Easy Inexpensive Stage Backdrop - How To Make Your Own Background or Booth Sign

Easy Backdrop (Stage & Show Backdrop)

Hi, I’m Bethany Baldwin, an event planner turned drama club leader who was looking for an easy, impactful, inexpensive way to create backdrops that kept the focus on my students enjoying the creative process rather than making work for all the adult helpers, and after 4 years of trial and error I am finally satisfied with this backdrop process that I’m going to walk you through in this video.

This backdrop frame is collapsible so it can be moved to different locations easily. It’s lightweight for easy rotating during a performance, and it’s reusable!  If your performance is on a very large stage you could consider using 3 backdrops that make a triptych (meaning 3 backdrops that make 1 image). You could consider using stage props to bring visual interest out wider to fill your space, or you might have a large LCD screen with a coordinating simple image behind your free standing backdrop.

I also used this whole process to create the backdrop for my business’s booth display but instead of using disposable drop cloths I used a heavy duty canvas drop cloth, primer, and a sewing machine to make a rod & pocket style system.  I’ll link my video about my convention booth set up at the end of this video

Here is a list of my Supplies...

~NicQliear 5x7-8x10 FT Heavy Duty Thickened Backdrop Banner Stand

~Trimaco 2601 Cloth Drop Nonwoven Poly 8X12Ft, 8-Feet by 12-Feet

~NicQliear 5x7-8x10 FT Heavy Duty Thickened Backdrop Banner Stand

~Black duct tape (not gray)

~2 California King Size Black Flat Bed Sheets

~2 black curtain rods

~black curtain rings

~1/16 Wire Rope

~Scissors, wire cutters

Painting Supplies: acrylic paints that already match your color pallet for the play, paint brushes, drop cloths/fabric/boxes/etc. to cover the painting area floor, paper towels, solo cups with water for used paint brushes, paintbrushes, foam brushes, baby wipes, paper bowls, images of your backdrop goals for reference, old school transparency projector or a person who can draw your backdrop lines for you, clear folder dividers, thin black sharpie, king size sharpies 

The FRAME: First of all, the backdrop frame I purchased is fairly lightweight but it was inexpensive and as long as it’s treated well will provide you with a great reusable large backdrop. I will be purchasing a higher quality frame as soon as our drama club funds allow.

Evaluate your space to pick the best backdrop size for your space.  The frame in this video is adjustable. It’s a good idea to have the frame set up larger than you want to have it for the performance because then you can trim off the edges later because edges tend to not get painted well, plus you will have the old tape from painting.

The frame should be supported underneath by bricks or old books so someone doesn’t accidentally step on it and bend the frame, even during performances.  If you are having small children paint the backdrop you might want to put it on the ground for them after the backdrop lines are drawn out to prevent accidental backdrop frame damage.

There are two sides to these somewhat fragile paper drop cloths. While they are a little fragile, they’re so inexpensive and the stark white makes stunning colors. There’s a seam down the middle that you will want to reinforce with some extra duct tape on the back and masking tape on the front to tape the flap down. Taping and stretching these drop cloths is definitely a two person job as you’ll need to trim the Backdrop as you go and get it stretched nice and tight. It will lose most of its wrinkles and tighten up more once it gets painted and keep in mind that this isn’t Broadway, this is an opportunity for students to be creative. Your best is good enough!

All the full length plays for my Music, Art & Drama MAD Society clubs come with free backdrop images that coordinate perfectly with each play which includes a full color rendering and line drawing of 2 backdrops and suggestions for the kind of curtains that would work best for that play. Use a projector to trace the line drawings. You should be able to borrow one from your local library. Be sure to stick to a strict color scheme for each show, specific to the mood and style you are going for. I use canva or a drawing done by me or a student and trace it on a transparent file folder and project it. 

It’s wise to think about painting a backdrop in layers, from back to front. That back or bottom layer is large blocks of flat color. After the big blocks of color have dried you can add texture and details, followed by outlines if you want a crisp look.  If you do not have students interested in these things, just skip the details!  If you have a student who would like to take the images even further by adding things that are not in the original backdrop image, let them do that.

Have the backdrop lines done before your painting days by either a leader or a couple students who can draw the lines for you. There are far more advanced ways to project images but this works for me.  You could also just freehand copy the image, or ask someone to do that for you. I use black permanent marker to draw the image lines. The black marker will probably bleed through the paint and that’s good because you can easily redraw those lines after painting to give you those sharp edges.  But, this means that any mistakes you make with your markers will be seen easily.  If you are nervous about tracing, use a pencil first. 

It’s so important to give the correct size paint brush for each space that will be painted.  A paint brush that is too big will make it hard to stay in the lines and a paintbrush that is too small will be frustrating.  Flexible, soft and old paint brushes are great for texture and unique painting results, but are not good for color blocking.  Paint brushes should be flat and have bristles that are soft to the touch but are not limp.  My favorite brushes are the ones with the teal blue handles and orange synthetic bristles.  Students who love art and painting can take the backdrops home to work on them.  Just make sure they do not make creases in the backdrop if possible.  Maybe provide a pole to wrap the backdrop around or a big box for transporting it safely. I absolutely loathe foam brushes! Make sure you show the students how to dip the brushes into paint and scrape one side clean of paint on the container holding the paint to avoid dripping.

If you have students who still want to do more artwork you can lay the backdrop on the ground and use colored pencils to add additional texture, fine details, and things like shadow and depth to your backdrops. Just be careful because that backdrop is fragile! Maybe put yoga mats on the backdrop for the students to sit on to protect the backdrop. And remember, do not give them colored pencils that don’t match the color scheme. Keep it cohesive!

Taking the time to come up with a very specific, refined color scheme for your performance will make it feel more professional, cohesive and it’s just more fun to paint with banana yellow instead of primary yellow.  I recommend getting some recycled ice cream buckets and mix your specific paint colors in advance.  Help a student do the mixing! Be watching out for my color scheme video! Stop a minute here with me and consider the difference between banana yellow, sunflower yellow and lemon yellow.  They are different! Encourage your students to not do any color mixing while they are doing the basic color blocking to first get the backdrop covered in color.  Details, shading, texture, etc. can be added after the first paint layer dries.  Maybe show them this video so they understand.  In fact, why not show this whole video at the beginning of your art day?! 

Often, mixed colors end up looking like mud.  It’s perfectly fine to add some details and elements to the backdrop that are not in the color scheme, just keep them to a minimum. 

Carefully store your backdrops in a Rubbermaid until you are ready to carefully tape them back on the frame and use them.

MAD Warning: Students will get paint ON EVERYTHING!  They will drip paint and have absolutely no idea they dripped, then step in and walk around, and unfortunately some students will not bother cleaning it up. It’s a good idea to have a designated Meeting Volunteer whose sole purpose is to manage the paint issues.  Also provide clear instructions on brush clean up, or have an adult ready to do that for you so paint does not end up staining your bathroom walls and beautiful white sinks. Hopefully you have access to an outdoor hose! Students should be reminded to always wear paint clothes to art days, and if they forget I will have them go to the bathroom and turn their clothes inside out. It works!

Remember, good art experiences are about the process, not the product.  Students want a reason, inspiration, and place to make and display art.  If you have students that would like to help plan and draw the images, invite them to do so with you.  Just make sure it’s not adding stress for you as the leader.

Other ideas to consider: glow paint and blacklights, use T-squares and levels for good lines, gluing fabric or poster paper or other fun stuff onto backdrops would be cool, try matte & gloss & metallic paints, and remember save the plastic tubs you can buy ice cream in for paint mixing.

For the CURTAINS: 

Be sure to iron your fabric, use wire and the backdrop frame hardware to make a line for the curtains to be hung. Add one piece of wire in the center to help with the dropping and to give a solid stopping point in the middle for the curtains to be closed. Add about 10 rings on each side, a wand to one end and use wire to secure the last ring to the outside of the backdrop frame so the edge of the curtain stays exactly where it should. Make sure your curtain looks its best when it’s closed, and rotate the sides in so you can’t see the curtain edges. Make sure you remove your curtains when students are painting.

Your curtains don’t have to be black, in fact, all the plays I have for sale on my website www.MADsocietyInc.com incorporate a creative curtain pattern to provide a fun 3rd backdrop. Curtain fabric could also be painted.

Please share this video with youth leaders, clubs and organizations who might be able to utilize this backdrop process because I had to create this process because I could not find anything that was meeting my club’s needs, so I know others are feeling the same.

And I hope to see you over at my website to check out MAD Society!