have to paint one, you can always use a plain cloth, or a pattern. But one thing you do not do is try to paint on BLACK gauze.

The simple way is to have a black backcloth. Choose a lightweight velveteen or a dress velvet - hold it up in front to your face and see if you can see through it fairly clearly. If it isn't see through then you can't use it. I found a lovely dense black stretch dress velvet that was beautifully see-through.

Similarly you might find a striped material that would make a nice backcloth - hold it up to the light, or better get someone to help, and check that you can clearly see your hand through the cloth.

If you are going to paint it then you want to choose a white material, see-through, and preferably one that will not crease easily.

There are many different painting techniques with different fabric painting products on the market. You will have to experiment. There are fabric painting felt tip pens and paint in tubes and bottles. Some only work on man made fabrics, some only work with natural fabrics. The ones that dye the fabric rather than putting a textured layer on top of the fabric are the ones to choose. If you want to use acrylic paints then you mix thinly and stain the fabric rather than putting a layer of pigment on top. If you fill in the weave with pigment then you will not be able to see through.

Perhaps some people with more extensive experience with painting see through backings than I have will share their knowledge.

[dannydishcloth]

Im so grateful for your help thank you.
I have the images now - but they are not on the page of mr punchmans tips.

the part I didn't undertstand but think I do now - is......If you want to paint the backdrop - do it in white otherwise have a plain black back drop. I'm just going to use blain back , it seems far easier!


THANKS AGAIN

[Chris]

Well the only reason you should paint on white fabric is the same reason you paint a picture on white paper - if you paint on any other colour it distorts the colour of the paints you apply. But as you seem so totally unsure about the whole business don't you think it would be a good idea to have a look at someone else's booth and backcloth. Are you a member of the PJF. Surely you could visit one of their festivals, or visit a nearby member?

Have just had another thought.
If painting a backcloth seems beyond you there is a way to cheat. First get some material with a small pattern, maybe floral, which resembles wallpaper. This does not need to be see-through. Cut a square hole to resemble a window in the centre of the cloth. Then get some white net curtaining (which is see-through) and stitch, or fabric glue this to fill in the window. Get some ribbon in a dark colour and stitch or glue this to form a window surround. And there you have a backcloth with a dirty great see-through window in the middle. You might elaborate on this with a felt vase and flowers appliquéd on the windowsill.