Stage Designs

Throwback: I Long for Bubblewrap

Derek Welker from Worship Center in Lancaster, PA brings us this design inspired by the other bubble wrap designs. (Originally posted July 2012.)

They wanted a design that would fill the whole stage to allow them to place band members further apart from one another – a less crowded appearance. So they hung 4 panels on the outside of their panoramic screen to fill in the black space at the top of the stage. Then they added moving lights above the bottom tier of bubble wrap to create low level lighting looks along with twenty-five 57W light bulbs hanging from various items on the stage to add more eye candy.

The top tier of bubble wrap was attached to upright pieces of ten foot steel pipe. The bottom tier was attached to eight five foot boxes that the moving lights sat on and four five foot pieces of steel pipe on the very ends. They also left a 6 foot gap in the middle of the stage to allow people to enter and exit as well as move props and instruments on and off.

Materials used:

  • Four 50′ rolls of unperforated large bubble wrap
  • Assorted lumber and plywood to make the boxes
  • Black curtains to cover the boxes
  • Four 5′ pieces of steel pipe
  • Seven 10′ pieces of steel pipe
  • Finishing nails and gaff tape to attach the bubble wrap

Lighting:

  • Bubble wrap lit with Chroma Q Color Blocks and Color Forces
  • Special and Back Lighting – Martin Mac 250 Washes
  • Twenty-five – 57W Light Bulbs

Total cost of the set was $160.

Throwback: Circled Shadows Pogo Sticks

19 responses to “Throwback: I Long for Bubblewrap”

  1. Jonathan says:

    To do it that cheap you must have got a great deal on bubble wrap. Mind sharing your source?

  2. Aaron bailey says:

    I want to know you did it so cheap. This is a great idea

  3. Derek says:

    Jonathan & Aaron,

    I found a website called esupplystore.com. I got 200′ of 48″ large bubble wrap. (Non Perforated)

    Derek

  4. Love the huge video screen.

  5. Jeremy says:

    What/Where did you get that screen? projector or LCD? Love the bubble wrap

    • Derek Welker says:

      Jeremy,

      The screen is a permanent part of our stage. It was installed when we built the building. It is a Stewart Screen, I forget the model number. The dimensions of it are 37.5′ wide by 12′ high. It is a rear projection screen with double stacked Panasonic projectors edge blended. If you would like more info on it please e-mail me and I can give you more specifics.

      Derek

  6. Andrew Hunt says:

    I have lots of Bubblewrap from a previous design — free to anyone who wants it. You’d have to pay for shipping or pick it up locally. They’re about 4′ wide, 20′ long. I have at least 10-15 of em.

    • rese jackson says:

      id love to use the bubble wrap:) where r u located?
      i’m in margate, florida please email me to set this up.this well b a huge blessing!!

    • Amy Dunn says:

      Hi Andrew,
      Do you still have your bubble wrap? I’d be interested for sure! What state are you in? I do stage design at Abundant Life Church in Oregon.
      Thanks,
      Amy

    • Scott & Lori Adams says:

      Andrew, I am interested in your extra supply of Bubble Wrap. Please contact me on behalf of “EnjoyChurch.TV”. We are preparing yet another set change & the Wrap may work fine for our fall set. Thank you in advance! Scott & Lori Adams

    • Derrick says:

      Hey could u email me if you still have the bubble wrap?

  7. Aaron Bailey says:

    Hello Andrew,

    I am very interested in the Bubble-wrap. I am located in Virginia Beach Va. and i am the new creative pastor for my church and this would be a great impression i could place on the church. something new and exciting and creative and most important cheap!!

    thanks,

  8. Matt McGee says:

    Great application! Found non-perforated bubble wrap at staples.com. It’s a little pricier than mom-n-pop companies, but there is free shipping.

  9. Reggie Asplund says:

    uline.com also has some rather great prices on bubble wrap, also any type of cardboard you can imagine really…

  10. Keith W. says:

    Where did you locate the lighting which was focused on the bubble wrap? Was it up-lit from the front/rear? or were the lights faced directly at the rear side of the wrap? Also, was it 1/2 inch, 5/16, or 3/16 bubbles? Nice looking set by the way … so nice and budget friendly Im planning on using it for our youth services. Thanks for the info!

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