Have a show across from a beach next weekend. First outdoor show with a tent. I have been reading some of the horror stories of artists returning for their second day only to find a storm or heavy wind ripped through while they slept and now everything is in shambles. My question is, if you are informed and keep abreast of the weather, and know that the night might bring something bad, have any of you ever closed up completely, taking everything with you, including your tent, and just set up lock stock and barrel the next morning? It seems that as much work as that might be, wouldn't it make sense to do that instead of leaving it all to chance?
Also, by the same token, if the morning seemed grand but now it's noon, and you begin to hear or see rumblings that a storm is brewing, have any of you closed down and taken everything away with you in the middle of the day?
I realize that there isn't always time to do this, but it also seems that sometimes there is actually enough time to get it all together and get the heck out of there, including your tent - EZ Up or not.
I have heard that some artists completely lower their tents at night as much as they can, dropping certain things to the ground to lessen the danger of a sudden rain storm or wind gust might incur. Do any of you do this?
Comments
Well, thanks. There just wasn't time to order the stabars, so I think I'll need that good luck wish!
Everyone. Thank you so much. I chose the lesser expensive EZ up for this first summer. I also found grid wall but can barely lift it myself, so i may leave that out for now and look for alternate hanging methods. I have small paintings and ceramic sculpture, I apply in both categories. I may just go with the paintings and leave the breakable stuff home until I get the hang of it. Pro panels aren't called for yet. Working on different weight sets. No sta-bars as yet. So, I will start small and light, but will make sure everything is safe. I will take the work home overnight and lower the tent, probably. I suppose I will have to buy about a million bungee cords though. That seems to be the product everyone has so many uses for. There is a local outdoor market here on Saturdays through fall with about 20 artists who set up as well. i think this may be a way to practice, too. I go to shows and pretend to be looking at the art while scoping out the weights and sidewalls. If any of you catch me doing that, I apologize ahead of time.
To David Hinde, or anyone, how do secure your grid wall to the ground? Or can you use a weight system for that as well or tie into the regular four corner weight system? Should they be evenly spaced across from each other on either side of the tent? don't as yet have sta-bars. I know, I know. If I do this more than a few times, I will get them. That seems to be the most important feature of a professionally secured tent, but i could only do so much this first summer.
Ralph, when you say "braces" from Flourish, you mean the Sta bars themselves and the pieces that attach to the legs?
I look forward to hearing more. Thanks again.
We have done all of the above. We normally take all stock out of the tent at night. I sleep much better knowing the stock is safe. Just 3 weeks ago, we removed the entire set up on Saturday and reset on Sunday. No fun. But I was glad we did it.
I agree with the suggestions before me and want to add one more. If you have a pop-up style tent, make sure it is stiff. If you can twist or sway it, the wind will do the same thing, eventually bending it. Do whatever you can to make it stiff. I use gridwall and secure then 4-5 places on each leg. The gridwall panels are secured together, so that gives me a solid steel wall from leg to leg. I've been through 40+ MPH winds and my Caravan is 7 years old.
One other issue is the sidewalls flapping and breaking zippers. This year I've started wrapping a bungee all the way around my tent at night. During the day, I wrap it around 3 sides if it's windy.
I was literally the only tent left standing. There was a huge mountain of destroyed tents after the clean up. When the winds hit, tents twist as they take off. Even when your holding onto them. So I strongly suggest braces between the legs as well as at least 4 40 pound weights. You can buy just the braces from the Flourish company by themselves.
I agree that Thursday at Va. Beach was a total waste. However they did close the show early (it was supposed to run until 8) and they kept us informed throughout the day. We were given permission to shut down as early as we thought necessary. Even though the show closed at 5 I had been watching radar all day and started taking my work out at 4:00.
Dropping the tent down at night only works if you have a display that works for that. Any 2D artists that use panels don't have that option. If they take their work off the walls it lessens the weight of the walls (unless they have all canvas) and leaves the booth susceptible to wind damage. So depending on the weather conditions and how well your booth is protected, sometimes it's better to not even set up that day or take it all down.
If Virginia Beach had known of the possibility of severe storms on Thursday, they should have had the artists set up on Friday morning.
Larry Berman
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100
Yes there have been times I completely broke down, most of the time I dropped my tent down as low as possible. I have used an EZ UP for many years, and lost it at you guessed it Virginia Beach! Now I have a light dome, and huge weights, I still get nervous. For you own peace of mind drop your tent down at night if its an ez up. I know this is hard if you have propanels. The middle of the day is hard, most show directors will shut a show down early and tell you to prepare if trouble is coming. I am sure there will be times when I lower the light dome too.
if there is prediction of rain, we lower our caravan tent -- and also take everything to the ground.