I am scheduled to do the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts next month, middle of July and I looked again and realized that there was no electricity and generators are not allowed. So, my question is- How the heck do you keep cool? It been so hot at the last few shows I have done and I had electricity and fans going at them and even then almost passed out. Since I do these shows solo, I'm really worried about keeping my work (encaustic) and myself cool enough, especially if it's a typical July day. Can anyone give me some help here- what do you do to offset the humidity and scorching heat at these shows?
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I also use stabilizer bars from Flourish.com which are a big help in wind and rain to keep the tent from twisting. I've been doing shows at the coast for 8 years with the same EzUp. Having the proper amount of weights is important too. (Keeping my fingers crossed for continued good luck)
Ellen, do you clip your Ezup on top a Trimline or Crafthut or over another Ezup? Someone else said to use dark fabric but seems like that would just hold all the heat in more than it already is. As you can see Science is not my strong.
Ryobi fans from Home Depot (in the tool dept) have been redesigned and are more industrial with 8hr batteries. Much better than the original ones that the blades broke off if it got knocked over.
Several Frozen wet washcloths kept in ziploc bags are used throughout the day
I have a Ryobi battery operated fan that I love. I have two rechargeable batteries so I can run it on high all day. I had a Walmart fan that used D batteries, but I had to buy new batteries for every show. That got old fast!
Walmart sells a folding fan in their camping section for $14.95. it is about 12 inches Square It takes 8 d size batteries. Sooo if you have a table to set it on it works and is cheap enough.
Don't buy the Ryobi one the the Depot sells that works with the rechargeable tool batteries a fellow artist friend purchased one and took it back. Good Luck. Also one of those neck thingy's that had the some kind of beads in them, when you get them wet they remain cool and you tie them around your neck like a bandanna.
It's a pain to keep ice in it if you are alone at a show, but it will make the difference between having a nice day and having heatstroke at a show without electricity.
wow, that's creative- never thought about that one....do you use that yourself? It certainly is one way to get cold air into your tent. Thank you for the info.....
Try making your own AC. Get a big (preferably old) cooler, cut three round holes in the top the same diameter as three PVC elbows. They need to be at least 3" - 4" diameter. Glue the PVC elbows in the holes, sealing them in. All the elbows should point the same direction. Cut a hole in the back wall of the cooler slightly smaller than the face of a battery powered fan. Make sure the hole is high on the side or you will end up with water running out. Mount your fan with brackets. Then put a big block of ice (freeze a bucket full of water) or two in your "AC" and turn on the fan. Air will flow over the ice and out the PVC elbows in the top.
PS: FrogTogs cooling towels are in the camping section.
Have used FrogTogs for going on 3 years now! Work great. I do keep them in the cooler to start...helps me cool off even faster as I am in the "grannie" generation and heat up all on my own (and not in a good way!!) faster than most! ;]
Got them at Walmart. I actually get new ones each year to off set the "yuck" factor of all the summer sweat building up...and yes, you can wash them and I do but I feel that maybe I wash off some of the cooling "magic"...HA! Also, keep frozen wash clothes in cooler & freeze 2-3 of the water bottles so the cooler stays cold and I have cold water to drink all day as they thaw toward the end of the event. (Also good on the back of the neck if absolutely at your whits end!)
Researching the battery fan ideas. Thanks for all the input on that!
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