How big should a band banner or backdrop be? What material is best for producing a perfect band banner? How should it be finished?

These are crucial questions for any band or performing group when considering a new band or stage backdrop.

A great backdrop adds presence to a band performance and enhances the experience for fans. Photographs and videos can also look amazing when taken against a superb backdrop.

How big should a band banner be?

The size of your band banner will depend on your venue or the type of venues you generally perform in. Even most smaller venues will be able to take a band backdrop of 2.5m x 2.5m. If the height is an issue, the bottom of the banner can drape on the floor.

Bigger venues will be able to provide the optimum size for your backdrop banner as well as advise on any finishing specifications. The most common specification is for eyelets across the top and a sleeve pocket at the bottom. The sleeve takes weighted rods to tension the banner down.

What material is best for a band banner?

Our most popular fabric supplied by Banner World is 210gsm polyester, full colour printed by dye-sublimation process. This fabric is lightweight, flame retardant, hangs superbly, packs away very small and is non-reflective.

Polyester is also available in 115gsm, in a lightweight AirMesh (ideal for speaker covers) and as a heavier Blackback Pro (this blocks out light from behind)

Cheaper material such as PVC Banner is heavier and more difficult to pack, store and transport. PVC also has a ‘shine’ which does not work well with indoor lighting. All PVC banners supplied by Banner World are flame retardant, but low-cost ones from some competitors are not – make sure you check with your supplier!

You will find that our high-spec, fit-for-purpose fabric band banners from Banner World are usually less expensive than the cheaper PVC banner materials specified by other suppliers for band banners.

TYPES OF BAND BANNERS

PVC BAND BANNERS

The cheapest band banners are made out of standard Event Banner or PVC Banner material and start at just £6.50 per square metre. Any size is possible, so you can opt for a small 1m x 2m banner or a huge 10m X 20m banner to cover an entire stage.

PVC Banner material is B1 fire rated and suitable for indoor or outdoor events. The banners are fully waterproof and the colours are UV-resistant. The banner can be rolled up for storage and transport. However, folding them to squeeze them into a boot may damage them and produce unsightly creases.

Easy to clean, PVC Banner material can simply be wiped with a damp cloth to bring it up like new.

On the heavy side for band banners, PVC materials weigh in at 510gsm for Event Banner, 500gsm for our Premium Banner, to 650gsm for Double-sided Heavy Duty material.

PVC MESH BAND BANNERS

PVC Mesh material is ideal for larger outdoor band banners as its tiny holes allow wind to pass though. This reduces wind-loading on structures.

PVC Mesh material weighs in at 330gsm so is lighter than PVC Banner. It can be rolled up between performances but should not be folded.

PVC Mesh Banners cost the same as normal PVC Banners.

FABRIC BAND BANNERS

Our recommended material for band banners, polyester fabric, is specially dye-sublimation printed which produces deep, vibrant colours on a non-reflective surface. The most popular specification is 210gsm Polyester, but we also offer a very lightweight 115gsm as well.

Airmesh fabric is just 115gsm and contains tiny holes – being acoustically transparent, this has proved ideal as speaker mesh.

Fabric Banners can be packed away very small, folding and/or rolling is no problem and they are usable indoors or outdoors.

Starting at £12.95 per square metre or less, our full range of Digital Fabrics can be found on our website.

FINISHING

We finish band backdrops and banners to your specification – all included in the price.

HEMS

All our band banners are hemmed as standard. PVC materials are high frequency welded whilst our fabrics are stitched. Hemming adds strength to the banner edges and helps to prevent damage or fraying.

EYELETS

Metal eyelets on PVC materials and plastic eyelets on fabrics can be fitted around all or just some edges of your banner. These give you secure points to attach clips, ropes or bungee shock cord in order to fit your banner at each venue.

POCKETS

Pole pockets or sleeves allow you to slide poles or bars through the top or bottom of a banner to aid fixing. You can use PVC or metal tubing, wooden dowels or even broom handles.

BACKDROP STANDS

Backdrop Stands are proving increasingly popular. The Standard Stand expands to display a backdrop up to 8ft x 8ft, is easily transportable and sets up in less than 5 minutes. Backdrop Stands can be used to display any of banner fabrics and materials.