About Philadelphia
Philadelphia is a bustling metropolitan center nestled in the heart of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Often referred to by one its nicknames, Philly or The City of Brotherly Love, Philadelphia is a highly populous urban center that is made up of greater than 100 neighborhoods. Each of the neighborhoods found in this city is distinctly separate yet still interconnected with the others.
Philadelphia has a typical northeastern climate, experiencing four seasons every year. With a snowfall of approximately 20 inches annually, Philly definitely sees some chilly and wet winter months. The city is located only 50 miles from the shoreline and 70 from the Pocono Mountains, making this one urban center that is a true haven for outdoor enthusiasts.
A city of great historical significance and with much beautiful scenery to commend it, Philadelphia is a popular location for those wishing to mount a production like a play, concert, film screening, or even a corporate event. If you’re on the hunt for the perfect spot for a Philadelphia production, the biggest challenge you’ll face here is narrowing your options down to only one.
Production Options in Philadelphia
Selecting the right Philadelphia production space is a critical component of a successful performance. Once you’ve selected a place that feels just right, it’s time to get the space ready for opening night. Philadelphia has many supply vendors, set decorators, and furniture rental companies that can be a big help to you.
- Prop Rentals
Every production set requires some props to help set the scene. Philly is home to many prop rental companies specializing in décor, handmade props, costumes, furniture, and even wigs for film sets, photo shoots, and productions. Available for short and long term lease, you’re sure to find everything you need for your Philadelphia production space with one of the city’s best prop stores on the job.
- Hair and Makeup
To ensure your cast looks their very best at your Philadelphia production, it’s a great idea to hire some beauty professionals to provide their services on-site at the event. Philadelphia is home to many top tier hair stylists and makeup artists specializing in hair and makeup for film and photo shoots, productions, and corporate events.
- Audio Visual Equipment Rentals
A successful production space relies on audio-visual equipment to help the sound quality and optics look their very best. Whether you are in need of specialized lighting, sound boards, microphones, and projectors or speakers, software, generators, and an engineer to install and run it all, the right Philly audio-visual equipment rental company can deliver.
Production Companies in Philadelphia
Finding the right location for your Philly production space is half the battle of hosting an event. Now that you’ve got that detail in place, it’s time to bring in the professionals to get the space ready for the curtain to rise.
- Pierre’s Mascots and Costumes
Located in the downtown core of Philadelphia, Pierre’s Mascots and Costumes is the oldest prop store of its kind in the country. Stocking a wide selection of costumes, mascots, makeup, and accessories, you’re sure to find everything you need for your production here. For those one-of-a-kind props that are difficult to source, Pierre’s Mascots and Costumes will hand craft the item for you, ensuring you have precisely what you need.
- JKo Beauty
Founded in 2016 after more than 20 years’ experience in the makeup industry, JKo Beauty is located in Philadelphia. JKo Beauty offers on-site makeup application for film and photo shoots, weddings, corporate events, celebrations, and productions. They have won multiple awards from the Best of Philly, Wedding Wire, and The Knot to name a few.
- Red Star Pictures
Founded in 1977 under the name Videosmith, Red Star Pictures is a top tier audio-visual equipment rental company. Specializing in the latest technological innovation for the film, photo, and production industries, Red Star Pictures has an excellent selection of the most up to date equipment, ensuring you have everything you need for a successful event in Philly.
Pros and Cons of Productions in Philadelphia
With so much to see and do in this populous city, it’s no wonder Philadelphia is so popular with locals and tourists alike. Still, there are benefits and drawbacks to be considered when it comes to mounting a production in The City of Brotherly Love.
Advantages
- Big city with a small-town vibe
Though Philadelphia is a large urban center, it maintains a small-town vibe that many people find quite charming.
- Ideally suited for travel
If travel to other urban centers is part of your plans, you’ll be pleased to discover that Philadelphia is centrally located, allowing for ease of transport to other big cities such as New York, Boston, and Montreal.
- Affordable cost of living
When compared to the high cost of living incurred in places like New York and Boston, Philadelphia is a surprisingly affordable place to live.
Disadvantages
- High air pollution
Philadelphia is a highly populous city, and its roads are heavily congested at all times. This has a negative effect on the air quality.
- High rate of crime
The crime rate in Philadelphia is considered to be quite high. Stick to the neighborhoods you know.
- Limited parking place
Unfortunately, parking is very limited in Philadelphia, particularly within residential areas.
Famous Locations in Philadelphia
- LOVE Park
A much-loved plaza in the heart of town, LOVE Park takes its name from the LOVE sculpture that provides a focal point here. LOVE Park forms the gateway to such popular attractions as the Philadelphia’s Museum Mile, the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, the Barnes Foundation, the Franklin Institute, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
- Philadelphia Museum of Art
True lovers of art won’t want to miss the chance to visit the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Home to one of the largest collections of precious artworks in the United States, the Philadelphia Museum also boasts of another piece of history; the Rocky Steps from the 1976 movie Rocky with Sylvester Stallone.
- Philadelphia Zoo
The Philadelphia Zoo is one of the city’s most frequently visited attractions. Among the most popular exhibits here is Big Cat Falls, a section of the zoo that houses a natural habitat for large cats that also prominently features some stunningly beautiful waterfalls that not only provide an attractive backdrop, but they also help to keep the animals feeling comfortable.