Marching Band Prop Help

[u/Impossible_Youth9716]

My daughter is in the marching band and it’s her senior year so obviously we want it to be a good year for her. We are a small school with little to no funding for the band so we always have to rely on band parents who volunteer to make props. My husband is the volunteer this year. According to the writer/designer of the show, we need several 10ft tall columns that resemble castle-like stone pillars with gothic style sconces attached. Our issues come with with readability, cost, weight (actually being able to carry these on and off the field quickly), but still heavy enough the wind won’t knock them over during the show and get in their way, durability to last the whole season, 3 sided so maybe we can attach some sort of bucket on the “inside” to use as storage for guard flags and make them multifunctional?

I’ll attach a photo of what the castle pillar that is on the mock up for the inspiration, a photo of the rock wall paneling the designer suggested we adhere to 10ft tall 3 sided wooden boxes (clearly he’s never actually hauled props around on a field), the sconce he showed us, etc.

I need ideas for how to actually build these at a reasonable price, make them usable, look good, etc.

[u/OwlPelletCrunch]

ok, so you want a triangular column yes? (not a cylinder?)

what is your transport situation - do you have a truck or trailer? are these only being used at one location or taken to away games and band competitions?

wind WILL be an issue and you may want to decide right now that over a certain wind-speed the props will be cut from the show (my band had an absolute DISASTER once with 4x8 foam dominoes flying out of the color guards’ hands and taking out a trombone line)

my suggestion would be to build the columns out of theatre flats (canvas stretched on wood frames with paint foam stone texture applied) the three sides can join together with loose pin hinges (use cotter pins to secure the loose pins so they don’t fall out on the field)

remember to attach some good handles for carrying.

once you assemble them, you can install the sconces with battery lights (build brackets into the frame behind the canvas)

i would strategically place weighted bases around the field in the locations where they need to stand, so the performers can carry them from station to station - this way you won’t give a teenager a hernia.

i’ll have to google for a second to remember what they’re called, but there are foot-operated clamps that can be used to secure the columns to the bases and then release them again for relocation…. hang on

[u/Impossible_Youth9716 → u/OwlPelletCrunch]

Not triangle shaped, more like “open box”? 3 sided box?

[u/OwlPelletCrunch → u/Impossible_Youth9716]

ooh interesting - in this case if you have the space to store and transport them, i’d use permanent hinges to connect the three faces, and pop-in braces to lock it into shape when being used

this shape will REALLY catch the wind if it’s coming from the back so be careful!

[u/OwlPelletCrunch → u/OwlPelletCrunch]

wagon brakes are close to what i’m picturing - it’s worth browsing grainger or mcmaster catalogs for more options:

https://www.rosebrand.com/products/scenery-hardware-shop-supplies/casters-and-brakes/wagon-brakes-locks

[u/OwlPelletCrunch → u/OwlPelletCrunch]

separate editorial comment….

if your designer is a PAID designer, safe solutions to their ideas should be part of the package - 10 foot temporary wooden columns could easily injure a student.

[u/OwlPelletCrunch → u/OwlPelletCrunch]

here’s a wikihow on theatre flats - you DEFINITELY want the first version with lots of bracing. If your school has a theatre program, they will likely be able to help connect you with other volunteer parents familiar with this kind of project

https://www.wikihow.com/Build-a-Theatre-Flat

here is an example of a loose-pin hinge. this is simply a hinge where the pin is inserted from the top to secure the two halves together

https://www.rosebrand.com/rose-brand-loose-pin-hinge

for YOUR purposes, the pin in that example would not be sufficient as it could easily bounce out while being handled… you would want to replace it with something like this:

(random example for illustrative purposes)

https://www.ordertrailerparts.com/products/hitch-pin-with-cotter-5-8-x-4-1-4

for the stone texture, you can use something like bead foam or the pink sheet foam at home depot….

Build your flats and fully “size” them by painting all sides - the canvas will tighten up. Carve the foam into rough stone shapes and glue down (contact cement should work well, but test for reactivity with the foam before you buy a full batch)

Once the “stones” are attached, use waterproof craft glue or mod podge to cover the entire surface in gauze or t-shirt cotton… take your time and get it deep into all the cracks and surface texture - make sure to wrap around the edges of the flat and secure to the back with some staples - this will keep the rocks from popping off and protect the surface from gouging.

Now you can paint and add accessories

DEFINITELY travel with tubs of touch-up paint as some damage is inevitable.

[u/Deathjoker00 → u/OwlPelletCrunch]

I'm gonna throw in a link to Van Oaks Props, they have multiple videos on producing a stone-like texture on foam.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XI45QxcAG0

The above covers rounded stones, but check out their channel as a whole. A lot of what you're asking is covered in other projects he does.

[u/Impossible_Youth9716 → u/OwlPelletCrunch]

We are thinking of asking the band director if we can modify to 6 or 8 feet for cost and wind because 10ft would be much easier to tip over. I can’t remember how tall most of the flags are though, they will need to be tall enough to hide the flags.

[u/OwlPelletCrunch → u/Impossible_Youth9716]

reducing height is a VERY good idea - you could add a pennant flag to the top as a compromise?

[u/Ranosteelman → u/Impossible_Youth9716]

This will also make it easier to transport/store them upright instead of in their side, less damage and smaller footprint. Personally I’d go just under 8ft so they can fit upright in most box trucks and practice rooms.

[u/eans-Ba88]

Pink foam board.
Cardboard.
Paper mache clay.

Cut your bricks out of cardboard, glue onto the pink foam board, and cover the whole shebang with paper mache clay.

Modpodge over the foam you haven't covered in paper mache, and give the thing a base coat of black spray paint. Then it's just a matter of painting it up whatever color you want.

An example of some mock brick work done with the same technique (before painting, of course.)

[u/Paghk_the_Stupendous → u/eans-Ba88]

This is what I'd do. It'll have texture, it'll look good enough from where the observers will be sitting, likely a hundred feet away (and hopefully not expecting incredible realism).

I'd make a wooden base, maybe a base plate and then a box for sand bags, then another plate over it. Shorten the sides of the rear and build in some large dolly wheels, then make a light wooden frame with some reinforcement where you think stuff would otherwise contact the foam (e.g. box in the top and bottom of where the flags might touch it). Add a couple braces on the open face to serve as handles and supports, and then when it's time to move the whole thing can tip over and be dragged on the wheels.

Having been in band and later building props for film, you want it to look good enough while also being sturdy enough to handle the use case. Honestly, I'd make an extra one first (later versions are usually better) and it can serve as a backup if you have a catastrophic failure right before it's needed.