We are working on a design for our banner, and I wondered if anyone had advice about what material to use.
I would love to see pictures of the banners other booths and performers use.
Mine is 100% polyester that appears to be linen. Got it at Hancock but you can probably get it at Joann's. Whatever you use, it needs to be relatively water/dust impervious AND Scotchgardable. If your booth has a color theme, the banner should reflect that.
Flag and pole together need to be light enough to carry without a flagbelt. If not, be prepared to invest in said belt. There's a reason they call the TRF parade a Death March.
According to the vendor packet, your name & booth number must be prominently displayed, & should have some kind of design that gives a sense of what you sell.
Don't be afraid of tassles, ribbons, or fringe. Limited amount of fairy bells are ok but I'd stay away from any kind of cowbell. (yes, I know, everyone needs more cowbell.)
I'd advise your parade walker to lean more toward the "regular" rengarb. Some of them tend to push the outrageous a little too far. That's appropriate for some shops but not all.
Also, in your vendor packet, there should be a notice for a "Best Banner" competition.
I have in past used the tabbed curtains you can buy at Walmart and the line to make banners. They can be painted, embroidered, airbrushed. Most are a blend that take Scotchguard well. I just used one to make a pavillion hanging for an opera.
Two closet dowels screwed together for the cross-piece, and presto, a banner.
I'm up for hand-painting a banner or two if needed...
Marga
Oh, I have an airbrush! Maybe we can airbrush the large areas and then hand paint the details. I was trying to figure out how to weatherproof it. Scotch guard probably would be the best. We have plenty of feathers and beads to decorate the poles. That would go with the theme of our booth.
DDD!! My friend and I saw soap at The Sawmill Grill and I think it had your business name on it, yes? We both instantly thought of faire when we caught the aroma lol.
YES! That is our soap.
How funny that you saw it there.
We switched to a bamboo pole a couple of years ago. It's MUCH lighter and easier to carry than the broom stick-type pole we had before. As for fabric, we tried canvas in the past, and it both shrunk and molded in the rain. Yuck. So, definately pre-shrink and scotchguard!
Welcome to TRF :)
Choose feathers wisely. Some kinds might not survive the first rain.