Boy, Howdy, a Trimline, even a used one, is just too expensive for a newbie like me to start out with. Does anyone know some less expensive tents to look at, maybe on Amazon? There are a lot for sale there, but I really don't know what to look for. Any advice or help would be much appreciated. We were all (mostly) new at this at one time.
Thanks,
David Perry Lawrence
Replies
I'm am now looking for my first tent and have spent a few days researching things online. I found the Craft Professional site provided a lot of good information. I now want a Trimline but don't think I can get one for this coming weekend. Good luck to you!
http://www.craftprofessional.com/portable-canopies.html
good luck
i'm putting my brand new ABCCanopy from amazon up for sale. I'm just getting too old to put one up by myself
There are two issues here and I disagree with some of what was said. In terms of a tent, you have to ask yourself how long you plan on doing shows. If you plan on doing this long term, it will cost you less money in the long run to just go ahead and buy a top of the line tent. You are going to end up doing it eventually. I had the best tent money could buy. When it finally wore out, I bought a $200 tent as a temporary fix, and then a little better tent and then a top-of-the-line Euromax for $500. While adequate, those tents are still not as good as a more solid tent. With all the money I've spent on lesser tents, I could have purchased a better one. Most important are stabilizer bars and weights. It is as important as buying a good tent.
I think it is best to apply to the best shows and work your way down. The best thing that could happen to you is to fail miserably at your first show. It makes you understand what you need to know. My biggest jump in my preparation and display was between my first and second show. Luckily at my first show, it rained for two days. I was woefully unprepared, which was masked because of the bad weather. I saw first hand how people dealt with getting through an event. I learned by observing other booths as to what I needed to improve. I really upped my game between my first and second event.
Hi Barry--
Thanks for your more than sensible comments. I'm moving on in years (aren't we all - tho' the younger ones don't know it yet) so I don't foresee doing this for more than a decade, if that. It seems that for me, starting with a medium quality tent, then upping to a better quality tent when I need to makes sense. It would save me the cost of over-investing in a tent if I decided to quit in fewer years than I'm hoping for. Make sense to you?
I like your comments on aiming high. The best way to learn may be to dive in. I've been to a number of shows, talked to people, looked at their booths, etc., but haven't really known what to look for or what to ask. I've always found that looking at what people did didn't teach me as much as trying to do it myself. You know how when you're a passenger in a car you don't really know what turns the driver takes, but when you're driving, you learn them right away? It seems to me that at a better show, you'd have the booths of all the more successful people all around you to compare yours with. That make sense to you?
You talked about your big jump in preparation and display. I haven't thought enough about that. I know people will pay more for the same things to shop at Neiman-Marcus than they will at K-Mart (I'm not really sure KMart and Neiman's sell the same items - but you get what I mean). Do you think display is one of the 'keyest' things? What are some things that count towards 'preparation'?
Thanks for your help and comments,
-David
Chris--
Thanks for your input and help on the tent.
I know what you mean about how great things were in the 80's compared to now. That's when I started out as a professional corporate, magazine and celebrity photographer in Dallas. The money was pouring in. But the money slowed down and it was 10 years before a national political party hired me to photograph their candidates for President during the course of three elections. Before I retired to Mexico, where I participated in one major art fair and showed on the town square monthly, my last assignments were to shoot a portrait of Morgan Freeman for a magazine cover and the late Pat Summerall for an ad. I had a lot of trouble not undervaluing my work, and still do, but I had the business chops to stay alive for 30 years while many of my friends were forced into different careers. I slowly developed the talent to get better work, appear five times in NatGeo.com, be featured twice in Photo District News, and win a major prize from Fuji Film. Since coming back to the states I’ve been in one indoor fair. It didn’t draw many people (freezing), I spent too much on inventory, and I didn’t have a focus for my work. I’m working on those things now. One thing that has always amazed me at the local shows I’ve been to is how much inventory people carry! No way they were going to make enough sales to pay for their inventory and make a profit.
So please believe me, I understand walking before you run, and how important business sense it. That’s why I’ve been asking question after question on this board, trying to learn as much as possible how to fulfill my dreams.
Again, thank you for all your help and input,
David Lawrence
Thanks for the news, help, and recommendations. I'm getting closer and closer to getting my tent, although it may be too late for tent photos (snow on the ground until late March/early April) to try to get into the better shows. I can still wet my toes in the less choosey local shows
Thanks again,
--David
I have been researching various, inexpensive tents. The abc canopy at Amazon is at the top of my list. It has heat sealed seams. ...waterproof (vs water resistant). It has steel legs (vs aluminum). The top is a higher quality than the others, 500D.
I did see a nice one on the Costco site with a vented roof. I have heard this is a plus. But the quality is not as high.
My take away from your search is: (correct me if I am wrong, and please add suggestions)
- steel vs aluminum. Steel is better.
- a heavier quality top. 500d +
- weigh it down!
If your work is good, you will get into the "better" shows, even as a newbie. Although we are "new" we can still be professional and have high standards.
All the best.
Hi Mary--
Thanks for your synopsis. I was going to sit down this weekend, tally what people said, and go check these tents out. I appreciate your input especially since you are doing the same thing at the same time. I'll let you know what I come up with.
Thanks,
David
The E-Z Up ES100 has a three year warranty. And easy customer relations and satisfaction. ...something to consider.
I love the large wheel on the Euromax Premium carry bag.
The abc canopy, on Amazon, has some strong points.
"Better shows"?
You don't know how to do a show yet and you're looking at the better shows? That's a recipe for disaster.
You need to crawl before you can walk, and walk before you can run in life and it's so true in this business also. You attend the better shows and start out at the small ones so you can learn the do's and don'ts of selling your work. Because selling your work is 50% of your business.
You don't just set up, sit back, and everybody comes and gives you money. That was true in the 80s & 90s when the economy was absolutely gangbusters, but not today.
Get your sea legs at the small $100 shows, and work your way up to the "better shows".
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