So what if someone runs over, and bends your tent pole that you have laid out within the boundaries of your booth space, on a street where other artists are also in various stages of getting their tents up. Your corner pole, of course - the most expensive one. Without an apology, they help you straighten it (somewhat), but one leg skews out a little to the front and makes it difficult to get your staybars on and zip the tent. Should they offer to replace it for you? And if they don't, should you just let it go, or do you print a copy of the webpage showing the price of the pole with shipping and give it to them? I mean, if I damaged anything belonging to anyone else, I would be falling all over myself apologizing, and would immediately offer to pay to replace it, but now I'm going to feel like a jerk if I go ask for the $$$.
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I can't advise what to do to collect except I would ask for replacement, but I can offer a suggestion on how to prevent some of this stuff from happening. I use concrete blocks with 2x8x16" boards glued on the top for tent weights. If the show seems to have an inordinate number of fools driving around, the blocks get stood up on edge and in front of where I'm setting up. It's obvious that they are concrete in spite of being painted white and the lowest moron can figure out there will be damage to their vehicle if they get run over. Other times I've had to stand beside the booth and slap the side of a van or truck and yell to stop. I always liked the way another artist discouraged the speedsters whizzing down the middle of the aisle during set-up; he threw a 2x4 under the wheels of the vehicle and yelled out "OWW!! My Foot!!!" as the idiot drove over the board.
Good suggestion . I have the pvc weights (square, not round), and lining them up along the front of my booth spot before laying out any poles sounds like a REALLY GOOD idea.
...although the only other time I had a pole run over, the artist backed over it from the side. He did, however, apologize profusely and offer over and over to replace it. (But he was so nice about it and then had such a bad show that I told him not to worry about it, and replaced it myself).
Bottom line is - there are loads of shows with tight setups and breakdowns, and people in various stages of the process while others are just arriving or leaving, so everyone needs to slow down and be careful.
I would have politely mailed them the cost of repair along with a note that it was in case their vehicle insurance needed it. They might get the hint and pay. If not, it's up to you to decide if you want the hassle of fighting over it.
I didn't have my poles on the ground, but had my tent set up and all zipped. I wasn't there, but the artist next to me had backed up in to my tent with his truck. When I arrived the next morning I thought it odd that everything in the tent was hanging funny. Thank goodness I had a trimline and propanels so it took the impact and my work was ok, just hanging funny. Before the other artist arrived to fess up the show directors were at my tent and told me what happened. As soon as the other artist showed up he came over and introduced himself and told me he would take care of it. Basically just a tent leg was bent and the stay bars a bit. The artist wanted to take the leg and "fix" it. I let him but didn't trust he would have it done before my next show. I called Flourish and they were able to replace the part for $9 and even threw in some material to help the tears in the side walls. The show promoters offered to pay for it, they wanted to make sure everything worked out. In the end I just paid the $9 and later the artist gave me an "unbent" leg. I haven't used the "unbent" leg yet but keep it as back up. One set of the stay bars is still bent a little and it is a pain, but I am able to work around it. I hope you can find a way to work it out with everyone. Other people running over tent parts seem to happen at every show.
Well, I had intended to print a copy of the webpage showing the cost of the bent pole ($55), but then didn't have the nerve to take it over and give it to them. Jim, I was standing just 4 feet from the pole when it was run over. It was within my booth space, well out of the traffic lane, but the driver decided to cut over to the cub to unload her stuff. I hollered watch out, and her husband, standing at the curb, hollered too, but she didn't hear us. They never said another word to me all weekend. Then, at a really tight breakdown, they were the only ones to bring their van in right away and load as they broke down. (Everyone else broke down first and moved their things to the curb before getting their vehicles). Guess that's just the kind of people they are.
Umm, yeah, they should pay for it. It's the right thing to do. Will they do it? Probably not, if they didn't offer to help on the spot, or make an apology.
On the other side of the coin, if you're setting up in the street and vehicles are passing by in the traffic lane, it's partly up to you to be responsible for your own stuff. If you need it to do the show, and it gets damaged, it doesn't really matter whose fault is, because either way the item is damaged. Look out for your own items, and be responsible for your own safety. It's easier than trying to collect later.
I had someone back into my cash stand which was sitting next to my trailer (with traffic cones clearly marking the area due due trailer doors) which in turn tore the fender off of my trailer. Their response was I should not have had the cash stand sitting there. I immediately took photos with my ever present digital camera to preserve the crime scene. It was another exhibitor from out of state and they left before the police arrived for me to file an accident report. It then went from an accident report to a police report for which I then signed a criminal complaint for leaving the scene of an accident and failure to report and accident. They failed to appear in court having been served a notice to appear so I requested a bench warrant be issued with a body attachment. They showed up for the next appearance and generously offered to pay for the damages and costs. I am a firm believer in taking responsibility for your actions. Don't feel like a jerk, feel justified!
If I ran over someone's display, I'd offer to pay to replace the damaged parts. Bending a piece is only a temporary fix and it will weaken the booth.
Larry Berman
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100