As the question is asked so often..."Which booth should I get?" and each brand has its defenders...
And as weather seems to be a major factor this year, I thought a thread showing booths in weather would be helpful.
Here are 2 photos I took at Belleville 2011. It rained and winded for 3 straight days with barely a pause.
Image #1 is an EZ Up dressed for the rain.
Image #2 is an EZ Up and a Light Dome in the same rain.
Draw any conclusion you like.
8-)
Replies
Some of the shows that I'm doing next year are "Mountain Man Rendevouz" ("Pioneer" re-enactments; for you 'flat-landers'). Most require vendors (I guess they mean top 'tier artists'), to outfit their booth as authentic as possible to pre-1838 conventions. My plan is to assemble a canvas 'cabin' tent (they're about $450) with pine poles and fancy lashing. It's the same kind of 4-wall tents that miners and trappers used; even through the legendary winters in the Rockies.
Man, those things are sturdy.
Sams club carries a special version from EZ-Up for <$200. There are several versions available from Sam's, and some are cheap as hell. The highest price version comes with 4 side tarps, weight bags, a 2 foot awning, a roller bag, and foot plates that slide and lock over the feet that you can attach a weight onto. The frame is heavier construction that the usual sun shades.
The top is going to leak in a sustained rain through the seams. Waterproof it immediately. If it has grommets in the middle of the top valance, attach the top to the frame with the grommets as that takes up slack to prevent water pooling. Snug the corners taut again after the frame is locked into place as that also prevents puddling. If there are still problems check out the hula hoop suggestions or the pool noodle suggestions given on some earlier threads.
I've done shows in Downtown Chicago, so experience says to have 50 pound weights on each corner. Don't let the weights drag the ground as that reduces the actual weight holding the frame to the ground. Buy some Sta-Bars made for the EZ-Up as the killer of the tents is the lateral wind force that makes a leg buckle under when the side tarp becomes a wind catcher. I used to do the New East Side Artworks show ran by Cynthia Quick that was the most weather plagued show I have ever seen. 3 out of the 4 years I did the show it was afflicted with tornadic winds, 100 year thunderstorms, lighting storms, etc. It was located at Stetson and Michigan Avenue where the Chicago Athletic Club is located. I watched Craft Huts, Light Domes, and EZ-Ups turn into box kites and trash compactors. There were several tents that vanished and were never found. My EZ-Up soldiered through because it was weighted down and my display panels were zip-tied to the frame for extra rigidity. Applying common sense and preparing for worst-case scenarios helps out a lot. Don't trust to luck, trust to pre-planning and readiness.
Applying common sense and preparing for worst-case scenarios helps out a lot. Don't trust to luck, trust to pre-planning and readiness.
That's how my KD has lasted so long.
Mark Twain lived in Hartford, CT and wrote that if you don't like the weather in New England.... wait a minute. So even if they call for a beautiful weekend, I'm staked down and secured. And across from me is someone who places some slip on weights on the corners. And I say to myself that if the wind picks up, that tent's gone.
No snobbery implied or actual.What we folks are worried about is our artwork, our personal safety,
and the safety of others.
We're all in the retail art biz.....it takes $ to set up any biz. If we were in brick and mortar stores we'd be concerned if a biz set up next door that was a fire or health risk. So would the local gov.
There has been so much bad weather and storm damage all artists should be concerned about the sturdiness of their tent.
EZ ups fail at a much higher rate then other tents. They cause their neighbors more problems.....the dreaded rain dump is a major problem.
Time to stop being offended and focus on what we are really concerned about.....safety for all keeping our artwork undamaged and not having our livelihood hurt by someone else's flying tent.
C
My photo is just of one of the many "retro-fits" people must do to make ez ups show sturdy. The fact that they must be retro fitted to work should give anyone pause.
And unless one is with the tent 24 hours a day so one can make adjustments as you suggested....it becomes a further problem. Rain, wind, misery happens at night.
My point is that ez ups are not the optimum tent for a professional show artist. Shows are really worrying about weather and flying tents. Artists are worrying about them. So while some have good luck with ez ups we need full disclosure as to the myriad of problems that come with them.