Festival Tents???

Our first canopy did not have the vents at the top and was horrible when the wind kicked up. This new one I have has the vents and it makes a big difference. I got mine at Wal-mart.

Debi, Do you recall the name brand of the tent you have? I've been looking for tents with vents in the ceiling, with no success.

I too have a beige EZ Up Canopy and I love it, I can set it up by myself with no problem (because mom is almost too short to help me). My Mom and I have had it for 4 years now and it has never failed us. This last summer it even made it through a thunderstorm that produced a tornado just 5 miles away. It didn't blow away and it didn't get twisted at all. As custom, when we set it up, we secure it to the ground using 4 heavy duty Dog Stakes put into the ground at an angle . The ones I'm referring to are about 18 inches long and are spiraled, so you twist them in. Put those in at an angle and the tent isn't going anywhere unless you say so. We don't use the thin strings that come with the tent, instead we use self-winch straps with hooks at the end. You can crank those babies down so tight you could almost play off them and since they are secured at ground level, we rarely have issues with people tripping. We've never had a problem with leaks either. We've had to close down shop and huddle in there a couple times when the weather was bad and we couldn't get to good shelter.

If the weather is particularly threatening we have four 5 gallon buckets filled with cement we tie to each leg and then we put small straight stakes through the holes in the 'feet' of the legs (which is what we did just before that storm last summer). We also have side tarps that came with the canop that when attatched and closed reduce the "parachute" or "umbrella" effect drastically which is what often takes tents to kingdom come.

I think we got it for about $120 at Walmart... I can really remember, it was a while ago.

I have a 10'x10' white commercial Caravan with four side walls and a wheeled carry bag.
Paid $250 for it in 2001 at Costco.

It gets used now used maybe 5-7 events a year most - twice a year for a bi annual five day festival, last year 3 times 5 days each - most times one day use. It has have seen some very serious use in 9 yrs. It looks great. I will before Memorial Day wash the top - first time in the nine year - it has a bit o sap and is ready - but it could go w/o. I have wiped the sides down as needed - last year the got the most wiping. I just like that nice clean professional look.

I can put it up alone (I am 5'1") - certainly some can't - I've actually helped folks who had the same ones - some things just throw folks!. It peaks in the center as needed for rain and good air circulation. . It gets windy in the summer in my area - and at one event I do weight my legs - but usually I don't. I use 25 lbs vinyl sand bags with webbing handles - usually found where they sell bounce houses and inflatables. They are 10 yrs old and I use them all - all the time to weight down and hold in place equipment during transport.

An option for weights are boat anchors 5 to 50 lbs and more - they come bell shaped with rings on the top for tying onto. They are decent looking, small enough to be out of your way but visable enough to avoid being tripped on - the can be painted in any color to match your company look. Those 5 gallon buckets will take up valuable space - sometimes you need that extra 6 inches. And you are better to use 2 weights for extra poundage on one corner than moving anything over 25 lbs. You can also run the pvc piping along the side rails in a vertical position - we' have a friend who does this.

I would not get a colored tent if you plan to do large, juried, professional events as many event coordinators require white only tents. I would not add vinyl letters or stenciling as this will wear and look unattractive. Add signage or do it on a cheaper to replace side wall. And I would stick with a major brand Caravan and EZ-up as replacement parts and accessories can be found, and they'll have a better re-sale should you end up not needing a pop-up.

As for who provides - I now do only festivals where the producer invites us - I don't pay to work. But still a few need us to provide our own booth and at long festivals I prefer to have my own space. For 90% of our work which 85% if that is corporate - I do not bring my own booth. It is hot and sunny here and most our work is outside. We require shade and are very clear about having protection from the elements. If they can not provide that they can pay extra for us to bring our tent.......... everyone finds us shade. And if it looks iffy when we get there, I am assertive and professional and we just find a perfect, proper, spot that works for everyone.

Annette wrote:

Our first canopy did not have the vents at the top and was horrible when the wind kicked up. This new one I have has the vents and it makes a big difference. I got mine at Wal-mart.

Debi, Do you recall the name brand of the tent you have? I've been looking for tents with vents in the ceiling, with no success.

Its called "First Up" gazebo...we got it at walmart, its tan and comes in the bag that has the rollers. We bought the walls that go with it later on and I love it.

How much do you charge extra to provide the tent?

Thank you so much Debi!

Psalmbook wrote:How much do you charge extra to provide the tent?

Well for me, I only usually use the tent when I do an all day event like a street fair or I'm set up at a sports event.

For a private party thats only a couple hours I will ask the host if there will be a shaded area for me and if not, I bring my umbrella, which is no big deal so I don't charge them anything extra. I love my umbrella, its one of those vendor umbrellas with the cloth top (vents at the top too!). Its a mini version too, not one of the huge vendor umbrellas. Works good.

I also have this smaller beach umbrella that I sometimes attach to my high chair so theres always shade directly over me and the person I'm painting.

I charge $30. Low enough to be reasonable and high enough to discourage people. I know I hear so many stories of folks saying they show up then there's not shade or ....... I have not had so much good luck (I have) but rather my professionalism is respected and we in turn get treated right - folks set us up in a good spot. I just flat out say I don't work in the sun and make people stand in line in the sun. If we do provide the tent too, I say it must be a load in spot where we can just pull up and unload the tent - I don't drag it across the park. I think in 10 yrs I've had people opt to pay for the tent a very few times........ I have tossed it in as a comp here and again for a great client with a big crowd who is paying full rate for a few artists - I don't do any corporate gig less than 3 hrs, so for a client who is already at or over $1000 a gig - they get they are hiring professionals and we don't schelp.

Tents are for festivals and big events not reg everyday gigs. I have many friends who don't even do their own tables or chairs - just come with kit. I do provide my own stand and tall chair - as my stand is custom made. It it lightweight, goes up fast, is easy to transport, has signage and hidden storage, fits my pallets perfectly and is tall so I'm not bending at the back as I work standing. I work with a clean, honed system.

Sweet Loretta I would love to see a photograph of your stand!

Ditto. I want to see your stand too.

Go to SPORTS AUTHORITY! They offer a warranty. For like an extra $10 or $20, if wind bends or breaks, etc (get the details there), they will REPLACE the tent! My girlfriend just did this when I broke one leg (they're so flimsy) trying to put away. Just take a few pics & they replaced her tent with a brand new one!!