Festival Tents???

Now that I am actually starting up my business, I want to get a nice set up that I can take to all of the art festivals in my area. I found a nice table and a director's chair that will work perfectly, and now I just need a tent. My only problem is that I have absolutely no idea where to find a good one that is decently priced. Do you guys have any ideas?

Look for a 'tent' that meets your needs, not just the cheapest available. Most artist desire a white canvas top, so they can get the most natural color range on their palate, and subject. Keep in mind that some of your parents are over 6 feet tall, will they be banging their head on the roof supports? Next you want to consider the ease of putting one up, will it require 2 men and a boy, and weigh more than an elephant? Plus consider the space alotment most gigs allow, arround here its usually 10 x 10, so if you get a 12 x 12 that might create more problems. Some times you can find a good deal from places like costco, but most of the dealers are found on line, that way you can compare prices and shipping rates to your local. Some of the dealers are way too proud of their items, but many are rather reasonable in pricing, it just took me forever to save up. Look to see if the supplier also has weights for your structure, arround here they are reguired, minumin of 25lbs per leg, and many days the wind can still send your canape off for a fast landing in the next county. We learn to hold onto the roof with one hand, paint like mad and place a foot on your paint table to keep passerby-ers from gettin a free face full of paint, brushes or table

While I hate to say this... go to Walmart. Their canopies are really sturdy and not too expensive. I have tried several, and so far, the ones at Walmart are the best for the buck.

Can you believe I lost TWO tents last year. One to wind and one to rain. I am shopping again this year too.

Len, great advice!

lost one last year to rain and wind the night before the last day of the festival. very frustrating

Thanks, guys. I was planning on going with a 10 x 10, I just didn't know where to look. As for weights, I learned the hard way earlier this year that even the biggest canopy tents can go flying in the wind. My church had a festival in January, and a huge gust of wind literally blew the legs out from under one of our giant tents. Luckily, I was not under it, but I was beside it, and several people nearly trampled my set up as they rushed away. Needless to say, my tent will probably end up with extra weights, because I have no desire to ever experience that again.

I haven't gotten a tent from here yet but they can actually digitally print your business name/logo on the tent for you..... it's pretty awesome.
Check it out [url] http://www.canopiesandtents.com/[/url]

Tash

I found a really nice, one person set-up on the Costco site for $180, and I think that I will probably end up getting it, so thanks for suggesting that I look there, Len.
Tash, I looked at that website, but they do not digitally print your business name on the tents. They screen print it or stencil it on, which you can actually do yourself and save money. I've been stenciling stuff for years, so if you would like, I can pm you a tutorial on how to stencil it yourself for less than $20.

Glad you found what you were looking for. Sounds like a good price too.
I was just looking at that site that definitely do digitally print for you, they also screen print which may be what you are referring to.

Tash

I make the client provide shelter. The wind here is constant and insidious...

Tash, I went back and looked at the site and found the part about digital printing. How on earth did I miss that section? It looks totally cool, but unfortunately, it also looks really expensive. I will probably just stick to the plan and stencil my own.

Shannon, I would love to do that, but the weather here is extremely inconsistent and the people here are extremely spoiled. If I required them to provide shelter, I probably wouldn't book any gigs.(PS, I got your book the other day, and it is awesome!!!!!)

usually, the first thing on a new tent to go is the carrying case. so i just dont even bother with it. happy painting, and no tent sailing

I found my 10' x 10' canopy on eBay for $80 with free shipping, so you might check them out as well...

and someone had told me once about taking old bleach containers, cutting out the top (leaving the handle) and filling the bottom with ready-mix concrete. Then you can either just put the leg of the canopy through the handle, or attach it. I think I'm going to try that, and make up a couple of extras to have on hand in case wind is really bad. You could put 2 to a leg, if you had to!

Metina wrote:Can you believe I lost TWO tents last year. One to wind and one to rain. I am shopping again this year too.

Hi Metina!

Tell us what Brands failed you so that we don't go buu the same ones!

~Michelle

I like EZ UP. I have no trouble with them in rain and snow. But wind can make any one of them air born if you don't use stakes and weights or both.