The weather and crowds were amazing at this year’s Polo For Heart charity fundraiser. As sponsor and official tent supplier Absolute provided these two 40 wide clear span tents along with many others. There were corporate tents, beer tents, silent auction tents, vendor tents even a Maharajah’s VIP tent along with countless bistro tables and umbrellas.
This gala party and fundraiser was a huge affair with close to 1,000 guests in a roomy 80 x 150 high peak pole tent. The dramatic roofline of this event tent is close to 40 feet in the air announcing to the world that “there is something going on and you don’t want to miss it”.
How to Choose a Tent for Your Event
If you plan on renting a tent or tents for an upcoming event it’s a good idea to get up to speed so you’ll know what you can expect unless of course you like surprises. Tent rentals are a must for outdoor events, not only do they offer protection from wind, rain, or even too much sun, their size announces your event from afar and often helps to create a celebratory mood. So rental tents are handy but here’s what you should know.
40' x 60' Frame Tent
These are a popular choice of rental tents. What is meant by a frame tent? It’s a tent that has an aluminum or steel frame built into the roof. Clean lines, neat and simple design, this is how one would describe the newest generation of Frame Tents. With no centre poles the structure offers unobstructed views. Perfect for an evening of entertainment or when room is at a premium.
They commonly have a hip style roofline meaning the peak is tapered and does not continue along the full length of the tent. Less common is a gable style with the peak running at the same height throughout the full length of the structure.
Special Features
Heavy gage aluminum or steel frame
No centre poles
May be weighted or staked down
Sizes
Frame tents are available at 10′ wide, 15′, 20′, 30′, 40′, 50′ and the length can be 10′, 15′, 20′ increasing by 10′ increments to 300′.
Colours & Construction
White tops and walls are most common (striped, coloured or clear vinyl to a lesser extent)
Premium blackout vinyl - cooler and more comfortable (some manufactures offer lighter semitransparent vinyl)
Wall Height is 8′ – 10′
Peak Height is 10′ – 20′ depending upon the width of the structure.
Anchoring Methods
There is added versatility with a frame tent as you have an option of staking or weighting the tent. This feature allows frame tents to be used on rooftops and in situations where surface and underground obstructions prevent staking.
40' x 150' Pole Tent
Majestic and regal, pole tents add real luxury to the look of your event with dramatic peaks and valleys as the vinyl is stretched tightly over towering tent poles creating impressive rooflines. The main characteristic defining a pole tent is that there is a centre pole or poles.
Special Features
Higher more dramatic rooflines
Lofty interiors
Ideal for any scale event
Particularly good in high winds
Pole tents rentals not as common
Steep tops reduces snow buildup making them a better choice as winter tents (up to 40′ wide)
Sizes
Available in – 30′, 40′, 60′, 80′, 100′ wide and the length can be 30′, 40′, 60′, increasing by 10′ increments up to 300′.
Colours & Construction
Pole Tent Interior
They’re found most often with white tops and walls however some manufacturers produce striped, coloured or clear tops.
Premium blackout vinyl - cooler and more comfortable (some manufactures offer lighter semitransparent vinyl)
Wall Height is 8′ – 9′
Peak Height is 12′ – 29′ depending upon the width of the structure
Anchoring Methods
Pole tents are tension structures a require staking at all times. 30″ or 36″ stakes are used and can be driven into grass, gravel, sand and asphalt surfaces. It should be noted that underground utilities and obstructions may prevent the safe installation of these tents
20' x 20' Tensile Tent
This is a hybrid tent combining the best of both a frame and pole tents into one creating an elegant high peaked roof with a structure that can be weighted or staked and has no obstructing centre poles. The centre pole is suspended by cross cables overhead.
Special Features
Heavy gage aluminum frame
Centre pole(s) are suspended overhead
May be weighted or staked down
Sizes
Available in – 10′x10′, 10′x15′, 10′x20′, 15′x20′, 20′x20′, 20′x30′,
Triangular and hexagonal tents are also available in limited sizes.
Absolute carries 20′x20′ Triangular and 34′x40′ Hexagonal Tents.
Colours & Construction
Tensile Tent Interior
White tops and walls are most common (striped, coloured or clear vinyl to a lesser extent)
Premium blackout vinyl - cooler and more comfortable (some manufactures offer lighter semitransparent vinyl)
Wall Height is 8′ – 10′
Peak Height is 10′ – 20′ depending upon the width of the structure.
Anchoring Methods
The same anchoring can be used as a on a frame tent with the option of staking or weighting the tent. This feature allows tensile tents to be used on rooftops and in situations where surface and underground obstructions prevent staking.
Clear Span Tent
These structures are next best thing to a building with heavy duty aluminum or steel beam perimeter frames. These heavy beam frames support sturdy ceiling structure that spans the width creating a clear open area, hence their name “clear span” For large scale special events and particularly upscale corporate events, the Clear Span tent is the best temporary structure available.
Special Features
Ideal for any scale event
Particularly good in high winds
Inspiring ceiling heights
Clean rooflines
Unobstructed interior sightlines
Requires no tent straps creating a clean looking exterior
Sizes
Available in – 20′ wide, 30′, 40′, 50′, 66′, 132′, & 164′ and are available in 15′ lengths and is unlimited.
Colours & Construction
Clear Span Tent Interior
White tops and walls are most common (striped, coloured or clear vinyl to a lesser extent)
Premium blackout vinyl in white or black tops
Clear tops are also available
Other options include – Glass doors, Clear Walls
Wall height is 10′ – 20′
Peak height is 12′ – 56′ depending upon the width of the structure
Anchoring Methods
Clear Span tents may be staked or weighted, however a substantial amount of weight is necessary requiring concrete as opposed to water barrels used on frame and tensile tents.
Pop Up Tent
Pop Ups are the only tents that a tent company will offer you without professional installation. These tents take only a few minutes for first time users and as the name infers they simply pop up and into use. The frame comes fully assembled and only needs to be spread out, install a top and you are in business. They are a very popular choice for festivals and exhibitions and can be fastened together creating long lines.
Special Features
Frame comes fully assembled
No centre poles
Sizes
Pop ups are generally available in 5′x5′ (change tents), 10′x10′ and 10′x20′
Colours & Construction
Popups come in many colours however white is the most common choice as it is cooler, clean and more comfortable. Lighter nylon is used most often for top and walls. Walls are installed separately with the option of using any number necessary.
Anchoring Methods
These tents may be weighted or staked into the ground.
Power, lighting, climate control options
Centre & perimeter pole drapery, ceiling liners and custom drapery
Flooring Systems
Event Deck - Modular floors
Custom wood sub-floor
Variable height flooring system
Isle walkway
Carpet & vinyl floor coverings
Side Walls (Frame and Pole Tents)
White Walls
Clear Walls
Mesh Walls
French window Walls
Side Walls (Clear Span Tents)
White Walls
Clear Walls
French window Walls
Glass Wall Panels
Additional Options:
Entrance Marquees
Covered Walkways
Isle Walkway
Performance Stages
Elevated Tents
Double Decker
Platform Tents
Sky Boxes
Covered Grandstands
Glass Railings
Rain Gutters
Our Tent Rental Professionals can assist you with and questions or to place an order. There are so many options for party tents or wedding tents, you are limited only by your imagination.
Stay Tuned For (Segment 2) – Tent Installation Rules and Regulations
Please be sure to check back with us regularly for our Party and Tent Rental Information series.
Also, you won’t want to miss some of our own events being profiled here in our Special Events Inspiration series.
Get more “bang for your buck”?
These are proven strategies that will help with supply side savings while still producing memorable events. By keeping these tips in mind during the planning, sourcing, scheduling and execution phases of your event and you can expect measurable results.
1) Do as much as you can yourself. It’s not always practical or possible to do everything, but by doing what you can, you’ll see savings.
2) Get volunteers and interns where possible even if your event is for profit. When you do have volunteers be sure to manage them efficiently.
3) Have your suppliers drop ship equipment and install yourself where possible.
4) Hold your event off season for reduced equipment costs. Gear in July is always costlier than in January.
5) Sponsorship recognition – have suppliers buy-in to your event. This is invaluable so don’t be afraid to use it.
6) Hire a Specialist – Outside ‘contract’ planners may save you money so it’s worthwhile to explore that avenue.
7) Advance planning, commit early and stick to the plan. Last minute changes may cost you.
8) Multi-year deals, quick pay, or early pay allows you to negotiate a better deal.
9) Grants – even “for profit” may be eligible depending upon their cultural and economic impact.
10) By using a full service equipment supplier;
- Everything ships together
- Single delivery charge
- Logistical coordination
- One contact, one call, one invoice, one responder
- Same crew for a coordinated installation
Please visit us again for other cost saving segments.
Please be sure to check back with us regularly for our Party and Tent Rental Information series.
Also, you won’t want to miss some of our own events being profiled here in our Special Events Inspiration series.
(CRA) There are a million things to think about when you begin planning a wedding. There are the big things like booking the reception site, the church, the DJ, and, of course, finding the dress. But once those are out of the way, there are little details to think about, such as a theme, the flowers, the centerpieces, linens, invitations, champagne glasses and countless other things.
With all the elements that go into planning a dream wedding, it doesn’t take long to realize that details can add up — not only when it comes to spending, but also when it comes to storage space. After all, who wants to end up with 250 pink linen napkins once the big day has passed?
Renting materials for your wedding from Absolute Tent & Event Services is one way to solve this problem. Not only is renting often a more economical solution, it also eliminates the storage issue.
“Renting will not only cut down on storage, but you can lower the cost of your wedding too,” says Becky Baumgartner, owner of Aero Rental and Party Shoppe, in Iowa City, Ia. “People often come in to look for materials to buy for their wedding, and I’ll say to them ‘How important is this to you, because you could rent this for a lot cheaper.’ ”
Renting materials for your wedding also gives you access to the latest styles in decor, table settings, linens, chair covers and other things. According to Baumgartner, people often don’t really realize the vast variety of items you can rent for weddings.
In her many years helping couples plan weddings, Baumgartner has learned plenty of lessons. Here are some of her most helpful tips to keep in mind when renting materials for your wedding:
* It’s a lot cheaper to rent the equipment than to buy it. Chances are you will never use half the things at your wedding again so why would you waste storage space and money?
* You can rent anything you need for your wedding, from pipe and drape to hide the wall colour at the hall to crystal candelabras to serpentine tables. Check with your local rental store; they may even have ashowroom.
* Rental store employees can help you think of things you might have forgotten. Let them help you in the planning process to make sure that you have everything you need for your big day.
* Unlike halls and churches that need to be booked at least a year in advance, generally you only need to reserve the rental equipment six to seven months in advance.
* Some rental stores allow you to pick up the rental materials on Thursday evening and drop them off on Monday morning for no additional charge. That way, you don’t have to worry about pick-up and drop off on your wedding day.
* A rental store will provide you with more options, in terms of colour and design, than a reception hall will.
When it comes to planning your wedding, don’t let the cost wipe out your entire savings account — rent your wedding materials. For more information stop in to Absolute Tent & Event Services or call us at 416 203-8332 Toll Free 1 866768-8948
Courtesy of ARA content (CRA).
