Choosing the Right Setup for your Backdrop: Uprights

A common misconception when it comes to creating backdrops is that the fabric is everything. Choosing the right structure is critical to the success of your event. For this reason, it is important to know the ins and outs of backdrop structure. Today, we are going to focus on uprights. An upright is the vertical aluminum poles on either side of the drape support. When choosing an upright, there are three different variations. Fixed Height- These uprights are one piece and do not adjust unless you purchase an extender pole. The general heights of fixed uprights are 8 foot or 3 foot. This option is great if you plan to use the same height for every design like photo backdrops or behind treat tables. It is also the least expensive kind of upright. Break Apart- Break apart uprights are exactly what they sound like. These babies come in two pieces and snap together for easy transportation and storage. This is especially useful if you travel with your pipe and drape and do not have a large car. The only downside is that they also don’t adjust in height. Adjustable Height/Telescoping Uprights- Adjustable uprights are my personal favorite because they are so versatile. These uprights allow you flexibility for your backdrops and pricing. A taller design commands a higher price. However, expect to pay a higher price for such a gem of a product. Now that you have a bit of an idea of what’s out there, what you should take into account when picking an upright for event? First thing’s first always check the ceiling clearance height before choosing your upright. You wouldn’t want to order an 8 foot tall fixed height upright, only to find out that the ceiling is only 7 1/2 feet tall! Another thing to consider is your transportation and storage capabilities. If you will be transporting your pipe and drape to various events, you’ll want to make sure that your uprights will fit inside of your vehicle. So, unless you have access to a trailer and/or truck, you might want to opt for an adjustable upright as most non-adjustable uprights will not fit in a standard vehicle. The last thing to consider when choosing the kind of uprights to invest in is if you mind bringing a ladder to every event. Adjustable uprights normally shrink to a 5-6 foot height to allow for easy designing before extending them to the desired height. Fixed and break-apart uprights don’t offer this luxury, so you’ll need to a pack a ladder for every event. When push comes to shove, I prefer using adjustable uprights for my events. I believe that they are worth the investment, but there is no shame in starting your company with fixed or break-apart structures either. Now that you have your uprights picked out, head on over to my post on creating color palettes for backdrops. If you enjoyed this post and are looking for great post on creating color palettes for backdrops. If you enjoyed this post and are looking for a great pipe and drape kit, check out our best selling backdrop kit The Posh Basic Kit. For more tips, tricks and resources be sure to check out The Posh Academy on Youtube. You can find new videos every Tuesday and Thursday!