Hi Alex, All,
For our situation, a stark space the size of a basketball court, we too have been happy with the results from using fairy lights/Christmas tree lights. They've met our requirements: make a stark space look fun and cozy; inexpensive; low labor requirements: an unskilled, one-person task that’s easy to delegate*; fast set-up, take down and tidy storage*.
*My key discovery, which enabled this to work, was to use a cord storage reel: to reel up the light strings at evening’s end without damaging the wires, to neatly store, and to neatly reel out the light strings the next time. With the reels, it became a fast 100-second job to lay down each 100’ string of lights and takes only about double that to reel them back up.
The same reels dramatically shorten the time needed to lay down/pick up XLR audio cables and extension cords without damaging the wires. They’d also be useful for storing and reeling out those nice white gossamer fabric bands posted earlier in this thread.
Our decorative scheme is to lay them along the four edges of the room, in the crease where the wall meets the floor (in the CDNY case I imagine this as being behind the feet of the folding chairs along the edges). We’re partial to multi-colored and non-blinking fairy lights. Coats, water bottles, bags, etc. tucked under the chairs may block some of the lights but the overall effect remains in tact, in my opinion. We dim the ceiling lights in the hall.
I hope this helps you.
Rob Matson
Organizer, Musician, minor caller
Conway, AR