Re: Quick Free-Standing Way To Display Banners
 

Go to your local trade show or sign products distributor.

There are many types of banner stands that fold up neatly in to a carrying case that can even be taken on airplanes.

Like this

Re: Quick Free-Standing Way To Display Banners
 

staple/tape to large foam board....$35 wooden easle stand at office depot...done

if it need to be portable, slice the foam board down the middle.....then once stapled/taped you can fold it in half....

Re: Quick Free-Standing Way To Display Banners
 

About my earlier post - here's a picture of the setup in our pits at Detroit 2007:
Click

Re: Quick Free-Standing Way To Display Banners
 

This is great. I'll have to look for your pit setup in 2009.

Also, thank you Billfred, for sending light stand photos via PM. Very cool, very portable.

Re: Quick Free-Standing Way To Display Banners
 

Through the magic of Flickr, I'll share with the crowd:

Setting up at Chesapeake:
http://flickr.com/photos/billfred/2909688748/
http://flickr.com/photos/billfred/2908838871/

The setup in our classroom (photo credit: Mark Kirlough)
http://flickr.com/photos/billfred/2910029153/
http://flickr.com/photos/billfred/2910874280/
http://flickr.com/photos/billfred/2910874240/
http://flickr.com/photos/billfred/2910028947/
http://flickr.com/photos/billfred/2910028837/

What you see there is more properly termed a background support; Ritz Camera offers one of unknown height for $70, which is surely enough to hold up a banner or sign. There are others elsewhere; you might do better to find a full-line camera shop (read: probably not your local Best Buy or Circuit City) and get a feel for each.

Re: Quick Free-Standing Way To Display Banners
 

Another option is a portable easel stand. They are aluminum, lightweight and easy to set up and take down. They look similar to tripods.

Check Office Depot.

Re: Quick Free-Standing Way To Display Banners
 

Try empty plastic gallon milk jugs (or collapsable camping water bags/jugs) (re)filled with water at your destination, if you want to travel without hauling cement.

Re: Quick Free-Standing Way To Display Banners
 

Check out the 12.5' long telescoping ladder offered on http://www.woot.com/ today. It is probably overkill in more ways than one, but maybe not. Many sturdy structures could be built by tying two of them together with cross braces.

$90
30" when collapsed
12.5' when extended
23 lbs
Holds 250 lbs