Backdrops @ Catersource 2016!

Posted by Elyse

Last week we were in Las Vegas for the Catersource / Event Solutions Conference & Tradeshow! We had such an amazing time meeting so many new catering professionals, continuing our relationships with awesome exhibitors, and being involved in many of the exciting events.

Catersource - Street Market 2

We decided to create a different look this year with the set up of our backdrops. We’re always innovating, thinking of different ways to present our product to best fit your future events. We created two corners of our booth, both adorned with backdrops on each side. On one side we had a vibrant, energetic Moroccan Street Market, which you can see above. The goal of this set up was to educate the attendees on how backdrops can effortlessly bring the type of food you’re serving to life.

Catersource 2016 - Italian Street Scene 7

In the other corner, we showcased our Italian Street Scene backdrop that could easily enhance any Italian-inspired serving station. We love that caterers have serious input in the way their food is featured to ensure the best presentation possible. We all know that we first eat with our eyes and this is an easy way to leave a lasting impression.

Catersource 2016 - Coral Kingdom backdrop

On the outside of our booth, we featured our Coral Kingdom backdrop perfect for a fun play on serving seafood. We partnered with the lovely Air Dimensional Design (AirDD) to enhance our booth with their amazing inflatables by showcasing their large purple sprout and fun mini light centerpieces.

We were so excited to be a part of so many events during the Catersource Conference and Expo in Vegas. Our Havana Streets backdrops enhanced the CORT Welcome Reception at The Mirage Resort & Casino. The lounge was impeccably decorated. We were so happy to see how the amazing event designers utilized our backdrops. There were so many fabulous partners and sponsors that made this lounge a success. We couldn’t be more thrilled to be a part of it.

5 @ TAO - Catersource - Pop Art Ducks Backdrop

The Monday Night Party, 5 @ TAO, was an incredible display of delicious and delectable food, awesome menu presentations, and an exciting atmosphere. We painted this Pop Art Duck backdrop specifically for the event as the geniuses from Catering by Design were looking for a fun backdrop to enhance their duck-centric menu. It was so much fun to be involved in this creation of this backdrop, from inception to the event.

We’re already looking forward to next year’s Catersource in New Orleans! Can’t wait to see what all of the talented #eventprofs come up with next year!

Tips for Planning Your Best Spring Recital Yet

Posted by Elyse

Dance Recital - On The Go Backdrop

It’s almost March, which means Spring is around the corner! Being in backdrops, we love to be involved in different industries that we truly care about. When we think about Spring, we don’t only think about warmer weather and blooming flowers. We know this is THE time for dance recitals. Often dancers practice all year to demonstrate their ability and love for dance in front of their teachers, parents, and friends. There’s nothing better than dancing with your best friends.

Dance Recital - Medieval Village Backdrop

Through all of our years working in the dance industry, we’ve rounded up our tips on how to make your Spring Recital the best one yet!

Choose your Theme & Dare to be Different!

We love, love, LOVE themed recitals. There are SO many incredible and unique themes to choose from. From 80s to A Night at the Movies to Alice in Wonderland to Around the World. The world is truly your oyster in terms of choosing your theme. While we love the classical themed recitals, we also love those teachers that dare to be different. The ones that go above and beyond to conjure up a new theme that few have thought of before. These are our customers that often inspire us to create new, hand-painted backdrops to transform their recitals. These are the trendsetters that we know are ahead of the curve. No matter if your style is more traditional or modern, there’s always a way to create that WOW factor for your recital.

No Theme, No Problem!

Dance Recital - Drapes Purple Stars Backdrop

Not into the whole themed recital world? You’re not alone! We come across as many non-themed recitals, as we do with themed recitals! What’s amazing about not having a theme is that you can create an elegant, picturesque recital that demonstrates your and your dancers love for dance. It’s easy to create a spectacular recital by focusing on the dancers and letting us take care of the rest! There are so many beautiful backdrop options: Drapes, Sparkling Drapes, Drapes with Stars, Dance Splash, Dance Radio, & Dance Watercolor.

Practice Makes Perfect!

Practice, practice, practice! Nothing makes parents more proud than when their children’s hard work and determination pays off through a perfect performance. We all know that practice best prepares your students for success. We love seeing how amazing the recitals turn out because of the hard work and creativity of the studio owners, teachers, and dancers.

Set the Scene for your Recital!

Dance Recital - Fantasy Castle 2 Backdrop

Setting the stage is effortless with using our hand-painted backdrops. Transform your stage into your ideal recital through choosing a perfect backdrop to enhance your dancer’s performance. Our seasoned backdrop consultants can help suggest backdrops to make your recital the best it can be.

Match those costumes!

There are SO many costumes out there that you can choose exactly what you want your dancers to wear to match your theme and scenery. It’s so fun to look through all of the costume catalogs to find the perfect attire.

We love seeing how the recitals come together. Every piece is integral in making the performance a success and we think it’s the best that we get to be a part of it. We can’t wait to see how our backdrops enhance your recitals this year!

February’s New Backdrops!

Posted by Elyse

Here are our featured new backdrops for the month of February! We’re super excited to show you these hand-painted backdrops. Our designers and artists have put all of their talent and effort into making these awesome backdrops.

New Backdrop - Street Mall 1Our Street Mall backdrop is a highly detailed depiction of unique architecture. This hand-painted backdrop invites you to walk along the sidewalk between the buildings to venture to see what other buildings are around the corner. The inspiration for this backdrop is the iconic Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, California. Rodeo Drive is a major shopping and tourist destination. This backdrop sets the ideal scene for a Los Angeles themed event as it makes you feel that you are in one of the most famous places in California.

New Backdrop - Stage Showgirls 5This vibrant backdrop is sure to catch the eyes of all of your attendees. Our Stage Showgirls 5 backdrop sets the stage with the vivid colors and the extensive detail. This backdrop features silhouettes of showgirls and palm trees amidst a bright sunset with fireworks, green palm leaves, and market lights along the top. The purple stairs of the stage are the perfect complement to the the blue sea in the background, complete with ripples in the water. This background can easily transform your event to a vibrant affair.

New Backdrop - Mansion View 17 Drapes

Imagine you’re inside a warm, cozy mansion adorned with beautiful red drapes looking out on a snow covered village. That’s the feeling you get when experiencing our newly painted Mansion View Backdrop. The pine trees are covered in freshly fallen snow and the houses in the village are warmly lit. This backdrop creates a majestic and elegant atmosphere for your dance recital, special event, or theatrical production.

New Backdrop - Chalkboard 1

Our Chalkboard backdrop will literally take you back to your school days. I challenge you to try to tell the difference between this new backdrop and a real chalkboard. The smudges of chalk beneath the math equations create an authentic classroom experience. No matter where you go, you can create a classroom with this new backdrop.

We are constantly adding new backdrops to our inventory! Check back next month to see what we’ve been up to! Suggestions for new backdrops? Leave a comment below!

Be my Valentine or my Galentine?

Posted by Elyse

Valentine Hearts Backdrop

Love is in the Air, Valentine

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner! We’re excited to celebrate with our loved ones. Valentine’s Day is also known as Saint Valentine’s Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine. Although the holiday didn’t start out about love, in 18th-century England it evolved into a day when people expressed their love to one another through presenting flowers, offering sweets, and sending each other hand written greeting cards (now known as ‘valentines’). We love trading and surprising others with Valentine’s! It’s definitely not only reserved for when we’re younger. We think the more clever, the better. So go grab your supplies and create your own unique valentine for those special someones in your life. It’s time to get creative and show your loved ones what they mean to you! & there’s no better way to do this than a homemade valentine.

Valentine Hearts 3 Love Story backdrop

No Valentine? What about a Galentine?

We affectionately love Galentine’s Day as we know our female best friends are the bees knees & perhaps our absolute favorite type of love story. This term was first coined by Parks & Recreation’s Leslie Knope, who officially made February 13th Galentine’s Day. A pre-Valentines day brunch consisting of ‘ladies celebrating ladies’. Having a gal pal to confide in, a best friend to shop with, and a partner in crime helps make our worlds go round. No matter where you live, it’s easy to find the perfect place for brunch with your girls or you can always have your girls over at your place. & remember: #NoBoysAllowed.

However you are celebrating, we hope you have a weekend full of laughter, spontaneity, love, and definitely brunch. Even though it’s only Wednesday, we’re already counting down to this weekend. There’s no shame in having something to look forward to, right?

Comment below and let us know how you plan to enjoy your weekend!

Mardi Gras – A Time to Celebrate!

Posted by Elyse

Mardi Gras 1 backdrop

Did you know that Mardi Gras is French for Fat Tuesday? The name is to reflect the indulgence that takes place by eating richer foods before Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, the following day. The origins of Mardi Gras can be traced all the way back to Greece and Rome, when early Christians with Pagan roots celebrated and feasted on the days before the somber days of Lent. Mardi Gras is an annual Carnival celebration that is celebrated around the world. The most popular and festive place in the United States to celebrate this occasion is in New Orleans, Louisiana. The first occurrence of the Mardi Gras celebration in Louisiana dates back to March 2nd, 1699.

Celebratory parades and festivities are ongoing for two weeks until and through Fat Tuesday. The parades in New Orleans are organized by Carnival Krewes, which are organizations that put on parades and/or balls during Carnival season. Krewe float riders often throw items to people passing by, most famously colored plastic beads, aluminum or wooden coins called doubloons, decorate plastic cups, and other small plastic toys. The tradition of Krewe riders throwing colorful beads began in the late 19th century. The same parade schedule and route is followed each year by major krewes. It is very common for the krewe members to wear vibrant masks, colorful costumes, and vivid beads.

Mardi Gras 1 Backdrop

The traditional colors of Mardi Gras are purple, green, and gold. All three colors were used by the Catholic Church throughout history. As Mardi Gras is Catholic in origin, these colors have continued to be used during the carnival celebrations and festivities. These colors really do define Mardi Gras and elevate it as its own unique festivals and celebration.

We can all channel our inner #FatTuesday self today & celebrate Mardi Gras as it comes to an end tonight! Be safe and enjoy all of the festivities, wherever you are!

How to Plan A Perfect Superbowl Party

Posted by Elyse

How To - Football 2 backdrop

We are officially counting down to the Superbowl is this weekend! Who is planning on throwing a Superbowl Party? It’s definitely one of our favorite past times and we are looking forward to this year’s party! We’ve rounded up our advice on how to plan the perfect Superbowl party. Check it out below!

1. Invite your friends, family, and colleagues

Tell all of your friends to come over [& not just those into football]. The Superbowl is time to relax, spend time with your loved ones, share in delicious food and drink, and discuss all of the crazy commercials. Think: More The Merrier when it comes to the guest list. The crowd is what makes Superbowl parties so much fun.

2. Make it a potluck

You know those loved ones we we’re talking about above? They can add a helping hand in the party! Superbowl parties are all about bitesize appetizers. You can spend all day looking for inspiration on Pinterest & even tell your friends what you’d like them to bring! Superbowl bites can either make or break the party, so come prepared.

3. Add a friendly competition

There’s nothing that complements a Superbowl party more than a friendly [or not-so-friendly] Superbowl Pool! Easily download your pool here and print it out for the party. This is sure to get everyone even more excited for the game.

How To: San Francisco 5 backdrop

4. Easily enhance your home décor

The Superbowl is in San Francisco, CA this year! Since not all of can be in San Francisco for the game, why not bring San Francisco to your party? Enhance you home décor for the day by renting a beautiful backdrop to set the scene at your party or even for a DIY photo booth! So many options and so many choices.

5. Turn up the TV, especially during commercials

We all know that the commercials are what make the Superbowl so great [even if the game is lacking in the excitement part]. Make the most out of the commercials by creating a game out of it! Have your guests chance their luck at guessing the type of product showcased in the first commercial of the game, the first commercial after halftime, and what product will be showcased most often!

Have a great Superbowl weekend. Wishing all of you a safe and fun weekend celebrating!

Backdrops at TSE 2016!

Posted by Elyse

Garden Party Backdrop TSE 2016

#TSE2016 was one for the books! The Special Event Show is ALWAYS one of our favorites & this year was no different! The Exhibit Hall was so vibrant, the events so exciting, and the people were so passionate about the events industry! We had such an amazing time connecting with other exhibitors, discussing new design trends in the events industry, and meeting fantastic people!

Garden Party TSE 2016 Backdrop

We were so excited to showcase our Garden Party backdrop at our booth! No matter what the event is, Alice in Wonderland is always a good idea. This backdrop makes it effortless to bring the theme to life. It makes us want to throw an Alice-inspired tea party in an enchanted forest. The stacked teapots, decadent desserts, and unique collection of chairs all add to the scenic charm. The vibrant colors of this backdrop are sure to brighten your day and your event.

Our lovely partners helped enhance our booth to the next level! Our pipe & drape was provided by Quest Drape, our furniture (I mean, look at that loveseat!) was provided by AFR, and our realistic turf was provided by American Turf & Carpet. Thank you all for helping to make our booth outstanding! We are so grateful to have such well respected and esteemed partners in this industry.

Umbrellas Backdrop TSE 2016

We couldn’t just bring one backdrop to #TSE2016! As a premier sponsor, we provided the backdrop for the TSE Live Performance Stage. We featured our newly painted Umbrellas backdrop. It is full of colorful umbrellas in a perfectly cloudy sky. It’s such a perfect scene to liven up any venue. The contrast between the different colors of the umbrellas and the beautiful blue sky creates a perfect scenic background.

Twilight Forest Backdrop TSE 2016_Closing Night Party

As we all know, the parties are one of the highlights of the Special Events Show! We were honored to feature our Twilight forest backdrop behind the amazing entertainment at the Closing Night Party! It is truly remarkable how the perception of the backdrop can change with adjusting the color and intensity of the front lighting!

Twilight Forest Backdrop TSE 2016_Closing Night Party

TSE helped us start off this year with a bang! We are so excited for what this year will bring for us. Looking forward to all of our other trade shows, events, and dynamic affairs.

We would like to congratulate Erick Mejia of Your Next DJ and Zane Naylor of NBE Events Group who won our Free Backdrop Rental Raffles! Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth and registered to win.

See you next year at TSE in Long Beach, CA!

New Year, New Backdrops!

Posted by Elyse

What’s the most exciting thing about being in the backdrop business? Seeing all of our beautiful backdrops at your stunning events, dance recitals, and theatrical performances! The close second is adding new backdrops to our inventory! Since our inventory is constantly growing, we love to highlight our favorite new backdrops of the month! This way, you can see what our designers and artists have been up to all month!

Garden 2 Panel - New BackdropOur Garden Backdrop with a Gazebo and Fountain is one of our favorite new backdrops! This new backdrop is full of vibrancy, contrast, and a beautiful garden scene. The light emanates  from the fountain on the left, overflowing with streaming water. The floral-lined walkway is perfect for a long stroll in the park.

Havana Streets 1 - New BackdropThis Cuban inspired Havana Streets backdrop is the ideal, vivid background that will instantly transform your event. The vibrant color of each building creates a distinct, but collaborative look as the buildings seamlessly go into the next. The cobblestone ground adds texture to the bottom of the backdrop, which complements the tables and chairs on the sidewalk.

Mystic Forest 5 - New Backdrop

Our new Mystic Forest Backdrop is an exciting addition to our ever-growing forest series. The light peering into the backdrop adds a warmth and brightness to this backdrop. The small details, including the delicate bridge, the colorful mushrooms, and the unique flowers, create a depth the backdrop that separates it from the rest.

Umbrellas 1 - New Backdrop

This colorful Umbrellas backdrop transports you anywhere you want to go. Amidst a cloud-filled sky are an array of vibrant umbrellas suspended in the air. The different umbrellas transcend the spectrum of color – a complete rainbow of colors.

We can’t wait to see what unique, new backdrops are added to our inventory going forward! Stay tuned to our blog to see what our designers and artists are up to next month!

END OF YEAR SALE!

Posted by Elyse

Don’t miss out on our last sale of the year! It ends tomorrow night as we ring in the New Year!  15% off all backdrop rentals! We’re celebrating the end of 2015 with a bang! Call us now to book your rental @ 858-300-2100!

We’re so excited for what 2016 will have in store for us. We want to thank all of you for supporting us & making this year one of the best yet!

End Of Year Sale!

Use promo code: YEAREND2015 to take advantage of our last sale of the year! On any future order, you can receive 15% off your backdrop rental! We have over 2,500 backdrops in our inventory ready to transform your next event, recital, or production! From a beautiful Italian street scene to fantasy-filled Alice in Wonderland to feeling like a celebrity surrounded by paparazzi. Any theme or scene you can think of – we have in our ever-growing inventory or will add just for you! We view our customers as trendsetters, always giving us deeper insight into the latest and greatest trends within our industries.

Paparazzi Celebrity 5BOur backdrops can truly enhance and transform any space into whatever your imagination desires! No matter the theme or scene of your event or production, our inventory will inspire you to create an impact on all of your attendees. With years of experience, our backdrop specialists are available to provide suggestions for your event and always have innovative ways to bring your imagination to life. We always love to see how our customers use our backdrops!

Happy Holidays!Happy {almost} New Year & Happy Holidays from our family to yours! Looking forward to what this next year will bring! There’s no better way to end this year than with a sale! Call us to get your discount before the sale ends tomorrow night! Can’t wait to ring in the New Year! 2016 here we come!

Backdrops Beautiful Gives Back! – A Time For Heroes 2015

Posted by Elyse

Woodlands 6 backdrop - A Time for Heroes 2015

It was such an honor to be a sponsor of such a meaningful cause. We jumped at the idea of being a sponsor of The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) annual event, ‘A Time For Heroes‘, at Smashbox Studios in Culver City, CA. A family-friendly event dedicated to spreading awareness of pediatric AIDS while providing a fun atmosphere for all of the attendees.

This was a fun and adventure packed day with such important intent. There were so many options for all of the families and kids. We loved all of the activities! Some of the highlights were the Nickelodeon Animation Station, King of Harts Lake Tahoe camping experience, Cinema Makeup School play station, science room exploration station, gift bag screen-printing, basketball, and virtual surfing.

Woodlands 6 Backdrop - A Time For Heroes 2015

We sponsored the King of Harts booth by Melissa Joan Hart in which were honored to be part of the Tahoe camping experience to introduce their new line of clothes for kids! We loved seeing Melissa, Tori Spelling, and other celebrities read by the campfire! We had the pleasure of providing our Woodlands backdrop as a perfect complement for this Lake Tahoe camp-inspired King of Harts booth.

Woodlands 6 Backdrop - A Time For Heroes 2015

This was definitely a star-studded event full of celebrities including Melissa Joan Hart, Tori Spelling & Dean McDermott, Hannah Simone, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, James Van Der Beek, Alyson Hannigan, and many more. We all joined EGPAF to celebrate its 26th annual ‘A Time for Heroes’ family festival, which was truly such a blast for all that attended.

Woodlands 6 Backdop - A Time For Heroes 2015

EGPAF is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing pediatric HIV infection and eliminating pediatric AIDS through research, advocacy, and prevention and treatment programs. This is such an important and significant cause. We’re so proud to be part of this amazing event that brought awareness to the attendees and greater community at large. It is time for the everyday heroes to give back to the community in a meaningful way. Get involved by giving back here.