The Stationery Factory, Dalton, Mass.

My time in the Stationery Factory often begins with a wedding ceremony in the South Room. Here, I provided ceremony sound from my console located within the guest seating on the left side of the photo. The speakers are located up front behind the fabric wall I installed. I also designed and installed the string lights on the ceiling over the aisle. For the fabric wall, I used pipe and drape to first install a solid white back drop from floor to ceiling and wall to wall (this is key as it hides the windows and door back there as well as the sunlight that comes through them). Next I hung hundreds of LED fairy lights in front of it and finally a layer of soft, heavily-pleated, ivory sheers in front of it all.

Here's the same thing but with the addition of front lighting. I've been asked to provide this for each wedding ceremony I've worked there. They are located (and visible in this photo) at the top of the 3rd set of structural columns. Usually more light is needed up front there, and photographers are always appreciative of the stark white wash my optional front lighting provides. It'll make a world of difference in your professional photos--just ask your photographer!

Here's another ceremony altogether. This time the venue provided the white back drop. Again, you can see a solid white backing with a sheer layer in front (in this case the sheers are permanently installed in the venue). Their sheers are white and go a little higher than mine do, whereas mine are ivory and go up to that lowest structural white I-beam overhead. The advantage to theirs is that it's probably available to you at no cost. The advantage to mine is that my solid backer is a few feet taller, completely concealing what's going on behind the sheers.

 

You'll notice this time I located the speakers on our side of the back drop. By doing this, I gained a lot more control over the sound. I'll be doing it this way from now on. Aesthetics are one thing, but a marked improvement in headroom before feedback trumps trying to hide the speakers behind a line of live microphones.

Here's the same thing but with the addition of front lighting. I've been asked to provide this for each wedding ceremony I've worked there. They are located (and visible in this photo) at the top of the middle set of structural columns. Usually more light is needed up front there, and photographers are always appreciative of the stark white wash my optional front lighting provides. It'll make a world of difference in your professional photos--just ask your photographer!

Usually, after the ceremony, guests move to the North Room for cocktails. I locate another sound system there for a seamless transition to cocktail music. You can see more of my optional fabric draping was used here to divide this space to a more appropriate size for our event. I made quite an impression on the venue at  this event and, in their ongoing effort to make each space more versatile and appealing to their clients, the venue itself has since invested in pipe and drape to build these fabric walls themselves.

I had to increase my inventory of pipe and drape for this event. My client requested more of it to help with the flow of guests as they first entered. As you can see it helped a lot to brighten up this area and offered a clean backdrop for the various wedding decor and dessert stations featured.

 

Note: In their continuing effort to make each space more versatile and appealing to clients, the venue now provides this service themselves. 

Welcome to the Big Room! This is the venue's largest, single space, and you're viewing it from the stage. You can see there's a ton of room in here--even with seating in place for about 200 at this event. I always opt to set up on the floor at one corner of the stage (rather than on it), making myself more welcoming, and accessible to you and your guests.

 

Tip: If your photographer hasn't worked here before, it's a good idea to have them tour the space. This room is entirely black making it a challenge for flash photography using only the gear they'd ordinarily have on hand.

A few of my wireless uplights later, this place is "dance party" ready! Without light colored walls or ceilings, uplighting is totally ineffective. But uplights mounted on the ceiling over the dance floor work like a charm! The complimentary lighting I already include in every contract was all it took to get these results (the string lighting you see is permanently installed).

Notice how the colored lights are covering only the dance floor. Guests at their tables are not disrupted by my entertainment lighting at all.

A view from the dance floor--the place to be!

Well, what are you waiting for? Email me now!

MusiChris DJ & Lighting Service
DJ/MC Chris Plankey

Pittsfield, MA

Call: 413.442.9854

Write:

Chris@DJChrisPlankey.com

Looking to take your event to the next level?

Learn more about the dance floor lighting included in every DJ contract.

Email me your request to make an online payment

View my PRIVACY POLICY.

Print | Sitemap
MusiChris DJ & Lighting Service. Pittsfield, Mass. 413.442.9854 (landline--no texts, eastern time). Updated Feb. 2024.