Music Festival Group / Sign Pole

For Bonnaroo 2012 I went with a large group of people (20+). We decided to make a decorative pole to help our group find each other. The artist SBTRKT was playing that year, so we made a larger version of his mask that lights up.

The project was a success, my group could easily find each other and we had fun bobbing around with it during the late night sets.

We received a lot of praise and many people have been asking us how we made it. I figured this would be the best spot to post it.

Hopefully you can be inspired to create something similar!

SUPPLIES:
• Box Cutter / Xacto Knife
• Drill
• Paint Brushes
• Epoxy
• Black Duct Tape
• Foil Duct Tape
• Blue Painters Tape
• Black Acrylic Paint (for solids)
• Yellow & Blue Enamel Paint (for transparent)
• 2x - 24"x36" sheets of Transluscent Cor-plast
• One equal sized sheet of paper for stenciling
• 4x - 3" long bolts
• 16x - washers
• 12x - nuts
• 2x - 3' Paracord 550
• Telescoping Flag Pole (20')
• Hula skirt
• Battery powered string of micro-LEDs (http://amzn.to/14CxcyT)
• Small Carabiner 
• A friend or two

Step 1: CUTTING THE COR-PLAST:

On one sheet of Cor-Plast, draw a 30" tall oval for the basic shape of the mask. Leave room to draw a 2.5"x20" rectangle to serve as the side piece

Cut those pieces out and use them for tracing out the exact same shapes on the other sheet of Cor-Plast. Then, cut the same shapes out of the second sheet. 

Step 2: MAKE A STENCIL

Use one of the Cor-Plast Oval pieces to trace the shape onto the large sheet of paper

Then on the paper, draw the elements of the mask and cut everything out

This will now be your stencil.

Step 3: APPLYING PAINTERS TAPE

On both Cor-Plast Ovals, apply blue painters tape all over one side.

Temporary tape the stencil to one of the Cor-Plast Ovals.

With the Xacto Knife, cut the the blue tape in the areas that are stenciled. (be careful not to cut through the Cor-Plast)

Remove stencil, then remove the blue tape from the areas that will be painted black.

Repeat with other Cor-Plast Oval.

NOTE: If you feel uncomfortable cutting the tape directly from the stencil, trace the blue tape with a marker. Then remove the stencil and cut.

Step 4: PAINTING BLACK AREAS

Preface: For the black areas I used acrylic paint because it needed to be solid and opaque. It's been a while since art class so I don't know if acrylic was the best choice, as I experienced some peeling problems when trying to remove the blue tape. I basically had to cut the black paint before peeling back the blue tape.

Paint ONLY the blue-taped side of both oval mask shapes. (This should take a couple coats)

Hold up to light after each coat to make sure the black areas are solid.

Once dry, carefully peel off all of the blue tape. 

Step 5: PAINTING YELLOW & BLUE AREAS

With the glass paint enamel, paint the blue & yellow areas of the mask. (Using enamel will allow light to pass through the translucent areas of the mask, and not show up much if it accidentally gets on the black areas)

Use enough coats of enamel so you can see the yellow and blue colors well when held in front of a bright light.

Step 6: DRILLING HOLES FOR BOLTS

Place both painted oval pieces together so they are facing away from each other.

With the drill, place 4 holes though both pieces. (left side, right side, top and bottom)

Make sure the holes are just wide enough to fit the bolts.

NOTE: for the left and right holes, be cautious to leave room for the outside side panels in the next step.

Step 7: EPOXY THE SIDE PANELS

Take each side panel and make creases and bend them to matches the curvature of the ovals.

Apply epoxy to the edge of one side panel and quickly apply it to the back side of one oval mask.

Stay on the outside of the drilled hole. (be careful to leave enough room for the bolt/washer)

Hold them tight against each other until semi-dry, add more epoxy if needed.

Then do the same to the other side panel.

Step 8: EPOXY THE OTHER MASK

Apply epoxy to the edges of the side panels and quickly place them against the backside of the other oval mask.

Hold tightly against a flat surface, apply more epoxy if needed.

Step 9: SECURE WITH BOLTS

Preface: A friend would be very helpful for this part!

While epoxy is still drying, insert all bolts/washers/nuts.

A washer and nut should be placed at every hole on all sides (inside and outside)

Tighten everything and make sure it feels secure.

If there are any areas on the side panel you think need more epoxy, add it.

Let epoxy finish drying.

Step 10: SEAL EDGES OF COR-PLAST

Preface: since this is corrugated plastic, there are openings around the cut edges. Which could allow water or other debris inside the plastic sheets.

Apply small pieces of black duck tape to the exposed edges of each oval masks.

Continue all around until it's completely sealed. 

(I also added black duck tape to the outside side panels simply because I didn't want to paint again)

Step 11: GIVE THIS MAN A BEARD!

Take the hula skirt and section it into several strands.

With black duct tape, secure them to the inside of one mask.

NOTE: Be cautious not to cover the translucent areas inside the mask

Step 12: MAKE INSIDE REFLECTIVE

Add strips of Foil Duct Tape to the inside of the the side panels.

Also add smaller pieces to the non translucent areas on the inside of the masks.

This will help reflect the LED lights that will be added in the next step.

Step 13: LIGHT IT UP!

I used micro LED string I found on amazon for only $5. Super bright, battery powered and water proof. (The link is in the intro)

With black duct tape, secure the battery pack to the top inside of a side panel. (make sure it's on there good)

Then take the string of LEDs and wrap them around all of the bolts on the inside. (if needed, secure with tape)

Step 14: SECURE TO FLAG POLE

Using a telescoping flag pole, extend the top portions of the pole.

Run the pole through the inside of the mask.

Attach the small carabiner to the top bolt of the mask and connect it to the top loop of the flag pole. (this is used as a failsafe)

While pulling the mask down to keep the carabiner taught, secure the top bolt to the pole with a paracord using a Square Lashing knot. (http://www.animatedknots.com/lashsquare/)

With the other paracord, do the same to the pole and the bottom bolt.

Step 15: STRESS TEST IT

Extend it all the way out, get a feel for it. Wave it around, shake it hard for a while.

If it's wiggling too much, take it down and tighten the knots or increase your paracord length.

Step 16: DONE

And that's it... never loose your group again at a music festival.

Total weight is about 6 lbs.

Comments

[LongToe]

That's a great idea for keeping your people together and it looks great. My only concern is it would be distracting to the other attendees if it was too close to the stage. It might prevented others from seeing the performers especially if you start a new trend.

[silence04]

I was concerned with that as well, but it actually extends higher than the performers on stage. If I were to make this thing again, I'd probably make it smaller specifically for that reason.

[Dream Dragon]

THAT is a really Cool Idea, and not just for music festivals either. Would it help if members of the group had badges or something with the same identifying symbol on?

That way they could show the badge to explain that they were only trying to get to their friends and not trying to "Push In" or something.