Your stage is going to be the main focal point of your production that will hopefully wow your audience. It will be the first thing that visitors to your production will see, and it can give a great first impression, if it’s done correctly.  Being creative with your stage set up is a good way to capture the audience’s attention, and to give out a certain message about what is to come.  The stage set up in general should be eye catching, well organised and open enough to give a good view from all angles.

If you are planning a production you may want to consider these top tips to help you:

Budget:

-          You need to be realistic as to what you can afford so set your budget carefully

-          You will have to take into consideration things such as costumes, lighting, filming budgets etc

-          Try to figure out what the main purpose of the stage will be, this will help you determine size of the stage, and the type of features you may need to support it

-          If you are on a tight budget, then look for other alternatives that can help you which would be more affordable and cost effective

-          Think of your location and where you are planning to hold your event, as they can be quite costly

Filming:

-          You may wish to hire a film crew so that you can use the footage at other events as a promotional tool

-          You may think of getting a highlights video created to sum up the main, and most attractive parts of your production

Technology:

-          Make the most out of technology and don’t be afraid to try something different

-          Get advice on how you could utilise your stage in the best possible ways

-          You may consider using graphics, motion design, projection mapping, audience response key pads, or live video streaming

-          You can be as innovative as you like, and these items may be able to be featured on and around your stage set up

Creating the right stage design:

-          Focus on being creative and doing something different

-          Outline what the purpose of your stage will be, and the kind of set up that would support this

-          Consider animated graphics and design to give you a real life view of what it will look like before you purchase equipment

-          Take into account any venue restrictions such as sound, ceiling height, limited access and your production budget

If you are looking for the right type of structured stage equipment, then there are two available options which have proven to be popular within stage set ups and the entertainment industry – Litedeck staging and Steeldeck.

Litedeck is becoming a leading industry standard when it comes to stage requirements. It is lightweight and can form various stage set ups. It consists of its favoured feature – the Toplock system, where a single Allan key can lock the stage set, which reduces time massively.

Steeldeck is quite a traditional option although it works just as well in its own way. For example, it is very popular to use for theatre productions, in the sense that it can be moved around easily and can create complex structures using scaffolding components.  It’s quick to rig, strong and easy to handle which makes it a favourable option for your stage set up.  There are endless ways that Steeldeck equipment can be used and is often used for tiered seating. 

Media Structures provide a range of different types of stage set ups, and use Litedeck and Steeldeck frequently in their stage set ups for productions and events. For more information you can visit their website at http://mediastructures.co.uk.

Take into account any venue restrictions such as sound, ceiling height, limited access and your production budget