Expert Tips for Smooth Fabric Install at Outdoor Concerts and Festivals

Outdoor concerts and festivals like Coachella and Stagecoach demand more than just impeccable sound and visuals—they require stage and activation designs that are safe, visually stunning, and efficiently installed. Fabric, drapery, and hardware play a pivotal role in creating striking backdrops and scenery, and technical and decorative fabric treatments for cutting edge immersive brand activations.

Professional fabric installation isn’t just about aesthetics—it directly impacts functionality, safety, and the overall event experience. To ensure your design shines, we’ve compiled expert tips and best practices for seamless fabric installation, from material selection to post-event services.

Every successful installation begins with a comprehensive site visit and/or project consultation. Before you place an order, it’s crucial to evaluate the design, venue and identify potential challenges that may occur during load in. Pre-production meetings with your vendors are essential for smooth installation, selecting the right fabrics and materials, in addition to ensuring everyone involved is clear and comfortable with their role in executing the design.
 
Key Steps in the Assessment Process:

• • Venue Layout Analysis: Take measurements of the space, including ceiling height, tent dimensions, and overall square footage. Evaluate natural elements like wind exposure and the ground surface (e.g., grass, concrete, or dirt) to prepare for potential environmental challenges. Contact the tent rental company or tent manufacturer for diagrams when a site visit isn’t possible.

• • Technical Considerations: Ensure there’s adequate rigging support for hanging fabrics and tracks. Examine any existing structures for compatibility with your chosen hardware and the weight of what will be attached.

• • Customized Recommendations: Our Project and Installation Managers are great resources for collaborating with and developing the best solutions for your stage backdrops and scenery. From framing to fabric and durable sewing techniques, we can guide you on creating the best solutions that are safe and reliable for outdoor stage productions.

By addressing design and logistical concerns at the conceptual level of your project, you can avoid costly and safety mistakes that could occur during your event.

The right materials can make or break the technical performance and aesthetic results of your design.
 
Your choice of fabrics, curtain tracks, framing and components need to balance durability, style, and functionality, especially in the unpredictable conditions of outdoor festivals.
 
Selecting Perfect Fabrics:

• • Durability is Key: Outdoor events require FR (Fire Retardant) Fabrics, which comply with safety regulations while withstanding elements like wind, sunlight, and moisture. Popular choices include Milano® Velvet Plus for creating backdrops and drapery, which is ideal for light blocking and sound absorption requirements.
• • Lightweight, Portable Options: For venues requiring mobility and quick installations, consider Pipe & Base systems paired with lightweight drapery like our Celtic Cloth HW. These flat, pipe pocketed drapes come in a variety of popular colors, install quickly, and providing excellent coverage at an unbeatable price point.
• • Wide-Width Fabrics: Working with wide-width fabrics is a cost-effective solution for creating everything from simple pipe pocketed curtains to tent liners, projection screens, ceiling and wall treatments. Select from a variety of styles:
• • • • Evoke™ Deauville Mesh: A stylish and durable mesh fabric with a soft, linen-like texture—perfect for scenic accents, printed graphics, and elegant outdoor applications!
    • • Whisper Ultra-Wide Velvet: A unique 126” wide IFR velvet that is quickly gaining a lot of attention for its beauty and versatility! It’s ideal for drapery, flat wraps to ceiling treatments.
    • • Ultra-Wide Polysateen: The luster and elegance of a traditional satin but made from 100% IFR Polyester. This stunning fabric drapes beautifully, making it perfect for creating everything from simple to decorative drapery, swags and ceiling treatment.
    • • ProjecTex® Project Fabrics: Choose from a wide range of coated and non-coated fabrics designed for front and rear projection. Create traditional screens with unique surface shapes and applications. Sizes range from 126” to 40’ wide! Projection Fabrics deliver budget-friendly solutions for all types of applications.

Investing in Quality Hardware:

• • Curtain Tracks: Are not only for stages, but they are also being used in other venues and spaces to create reveals, partitions and entrances. With hundreds of feet of track in our rental inventory and a wide selection of manual and motorized systems available for purchase, curtain track can be found in all event spaces and venue types.

• • REXframe SEG Frames & Structure: Ideal for festivals where fast-paced installations are needed. REXframe SEG Systems produce stunning printed and non-printed fabric frames and structures! Event pros turn to REXframe to deliver eye-catching lightboxes to projection screens, structures and branding solutions. As a master distributer and fabricator for REXframe, turn to us for profiles and hardware, finished frames and structures for purchase or rent.

• • Ceiling Treatments: Elegant ceiling fabric treatments often rely on adaptable systems like tensioned sailcloth or aircraft cable.

The right materials ensure safety and add unmatched visual appeal to your event.

Efficient and secure installation is essential, especially at high-traffic festivals. Here are some expert recommendations:

• • Anchor Everything Securely: Outdoor concerts can be subject to wind and heavy foot traffic. Use sandbags and tie off Pipe & Base setups to ensure all are reinforced against movement.

• • Coordinate Track Placement: Install Curtain Track Systems early to ensure seamless integration with projection screens, stage curtains, and entrances.

• • Designate Boneyards Early: Having a secure area for vendors to keep their empty cases, hampers and unused gear/equipment will help with a quick strike and reduce damages and losses for all.

No installation is without its challenges, but being prepared to troubleshoot on the spot can make all the difference:

• • • Rentals: For one-time events, renting drapery and hardware are great ways to stretch your budget.

• • • Adjust Lengths: Keep tools on hand to trim fabric or adjust track positioning as needed.

• • • Secure Seamlessly: For areas with unexpected wind exposure, reinforce drapery with extra clamps, sandbags and tensioners.

• • • Test Performance: Always test curtain tracks, kabuki drops, and roll drops to ensure your equipment is operating as it should. Just like audio does sound checks, make time for equipment checks.

These problem-solving measures ensure flawless installations every time.

Fabric installation is just one piece of the puzzle. Effective coordination with other vendors (e.g., AV technicians, lighting designers, and stage construction teams) is crucial for a cohesive setup.

• • • Schedule cross-departmental walkthroughs during site visits.

• • • Share detailed layouts highlighting draping areas and track placement.

• • • Maintain open communication channels to resolve potential conflicts ahead of time.

Successful events are the result of collective expertise and collaboration.

Event loadout requires just as much planning as the installation. Here’s how to dismantle and care for your investment:

• • Efficient Strikes: Dismantle Pipe & Base Systems, tracks, and drapery methodically to avoid damages.

• • Proper Storage: Protect your fabrics and drapery from the elements by storing them in a safe, dry area.

• • Rental Options: For one-time events, consider renting drapery and hardware to save on costs.

Investing in proper post-event care extends the lifespan of your event materials.

Professional fabric and hardware installation is a game-changer for outdoor concerts, events and festivals.
 
By focusing on proper planning, material selection, efficient installation, and collaborative teamwork, you can create visually stunning and functional environments that leave a lasting impact on attendees.

Whether you’re planning your next event, tour or festival and need assistance with custom fabricated and rental solutions to execute your designs, the Dazian team are here to help! Contact us today.