Outdoor Tent/Booth

So the only 'gigs' I've done have fortunately all been indoors and nice and cozy.

However, I know that as summer approaches and as I get some outdoor gigs, I'll probably need to get a 'tent', or something like it, and probably a banner and all that.

What type structure do you have and do you like it? Is it easy to put up solo (big factor for me), and what would you do different now that you've had yours for awhile. I don't want to buy something and then wish I'd spend x dollars more for the 'really nice one' that is better suited for warm and cold weather...kwim?

Any advise is appreciated. Any links to sites that sell 'business kiosks in a bag' type things are welcome too!

I have had my EZ-UP for a couple of years now, used it at least a dozen times, and it's still working great. I can get it up and down by myself, though it takes time and patience. My only problem with it is that if it rains heavily, the water will catch in the roof and sag it down. Not a problem if you are present to empty it off periodically, but if you leave it up overnight and it rains, you could have problems.

I do not have my own shelter... it is a requirement of my contract that the client provides it.

This is the blurb from my booking information page

Adequate space and shelter must be provided to the artist(s). Typically a standard rectangular folding table and two chairs of the same height are the minimum required for an indoor booking for one Face Painting Artist. If working outside shelter from sun, wind and/or rain must be provided as well. The artist(s) have the final say on whether the conditions are suitable to work in on arrival and will not start work until satisfied that conditions are suitable.

The outdoor events I do all provide either their own tents, put me in overhangs, or inside... I had one large event actually go and buy one specifically to put me in!! Some are only awnings for shade and cover, but I get to park my RAV beside them so it provides a windbreak and a wall, and along with my display unit and police tape I can barricade us pretty well.

Due to the winds here E-Z ups are not a good investment and most groups don't even bother... they fly like kites you know.

You can usually pick up the 10x10 little gazebo type tents at Walmart for about $40 when it's the right season for them. Those would usually fit the bill.

I would prefer Shannon's method of always having them provide shelter or put me indoors, for comfort of me and the clients.

However, I'm sure I should probably have 'something' at least for sun protection. It's usually not so stinking hot here I need a fan, but it does get sunny. With shade, it's usually quite tolerable.

I do NOT want to be outside when it's cold. It does get cold here...snowy...and we have major winds that come off the mountains in a big down draft!

There is a little Farmer's Market type event that happens just down the street every fall. I've been wanting to set up a booth, so maybe I could get a little tent/walmart Gazebo for that. We have a Walmart...

Or... Get one of those SUV's with the tent attachments off the rear!!!

Oh...well now...we're talking the big bucks. Maybe some day when I'm well known and actually start MAKING a profit.

I'd actually think that was cool. Could drive around to all the festivals and have a ready to go pop up. hehe

I need to pay off my van first. Mmm...I wonder if I could get a side pop up thingie. It has plugs for AC/DC conversion and a flip out back for 'tail gate' style parties already. mmmmm....

I use this canopy that I paid around $69.00 for. I liked it because it's unique. I can't put it up by myself though. I've never had a problem finding someone to help. I painted the front with acrylic paint.

That's really cute Jessica! I'm impressed with the painting! How'd you get both sides so perfectly even!!??

Jessica, that'samazing! How well does the acrylic paint hold up, with you folding the fabric up for storage? I'd love to paint on my tent but am afraid it would start looking bad after a lot of use. You did a beautiful job on yours!

Thank you Heather, it was a miracle! I even painted it (before I put it up) on my dining room table one section at a time. I still don't know how I did it. But that is why I ended up putting "FACE PAINT" instead of "FACE PAINTING"....I didn't want it to be off balanced.

Angie, I used a glossy acrylic. My canopy is pretty thin and absorbed it beautifully. It still looks brand new even after storing it. I would do a test on one of your corners or something. It beats having a banner or sign made. One less thing to mess with!

Get a pop up. It is a super good investment. I sometimes use them when I am at inside events since you can attach things to them and they really attract attention. Invest in the best one you can find. If you can find one with a motor that pops itself up, GET IT! I love mine but sometimes struggle getting it up alone.

Jess, That rocks!

That is very cool Jessica... but around here it would make a really nice kite!

The only tents that you see up here are the really heavy duty, professionally put up ones... marquee types. There are rental places in town that most organizations hire to bring out the tents, set them up and then come and get them when it is over. E-Z ups are a complete waste of money as you simply cannot secure them well enough not to fly away... and the can cause a lot of damage as they rip off and tumble own the midway!

I do what Shannon does - and I make sure the client has a place for me, haha. In terms of a banner - I'm probably going to invest in a "The line starts here" sign, but probably not a 'face painting' sign (I say that now, but...), as once that first kid is there, there's an insta-line and everyone knows where you are, and what you do, anyway!

My easy up has been a godsend for me. I got it for about $150 and if stakes in the ground very firmly. My feeling is why risk getting a rickity table under a leaky shelter?

Make sure you go with a good one and not one where you have to put the poles together. You will be putting this up all day. Although mine is an easy up, I can still manage to put it up by myself(though it pops up in less than 3 minutes with 2 people) and has saved me and my clients from wind, rain and sunburn. Als0, many of the paints are adversly effected by heat and the tent will help with this too. I would also suggest getting one with the wall panels. These usually don't effect price much and will help control the crowd.

If there is EVER any question about a windy day. Some cement in a bucket connected to the tent will allieve your stress. I suggest at least two. A throw away bucket and some easy mix cement will cost you less than $10.

Many events are outdoors and I just can't afford to turn away business because there isn't an inside space for me. Having one just affords me much more flexibility.

-Metina

Thanks for all the great ideas! I also have an EZ Up tent, and purchased weights that fit around each leg of the tent. I think there's a combined total weight of 20 lbs.

Ha ha ha I have to agree with Shannon on the wind here. I know in Lethbridge, it's an oddity not to have the wind blowing. Lethbridge has 116 days with wind speed of 40 km/h (25 mph) or higher (I found this info online.) Every outdoor event I go to, I bring a HUGE roll of duct tape, to make sure everything stays in place. If I can manage to get placed by a building of some sort, I use a patio umbrella and stand tucked behind my chair. I am always prepared to take it down when the wind picks up, which is inevitable. LOL

I guess that's why we have so many wind turbines out here now

Jessica, Where did you find your pop up? We love it.
I tried a beach umbrella with a stand and ended up scaring a child when the wind caught it. Lawsuits could happen,.

You know, I have to rebutt my comments from a couple of years ago. While pop ups can be great for the sun, they are truley a health hazard in the wind. No matter if you use stakes or sandbags they will roll down the field and can injur someone.

I know this cause one smashed into my daughter last weekend. I had mine up and told the other painter if the wind picked up AT ALL to immediately take ours down to which he did. The Pespi people didn't and even with sandbags theirs rolled down the field like a ball smacking into my 8 year old standing outside of the boucy house. Luckily it missed her head by about six inches and just left her with a nasy bruise on her back.

Do I still use one, yes. I generally have to replace it every year. Just know that these are like parachuttes made to catch any wind. Please take these down immediately if there is any wind. You know how heavy these are(you feel it when you set it up). Imagine that smacking into a child.

-Metina

I'm sorry to hear about your daughter -- That is so scary! I hope she is feeling better.

She's fine. I just wanted to reiterate that this can be very dangerous in the wind.

All tents are lethal in wind. We use 4 5 gallon buckets filled with concrete, and whenever possible, attach the back side to out truck as well. Even then, I only consider that safe for mild wind.

I have heard from many vendors at fairs that the best brand of ez-up type tent is Caravan. You can get them at Costco. You can get others for around $100. I think that brand is almost $200 but it would last longer. They do make special weights for the canopies that slip right on the legs. They are made by the companies that make the canopies. I just use 10lb barbel weights (one on each leg.) I will be buying sides to my canopy soon, but that's another investment to make. They will come in handy for wind and for covering the booth at night instead of taking it down and putting it back up the next morning for weekend fairs.
http://www.thefind.com/sports/browse-quik-shade-weight-plates

I got a banner from vistaprint that just says "Face Painting."

I have a caravan one from Costco that I got for $200... it's really nice and goes up very easily... it is MUCH more durable than the one I had before from Walmart. Last June, there was a tornado nearby here the same weekend Glitterfly and I were working a fair together... my Walmart tent got TRASHED. There were several of these Caravan ones that survived perfectly. Yes, so did all the crazy huge tents that go together with 2 inch metal pipes, but those won't fit in the back of my G5 like this one will.

For certain events, you have to have a tent or you can't be there. The caravan ones are really nice.