Blah blah blah—everybody uses tape for Marley setups, especially for temporary performances. Taped-down Marley is also cheaper, so that’s probably why it’s so popular worldwide. But the tape you use does matter!
It’s hard to ascertain, but technically what you want is a tape where the adhesive is compatible with PVC vinyl. By “compatible,” I mean it does not leave residue when peeled off. Over all the years Alvas has dealt with tape manufacturers, even having rolls made specifically for us with our logo on the core, it still eludes us. There was a time when we had to rush for a Jay Leno performance with American Ballet Theatre, and no one had tape. We grabbed clear packaging tape, and it worked. However, after just a few hours, when we removed the material from the stage, it left permanent glue residue. We had to cut the seams away to get rid of it. No cleaner would work because the glue had actually chemically reacted with the PVC vinyl, creating a mush.
We’re currently working with another company that may be able to produce a smaller run for us with an adhesive that’s much more PVC-friendly. We’ll keep y’all posted if we come up with something. We’re also hoping the price comes down, because when you get close to $30 for a roll of tape, you almost wish you had ordered Marlay® so it could be welded together and never have to order tape again.
If you’d like a more detailed explanation from Matt please contact us.
