Shade roofs (also called Genie roofs) have fallen out of favor in the last few years, especially with the proliferation of mobile stages such as the Stageline SL100 series, and our MAP 24 mobile stage. However, they are still a very viable option for a certain type of event and client need. Please continue reading for more information on our 32'x24' non load bearing rooftops, and our 24'x16' non load bearing rooftops!
What are the components of a shade rooftop?
The non load bearing rooftop has gotten a bad rap over the last few years, mainly because inexperienced production companies have deployed them incorrectly, causing them to fail. This type of rooftop can also be called a shade roof, a Genie roof (named after the manufacturer of the lifts) or a crank tower rooftop. Combined with the rise of easy to use mobile stages, shade rooftops have all but disappeared from the concert and festival landscape. However, there are still uses for both sizes of shade rooftop for very specific clients and event types.
Both the 24'x16' and 32'x24' version of this stage and rooftop system have the same size rooftop. It's a 32'x24' box made from minibeam - also known as 12" x 12" bolt together light duty trussing. When we build them, we use aircraft cable in an X pattern to keep water from collecting on the skin fabric in bad weather. We will also rake the rooftop from front to back for the same reason. Four crank up towers are used to achieve the height required, and then, ballasts are used on all four corners of the rooftop structure to keep it from falling over.
The difference in sizes is not in the rooftop, but in the stage. A 24'x16' stage can be used, or you can use the maximum size of covered space by building a 32'x24' stage under the roof structure. The larger of the two stage sizes can be used for bands up to 6 pieces, while the smaller stage size is typically used for corporate presentation such as store openings, groundbreakings, and other corporate presentations.
Using a shade rooftop - safety and applications
When deployed properly, a shade roof is just as safe as a load bearing or mobile stage. However, because they require more labor than a mobile stage, they can be more expensive to build. Like their load bearing counterparts, a shade rooftop is typically used in venues and areas where mobile stages can't go, such as venues with sensitive turf or limited accessibility. Again - as long as a shade roof is deployed and ballasted properly, they are just as safe as a load bearing rooftop or a mobile stage.
The most popular applications for shade rooftop is in broadcast and film. Unlike a mobile stage, a shade roof allows you to have control over the trim height of the structure, which is very important when using broadcast lighting. Film crews covering outdoor sporting events, live broadcast applications, and commercial filmmakers use shade rooftops because they can hold more lighting than a tent, while not having to worry about the power or heavy equipment requirements that a load bearing stage and rooftop system has. You'll also find shade rooftops used in collegiate events, especially on sensitive turf venues likes soccer and football fields, where mobile stages can't go.
Please see below for our image gallery of our 24'x16' and our 32'x24' shade rooftops. Or, you can Ask Us a Question to find out more about our concert roof system rentals. Our friendly event professionals can help you with your needs anywhere in the United States. We look forward to hearing from you and working with you!