The Ultimate Guide to Buying Mesh Stage Banners

So you’re looking to purchase Mesh Stage Banners? You’re in the right place! Our team has been printing mesh banners all day, every day for years.

Here are some key things to know before you buy your mesh banners.

Best Materials for Festival Banners

The best material for festival stage banners is vinyl mesh. In fact, you just can’t compare any other choices to this high quality, durable material! Vinyl mesh comes in two options: 70/30 or 30/70.

70/30 vinyl mesh means that the banner is 70% vinyl material and 30% air (holes). The holes allow for wind and sound blow through without compromising on visual design.

In contrast, 30/70 vinyl mesh uses less material and more open space – 30% vinyl and 70% holes. This material is ideal for windy conditions. These are often used in places such as beaches or places known to be windy to reduce the chance of the banner tearing or exerting too much load on the stage and damaging it.

A stage will always have a certain max load for weight and wind resistance, so if you anticipate a venue will be windy, the 30/70 vinyl mesh is the safest option.

Stats About Vinyl Mesh

• 70/30 vinyl mesh is the most popular option for outdoor events
• 70/30 mesh is durable, lightweight, and allows air/sound blow through
• The 30 percent holes are essentially invisible from a distance to the naked eye
• 30/70 vinyl mesh is recommended only for very windy conditions, as the images will be less vibrant
• More details about vinyl mesh can be found HERE

For more information about the differences between 70/30 and 30/70 vinyl mesh, check out this informative article.

Another option, which is NOT recommended for outdoor use is solid vinyl. This is only ever a reasonable option for the stage header banner or skirt, if a band or event is looking to maximize the vibrancy of the images and logos. Header and skirt banners are long and thin, making them less likely to add excessive load on the stage in regular conditions.

For safety reasons, we recommend that all outdoor festival stages utilize at least 70/30 vinyl mesh materials for ALL stage banners.

Wind Considerations for Festival Stage Banners

First of all, you really need to consider your venue when you are deciding on the type of vinyl mesh you will purchase. Because 30/70 banners can be less visually appealing, some might opt against them.

However, if you know the venue will be subject to high winds, the safest choice is always smartest. If you need help designing your banner to be as vibrant as possible, even at 30/70, our design team is available to assist.

Sizes for Mesh Stage Banners

You will need to know the stage type and size in order to purchase the proper mesh banners. Here are some of the most popular and common stages used at festivals:

Stageline SL 100

Stage Backdrop: 12′ 8″ x 23′ 6″
Left And Right Speaker Banners (Stage Scrims): 16′ x 6′
Stage Header (Top Banner):
Option 1 – 3′ 10″ x 24′
Option 2 – 3′ 10″ x 37′

Stageline SL 250 (Classic model)

Stage Backdrop: 14′ x 30′
Left And Right Speaker Banners (Stage Scrims): 17′ 9″ x 12′
Stage Header (Top Banner):
Option 1 – 12′ 6″ x 30′ 8″
Option 2 – 12′ 6″ x 32′ 8″

Stageline SL 260

Stage Backdrop: 17′ 6″ x 30′ 10″
Left And Right Speaker Banners (Stage Scrims): 20′ 6″ x 13′
Stage Header (Top Banner):
Option 1 – 5′ 1″ x 46′ 3″
Option 2 – 5′ 1″ x 35′

Stageline SL 320

Stage Backdrop: 22′ 4″ x 38′
Left And Right Speaker Banners (Stage Scrims): 26′ 4″ x 15′ 10″
Stage Header (Top Banner): 4′ x 40′

Apex 3224 Mobile Stages

20 Ft. Stage – Apex 2016

Stage Backdrop: 11′ 6″ x 20′
Left And Right Speaker Banners (Stage Scrims): 16′ x 4′
Stage Header (Top Banner): 3′ x 20′

24 Ft. Stage Apex 2024

Stage Backdrop: 12′ x 24′
Left And Right Speaker Banners (Stage Scrims): 16′ 2″ x 4′
Stage Header (Top Banner): 3′ x 24′

32′ Ft. Stage – Apex 3224

Stage Backdrop: 16′ x 32′
Left And Right Speaker Banners (Stage Scrims): 19′ 9″ x 4′
Stage Header (Top Banner): 3′ x 32′

*Note: Although the official Apex 3224 banner spec book lists 4′ high for the header, according to our official Apex sales representative, a 3′ high top header banner is ideal.

For more detailed information about stage types and sizes and how to order your banners in the correct size, check out this useful guide.

How to Hang Mesh Banners on a Stage 

There are two primary options for hanging stage banners: grommets and pole pockets. The most popular hanging choice is to have a grommet/eyelet placed every 2 feet along the perimeter of a banner, fastened with a zip tie or cord.

Pole pockets don’t hang the banners as easily and generally are just not as user-friendly. This is especially true with large or long banners like the stage backdrops, headers, and skirts. However, if you’re sure this is what you want, NorthCoast Banners can produce banners with pole pockets by request. The most common stage banner we produce with pole pockets are the side banners.

Another option would be Velcro, however this is best suited for small, indoor venues. To read more about each option and decide which is best for you, check out this article on setting up your banners and backdrops.

Additionally, you must remember to talk to festival management if you have questions about stages and sizing. The venue management will be the ones to hire the stage technicians who actually hang the banners. Specific venues or stage rental teams sometimes have specific finishings, and even sizes, that they prefer to use on their stages. Asking them for their preferred size and finishings will ensure that they can install the banner quickly and that it will look great.

As the buyer, you won’t be the one hanging your banners. At NorthCoast Banners we know the majority of the well-established stage tech companies and are able to answer your questions or connect you to the right person.

Will My Banners Rip? 

NorthCoast Banners’ mesh stage banners come with reinforced hems. As a result, these hems that have been doubled up with extra heat welds or stitches so the edges will be strong. In contrast, standard hems won’t last as long and could tear in high winds. 

Make sure you always review order details like materials, hanging type, and hem type.

How Long Does It Take to Order a Stage Banner?

The typical turnaround time to order a mesh stage banner is about 7 business days production, plus shipping time, which depends on buyer location.

The biggest hold-up we tend to see involves artwork hiccups. For example, the artwork submitted may not be high enough quality, which could result in some back and forth with our team and designer before the banner goes into production.

Of course, if our graphic artist gets called in to clean up images, it could add several more days.

Therefore, you should plan for the order date to be at least 3 weeks prior to the date needed. The minimum typical order time-frame is 1 to 2 weeks, but we recommend you add a week or two to be safe.

Rush Order for Mesh Stage Banners

We are able to fulfill rush orders for mesh stage banners. In fact, we can often complete printing next day for a rush fee. Contact us for more information.

How to Design Artwork for Stage Banners

There are two key elements for stage banner artwork: bright colors and high contrast.

Keep in mind that if you have opted for 30/70 vinyl mesh for windy conditions, your images will appear more subdued. However, 70/30 mesh is essentially solid to the naked eye from a distance, as our eyes and brains work together to fill the open space.

Check out these stage banner design Dos and Don’ts to get started.

What Are the Format Requirements for Artwork for Stage Banners?

Because artwork needs to be blown up to a large scale for stage banners, it is important that the images be high quality and large format.

Likewise, the best logos and art files are vector images. For example, PDF, AI, and EPS files. These can be any size without losing quality, since the computer just scales the image based on existing information.

Raster images can be trickier to adapt. These include JPEG, PNG, PSD, and PSB files. These files need to be clear at 150 dpi at full print size.

For example, if a backdrop is 10×10′, just convert that to inches, which equals 120×120. Thus, saved at that size in Photoshop it would need to be at least 150 dpi. If the file is too big for Photoshop, then we need the HALF size at 300 dpi so we can expand it.

For all the nitty gritty details on design sizes and file types, utilize this guide to artwork requirements.

However, if you aren’t up on all the latest design jargon, we have a graphic artist who is able to vectorize logos for an additional fee utilizing whatever graphics you already have.

Can I Reuse My Mesh Stage Banner?  

A great benefit of mesh stage banners is how durable they are. These will last you a long time! Be sure to roll your banners when you store them to lessen creasing.

Do NOT put tour or festival dates on the artwork if you plan to reuse the banners. If you take care of your banners and choose your artwork wisely, they will be a long-term investment well worth the cost.

Now that we’ve covered the main topics for purchasing mesh stage banners, you should be set and ready to go! If you have any additional questions, feel free to reach out to our highly trained and experienced team at NorthCoast Banners. We are always happy to bring your stage banner vision to life!