Hey Everyone. I've got a question about securing my tent for the night. I have these big weights on my Trimeline that do not allow me to zip my walls all the way down for the night. I cannot put my weights to the inside of my booth as I have propanels there and it would block the view of some of the artwork. So, first, how do you all solve the problem of zipping down for the night while also keeping your weights on? And secondly, once you've zipped down for the night is there anything you can do to secure the canopy? As in locks or tie downs so that a potential thief would think twice about getting in your tent?
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I always just wrap up my paintings and don't leave it to chance. However, I see many, many artists who don't seem to worry, which makes me think that I may not have to do this when there is security at a show.
Maybe I don't understand, but it seems it doesn't matter if your walls block you art at night since no one is at the show?
I use water bottles and have the same problem. I just zip the walls up on the inside of the pole instead of the outside. I attach the water bottles using straps to the top rungs of the tent.
I google searched for a picture of those weights. NOW I know what the problem is. Wow, it had never occurred to me that a company would intentionally design a weight it was impossible to zip over! It seems like these were intended for people who do not use side panels-ever. I have never seen these used at an art fair where zipping down is a way of life. I glad you found a solution and could use your stability bars.
I have seen others just using plastic tie-wraps (or zip ties) to keep the sides fastened. One through each hole, or pair of holes in the corners. Just have to remember that you will need a small wire cutters or scissors with you to cut these off in the morning (and not forget and leave it in the booth, as I have seen done more than once by neighbors. Who then had to limbo their way under.).
Dawn Waters Baker said:
Thanks for all the kind responses. I did call Fourish and told them I have EZ-Weights (they go halfway up each pole (are cylinders filled with water and attached with wood brackets to the wall poles). Anyway, the guy at Flourish knew about them and suggested that I bungee cord them to my stability bars. It was like one of those "hit myself on the head" moments where I wanted to blush and kiss the Flourish guy at the same time. What a great idea! So I went out and bought me some strong bungee's. This is going to solve the zipping all the way down problem.
Linnea, I appreciate you going into detail about how you did your weights. That gave me an idea for making some of my own in the future.
O.k. so the 2nd part of my question was: how do you secure your tent at night? do you lock the zips together? What is a good procedure?
Thanks for all the kind responses. I did call Fourish and told them I have EZ-Weights (they go halfway up each pole (are cylinders filled with water and attached with wood brackets to the wall poles). Anyway, the guy at Flourish knew about them and suggested that I bungee cord them to my stability bars. It was like one of those "hit myself on the head" moments where I wanted to blush and kiss the Flourish guy at the same time. What a great idea! So I went out and bought me some strong bungee's. This is going to solve the zipping all the way down problem.
Linnea, I appreciate you going into detail about how you did your weights. That gave me an idea for making some of my own in the future.
O.k. so the 2nd part of my question was: how do you secure your tent at night? do you lock the zips together? What is a good procedure?
So I assume the propanels go right into the corners? What about putting a longer cord on the weights and hanging them over the propanels? You might have to move a painting over to have it out from under the cord.
The reasons I suggest this are:
1) this is what I see other painters doing. It seems like a lot of painters run their propanels right up to the tent legs. At night they either ease the panels over to accommodate the narrow hanging weight, or move the weight to the inside corner over the panels.
2) even if you find the side wall extenders, there are places where you will not have enough booth width available to use them. Many, many, shows jam the booths in with not even space to roll up a side panel.
I exhibit in a lot of shows, and have for 20 years. Yet I have never seen a side wall extender. Anything you add to the outside of your booth that affects the flatness of the surface area (Such as causing any pocketing or ballooning) will add to its wind vulnerability.
How wide ARE these weights, if you can’t fit them inside? I was visualizing the white concrete-filled tubes everyone has, which are pretty skinny. Mine are 4 inches in diameter.
Consider making a set of foot weights. This is what I use for most shows. A plastic paint can, 10 gallon size, with a bolt set in the base, filled with concrete. The hole in the canopy foot goes over the bolt, and a wing nut hold it on.
Hanging weights from the corner adds to overall stability, though, and reduces top sway. I have both, and use both if it is really windy. (But then I’m not happy unless I have a few hundred pounds of weight on my canopy.)
My canopy (a Showoff) has a small hole drilled into a solid cast brace that connects the corners. I put a heavy duty S hook into this then closed it. This can be reached easily from both inside or outside to hang the weight. To attach the weight I have 2 hooks tied onto on the hanging cords, so I can hang them with the weight placed high or low. In the low position they are at ankle height. I loosely ball-bungee the weight to the canopy leg or panel leg so it will not move side to side very much as the canopy sways. When I made the hanging weights I bolted a handle onto the side. I can bungee to the handle or just to the hanging cord.
My hanging weights can hang outside during open hours, then I move them inside to zip up. They still fit over my panels (the cord is hanging right in the corner), though I remove all artwork hung on the walls for the night. I have seen too much work damaged in freak windstorms to leave it.
Do you have a picture of your panel set up? It’s hard to imagine what the problem is.
Dawn Waters Baker said:
Thanks for letting me know of such things Paula. I looked on the Flourish, LightDome and New Venture sites but didn't see anything on Side wall extenders. Do you think they would just custom make them for me if I asked Flourish? I don't have the know how or the extra walls to make them myself. I googled Side Wall Extenders but didn't find anything. I am grateful to know there are such things. This may be the answer I need.
Linnea, you are right. My booth is open to the elements and to thieves. I cannot move the weights inside because of the spacing of my propanels. I have just undone them before when the weather is going to be very mild in the evening but then I feel my booth has not weights on them. It seems I can't find a way to keep my weights on (on the outside), zip up my tent, and secure it.
Contact Flourish. They are always willing to help if you have an idea that you want done. They might even add it to their line if it makes sense to them. They currently make an extender for when you want to leave your awnings up at night so it would be no problem for them to make some that are bigger. They have made custom made items for me before. Call them and explain the problem.
Thanks for letting me know of such things Paula. I looked on the Flourish, LightDome and New Venture sites but didn't see anything on Side wall extenders. Do you think they would just custom make them for me if I asked Flourish? I don't have the know how or the extra walls to make them myself. I googled Side Wall Extenders but didn't find anything. I am grateful to know there are such things. This may be the answer I need.
Linnea, you are right. My booth is open to the elements and to thieves. I cannot move the weights inside because of the spacing of my propanels. I have just undone them before when the weather is going to be very mild in the evening but then I feel my booth has not weights on them. It seems I can't find a way to keep my weights on (on the outside), zip up my tent, and secure it.
Replies
Maybe I don't understand, but it seems it doesn't matter if your walls block you art at night since no one is at the show?
I have seen others just using plastic tie-wraps (or zip ties) to keep the sides fastened. One through each hole, or pair of holes in the corners. Just have to remember that you will need a small wire cutters or scissors with you to cut these off in the morning (and not forget and leave it in the booth, as I have seen done more than once by neighbors. Who then had to limbo their way under.).
Dawn Waters Baker said:
Linnea, I appreciate you going into detail about how you did your weights. That gave me an idea for making some of my own in the future.
O.k. so the 2nd part of my question was: how do you secure your tent at night? do you lock the zips together? What is a good procedure?
Thanks so much!
The reasons I suggest this are:
1) this is what I see other painters doing. It seems like a lot of painters run their propanels right up to the tent legs. At night they either ease the panels over to accommodate the narrow hanging weight, or move the weight to the inside corner over the panels.
2) even if you find the side wall extenders, there are places where you will not have enough booth width available to use them. Many, many, shows jam the booths in with not even space to roll up a side panel.
I exhibit in a lot of shows, and have for 20 years. Yet I have never seen a side wall extender. Anything you add to the outside of your booth that affects the flatness of the surface area (Such as causing any pocketing or ballooning) will add to its wind vulnerability.
How wide ARE these weights, if you can’t fit them inside? I was visualizing the white concrete-filled tubes everyone has, which are pretty skinny. Mine are 4 inches in diameter.
Consider making a set of foot weights. This is what I use for most shows. A plastic paint can, 10 gallon size, with a bolt set in the base, filled with concrete. The hole in the canopy foot goes over the bolt, and a wing nut hold it on.
Hanging weights from the corner adds to overall stability, though, and reduces top sway. I have both, and use both if it is really windy. (But then I’m not happy unless I have a few hundred pounds of weight on my canopy.)
My canopy (a Showoff) has a small hole drilled into a solid cast brace that connects the corners. I put a heavy duty S hook into this then closed it. This can be reached easily from both inside or outside to hang the weight. To attach the weight I have 2 hooks tied onto on the hanging cords, so I can hang them with the weight placed high or low. In the low position they are at ankle height. I loosely ball-bungee the weight to the canopy leg or panel leg so it will not move side to side very much as the canopy sways. When I made the hanging weights I bolted a handle onto the side. I can bungee to the handle or just to the hanging cord.
My hanging weights can hang outside during open hours, then I move them inside to zip up. They still fit over my panels (the cord is hanging right in the corner), though I remove all artwork hung on the walls for the night. I have seen too much work damaged in freak windstorms to leave it.
Do you have a picture of your panel set up? It’s hard to imagine what the problem is.
Dawn Waters Baker said:
Linnea, you are right. My booth is open to the elements and to thieves. I cannot move the weights inside because of the spacing of my propanels. I have just undone them before when the weather is going to be very mild in the evening but then I feel my booth has not weights on them. It seems I can't find a way to keep my weights on (on the outside), zip up my tent, and secure it.