We mostly have signs behind the stage with us but do have other miscellaneous objects.  All of our puppets are on a puppet "tree" we made from pvc. Does anyone have any good designs or suggestions for a good, "out of the way" prop rack? Thanks for your input!

Is your stage stationary or portable?

Stationary.

I guess.. One of our members made one from Conduit pipe and we made curtains to fit.  It is about 30feet long so we consider it stationary.

I guess.. One of our members made one from Conduit pipe and we made curtains to fit.  It is about 30feet long so we consider it stationary.

I'll do a bit of web searching and let you know what I come up with!

Prop racks can be hard since each show is normally unique in it's props.   For example with signs with poles on them you can have a simple square made of 1 X 4 that has feet on it then you drill holes in the top and bottom to slide your sign poles down into.  I've also seen the clips for mops in the closet you get at the hardware store (There is a real simple metal clip on the fancy ones) used for sings or flags that you attach to a stand of some sorts.  Smaller props often work best on a shelf. Do you have any old low book cases sitting around?  Get some trim board and put a small lip on the front of the shelf so things don't roll of the shelf. Do the same on the back if it is not closed off. A backers rack, which seem to be very popular right now in stores, could do double duty. Not only could you lay things on it but you could slide your poles down through the slots in the shelves.

We made a prop rack that you attach to the PCV legs of stage between the top and bottom of the  front curtain.  It's function was to hold up the props, you could have them sitting lower and then raise them up to position when needed.  The rack was adjustable height.  The design came from "Puppetry Stages" book
http://www.creativemin.com/product/123/staging
We had trouble with the wooden parts swelling from humid weather and the grooves would get too tight, we were constantly sanding them to make them fit. But the design is good idea and not too hard to make. Maybe if you sealed the wood it would not swell. I gave it away to another puppet team and took no pictures when we moved to stantionary stage.  Also I thought of a test tube rack type design, it is a top and bottom with holes in both to hold up sticks.

Do you want one to use in the stage, or to store props when they are not being used?
We have a prop rail (2 actually). They Are 1" x 2" pieces of wood (the width of the stage front). There are several pieces of 1X2 that are screwed between the two pieces, to leave slots for the prop handles to fit in. The entire rail clamps onto the stage with U-bolts.
We have not had a problem with humidity (we're on the Gulf Coast).

I've thought of making a storage rail with PVC pipe. PVC caps are screwed or glued to a piece of wood.  PVC is glued into the cap.  Prop handles are slipped into the pvc. Have not made one, just thought about it. 

We are currently re-doing our puppet room at church, and we are going with a totally different storage system for props.  I'll post pictures when we are finished.

Lots of good ideas as always.  As you said Shawn, each presentation seems to be unique in its needs for props.  We mostly need something to hold the props during the presentation. Right now, I like the low book case idea. Taking that idea and knowing that we also need a place for personal props (hoods, gloves, etc) I am thinking of making a rack from milk crates on their side, stacked three high.  The top layer will be for the sign poles and the bottom layers will be for the puppeteers' gear.  Will try it this weekend and see if it works.  Only concern is whether it will be top heavy. I can hold it together with zip ties and dissassemble when done.

Good idea!  Take some bricks with you and plop them on the bottom layer if you think it'll be top heavy.