July 2004 Return to Table of Contents A major transportation company entertained guests and clients at “The Palm Club,” a combined production by John Garberson, Creative Backstage, and Andrea Bakus and Doug Scheffer, Urbana Productions, both of Phoenix. Guests entered a cool, white room, where strains of music mysteriously filtered into the environment. To the guests’ amazement, two spotlighted, white baby grand pianos emerged from the ceiling and were lowered as the pianists serenaded the wide-eyed onlookers.

Following dinner, the lights dimmed, and the spotlights again focused on the pianos, which returned to the ceiling as the dessert buffet lowered to the floor. At the same time, the traveler curtain parted, revealing a hidden lounge area, comfortably furnished by FormDecor, La Palma, Calif. Hot reds and moving gobos illuminated the room, transforming the environment from its cool white beginnings. Guests danced and visited in the lavishly decorated space designed as a cool South Beach club.

For more information call Creative Backstage at (480) 580-2222 or Urbana Productions (602) 254-3200.

1. Panels of diaphanous material from Rose Brand, Los Angeles, and provided by Urbana Productions, hung at various heights from the ceiling.

2. To support the 3,000 pounds per side that included the baby grands, musicians, platforms, motors and dynamic loads, Garberson used more than 304 feet of 20-inch truss.

3. More than 100 feet of 12-inch truss supported the platform with eight one-ton motors. The truss support system was designed by Creative Backstage to hold the weight and hide the truss legs behind the drape drops. It also held the 30-foot traveler curtain that separated the dining room from the lounge.

4. Urbana lined the walls using a more opaque fabric from Exclusively Expo, Phoenix, hanging it in staggered panels that created a more architectural feel. Creative Backstage designed lighting around the layout, the truss support and draping. The main lighting fixtures included Source Four pars with color changers, studio colors and studio spots. Additional lighting included lekos, pinspots, par 64s and par 56s.

5. Tables were draped with floor-length white silk from BBJ Linen, Chicago, overlayed with Organza and hand sewn with pearlescent paillettes from Resource One, Reseda, Calif.

6. Palm trees from Neon USA, Costa Mesa, Calif., supported decor around the room, while fronds from some trees created the pinspotted centerpieces by Designs by Design, Phoenix.