Awards

Readers’ Choice Awards 2023

June 1, 2023

We asked InTents readers to vote for the best of the best in 15 categories. Which companies, products and services do InTents readers depend on to run their businesses? What tent rental industry supplier always comes through when you need them? Which piece of equipment saves time and labor? And what services do you depend …

Features

Extreme challenges of extreme heat

June 1, 2023

Headquartered in Atlanta and serving that city and the North Georgia area, TLC Rents is no stranger to the challenges posed by hot, humid weather. As such, the full-service event planning company knows to pay attention when the heat turns extreme—something that’s been happening with greater frequency. “Here in the past five-to-10 years we have …

Business

Leadership tips for reducing stress

June 1, 2023

A certain level of stress can be motivational and stimulating. It can help us focus our energy. It can emphasize our passion and commitment. But as Albert Einstein reportedly said, “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” Tim Fleming, CEO of Marsh McLennan Agency LLC’s (MMA) Upper Midwest region, …

News

2023 State of the industry

June 1, 2023

At the start of each year, ATA surveys the readers of its various publications  to learn about current trends, business challenges and opportunities. As anticipated, inflation, the supply chain and hiring remain the top concerns, but revenues are up and growth plans are in the works for most respondents. Even though the makeup of each …

News

TRD Spring Boot Camp

June 1, 2023

The Spring TRD Boot Camp was held at Made in the Shade Rentals in West Sacramento, Calif. The event kicked off on March 14 with a welcome reception hosted by the owners of Made in the Shade—Nancy and Donald Vasquez—along with new TRD board member Kevin Vasquez and his brother Donny. The following day saw …

Business

Can outsourcing mitigate labor shortages?

June 1, 2023

I was recently speaking with a group of operations managers and they raised the topic of outsourcing. Outsourcing of services has always been something that my clients have traditionally shied away from. They often outsource functions in the early years, but as they grow, there is a tendency to bring things in-house. Perhaps the perception …

Installation Spotlight

Project showcase: Meyerhoff Symphony Hall

June 1, 2023

With a large hospital fundraiser coming up, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra wanted to temporarily expand its home at Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. Loane Bros. Inc. was tasked with the project, which aimed to provide a climate-controlled space for cocktails, dinner and dessert for the fundraiser.  The Towson, Md., company tented outside the iconic rounded building over …

Features

Installations that wow!

June 1, 2023

When it comes to tent installations, it’s all about getting clients, customers and attendees to remember the event, the environs and the overall ambience of the experience. Providing installations that “wow” is the core philosophy behind today’s successful tent companies—it’s what makes these hardworking companies stand out from the proverbial crowd. InTents is pleased  to …

Business

Better scheduling can improve employee retention

June 1, 2023

Editor’s note: When discussing employee retention problems, one of the most commonly cited causes are the hours this industry requires—early mornings, late nights, weekends and holidays. As you’ll read below, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention refers to this type of schedule as “shiftwork” and cautions that it can negatively affect workers’ safety and …

News

InTents welcomes new editorial board

June 1, 2023

A hearty thanks to the following members of the tent and event rental industry who have volunteered to serve on the 2023/2024 InTents Editorial Board: Dave Cesar, Blue Peak Tents  Julie Couture, Fiesta Tents Ltd. Carol Lee Cundy, InTENTional Solutions (formerly Eureka! Tents) Marty Hass, Milestone Event Rentals Alex Kouzmanoff, Aztec Tents  Michelle McCulloch, Regal Tents …

Expo News

IFAI Expo 2022 call for presentations

December 20, 2021

The Industrial Fabrics Association International is now accepting proposals for presentations at IFAI Expo 2022. IFAI Expo will take place Oct. 12-14, 2022, at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, N.C., with education Oct. 11-14. IFAI is accepting proposals for 50-minute classroom sessions in several categories: Advanced Textiles Shade & Weather Protection Specialty Fabrics Marine …

Expo News

IFAI Expo: Leveraging rental tents during and after the pandemic

November 4, 2021

Jim Reyen, business director at Johnson Outdoors Inc./Eureka! Big Tents Division, presented the campfire session “Leveraging Rental Tents During and After the COVID Pandemic” at IFAI Expo in Nashville, Tenn. During the session, Reyen explained the changing demands for tents throughout various stages of the pandemic. “The first wave of tent demand ran from March …

Expo News

IFAI Expo: How to outsell your competition

November 3, 2021

During the education session “Outselling Your Competition: Four Activities Your Sales Team Must Be Doing Post-COVID” at IFAI Expo 2021 in Nashville, Tenn., James Auerbach, vice president—event segment for the American Rental Association, shared four measurable and respectable pillars that all salespeople must excel at in order to outsell their competition. Referred to as the …

Expo News

IFAI Expo: Shade sail engineering software

November 2, 2021

On Nov. 2, 2021, at IFAI Expo in Nashville, Tenn., Timothy Akes, representative for the Americas, MPanel Software Solutions, and Andrew Askwith, senior software developer, MPanel Software Solutions, presented the education session “Shade Sail Engineering—It’s Not Just a Bunch of Numbers.” According to Akes, there is a tendency for shade sail engineering to be relegated …

Events

Messe Stuttgart’s Sun Shading Expo North America moves co-location debut with IFAI Expo to 2022

July 7, 2021

Messe Stuttgart announced that its new U.S.-based show Sun Shading Expo North America will not be held in 2021 as a separate trade show but will instead contribute its expertise in internal and external sun shading systems at IFAI Expo 2021 in the form of expert talks, open discussions and more. IFAI Expo 2021 will still take place …

Expo News

Registration is open for IFAI Expo 2021

May 10, 2021

Registration is open for IFAI Expo 2021. IFAI Expo celebrates the 100th anniversary of the show this November, and you won’t want to miss it! After a long hiatus of in-person events, this year’s show is the perfect place to reconnect with your industry. Register now to get the Early Bird rate! Early Bird rates end …

Expo News

Standard for active illumination developed in Europe

November 16, 2020

In a session at IFAI Virtual Expo 2020, “Smart Textiles Standardization, Active Illumination,” Dr. Jan Beringer, senior scientific expert Hohenstein Group, explained the new standard for active illumination that will soon be implemented in European Union countries.  Organizations worked together to develop the standards. It is notable, he said that both textile and electronics industries …

Expo News

Rapid prototyping = faster market launch

November 16, 2020

A presentation at IFAI Virtual Expo 2020, titled, “Rapid Prototyping and Textile Product Development” urged attendees to use “sticks and glue … whatever method you have to get your idea out there.” The presenter, Dr. Andre West, director of the Zeis Textiles Extension (ZTE), Wilson College of Textiles, NC State University, may not have meant …

Expo News

Textile industry leaders call for policy changes to support U.S. production of PPE

November 13, 2020

The U.S. textile industry has stepped up to meet the demand for face masks, medical gowns, wipes and other products necessary to combat the coronavirus pandemic, but it needs policy changes from Washington so that the U.S. is not caught off-guard again in a future crisis, according to association leaders speaking at Industrial Fabrics Association …

Expo News

The larger issues in respiratory protection

November 12, 2020

Dr. Bryran Ormond, assistant professor, Wilson College of Textiles, NC State explained respiratory protection in an “Ask an Expert” session with Jing Liang, Medical PPE Consulting LLC. Dr. Ormand has typically worked in the area of chemical and biological protective equipment, but with the onslaught of the pandemic, began to focus on respiratory protection generally, …

Awards

Readers’ Choice Awards 2023

June 1, 2023

We asked InTents readers to vote for the best of the best in 15 categories. Which companies, products and services do InTents readers depend on to run their businesses? What tent rental industry supplier always comes through when you need them? Which piece of equipment saves time and labor? And what services do you depend …

Features

Extreme challenges of extreme heat

June 1, 2023

Headquartered in Atlanta and serving that city and the North Georgia area, TLC Rents is no stranger to the challenges posed by hot, humid weather. As such, the full-service event planning company knows to pay attention when the heat turns extreme—something that’s been happening with greater frequency. “Here in the past five-to-10 years we have …

Features

Installations that wow!

June 1, 2023

When it comes to tent installations, it’s all about getting clients, customers and attendees to remember the event, the environs and the overall ambience of the experience. Providing installations that “wow” is the core philosophy behind today’s successful tent companies—it’s what makes these hardworking companies stand out from the proverbial crowd. InTents is pleased  to …

Features

Now you see it, now you don’t

April 1, 2023

The blank slate that is a tent offers event planners plenty of opportunities to create unforgettable environments and experiences for their wedding clients. But at the same time, these structures pose certain challenges. For one thing, depending on the tent, the equipment involved and the client’s vision, a fair amount of camouflaging might be required …

Features

Fine furnishings

April 1, 2023

While the pandemic changed virtually everything about weddings for a period, the question now is this: What’s gone back to the way it was, and what has remained as the “new norm”? Companies that provide wedding furniture, among other goods and services, say that the space provided for a wedding and/or associated events has remained …

Features

Tablescape trends

April 1, 2023

For decades, standard white tablecloths and their crisp white napkin counterparts were the classic choice for wedding events of all sizes—and rightfully so, as these timeless table accoutrements often provided the background for both simple and lavish affairs. And while white linens are still a mainstay, many of today’s tabletop settings of linens, china and …

Features

On-trend bar and food stations

December 1, 2022

After the past several years where holiday parties were decidedly low-key and restrained—if they happened at all—this year’s celebrations have been positively giddy. This is an exciting change for event planners who of course welcome not only the business but also the chance to let their imaginations run free, creating events that keep people engaged …

Features

Making events more sustainable

December 1, 2022

Customers across the globe are starting to put their money where their mouths are when choosing eco-friendly products and services.  In fact, one IBM study in 2022 found that 49% of customers worldwide have recently paid a premium—an average of 59% more—for a product branded as sustainable or socially responsible. What does that mean for …

Features

Growing demand for tent graphics

December 1, 2022

While ushering the world into a new digital era, the COVID-19 pandemic also rekindled a desire for bigger, bolder in-person connections. This change couldn’t be more welcome across event services—especially within the tent industry. “It’s amazing what people have done with tents over the past two years,” says Bryan Bolt, technical solutions manager at TopTec …

Features Members only content

Outside the box

October 1, 2022

Back in the day, ordering a tent for a special event meant you could pretty much expect one thing: a basic, boxy structure that did its job to temporarily shelter inhabitants from the weather.  Call it a canvas coup, but these days tents come in a multitude of shapes, sizes and materials and are commonly …

News

TRD Spring Boot Camp

June 1, 2023

The Spring TRD Boot Camp was held at Made in the Shade Rentals in West Sacramento, Calif. The event kicked off on March 14 with a welcome reception hosted by the owners of Made in the Shade—Nancy and Donald Vasquez—along with new TRD board member Kevin Vasquez and his brother Donny. The following day saw …

News

2023 State of the industry

June 1, 2023

At the start of each year, ATA surveys the readers of its various publications  to learn about current trends, business challenges and opportunities. As anticipated, inflation, the supply chain and hiring remain the top concerns, but revenues are up and growth plans are in the works for most respondents. Even though the makeup of each …

News

InTents welcomes new editorial board

June 1, 2023

A hearty thanks to the following members of the tent and event rental industry who have volunteered to serve on the 2023/2024 InTents Editorial Board: Dave Cesar, Blue Peak Tents  Julie Couture, Fiesta Tents Ltd. Carol Lee Cundy, InTENTional Solutions (formerly Eureka! Tents) Marty Hass, Milestone Event Rentals Alex Kouzmanoff, Aztec Tents  Michelle McCulloch, Regal Tents …

Industry News

OSHA offers $12.7 million in training grants

May 31, 2023

The U.S. Department of Labor will provide a funding opportunity for more than $12.7 million in Susan Harwood Training Grants to support training initiatives designed to promote safety and health in the nation’s workplaces. Administered by the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the grants will support recipients’ efforts to provide instructor-led remote and in-person hands-on training for …

Company News

Shelter Structures America acquires Everun America

May 26, 2023

Shelter Structures America, Palos Verdes Estates, Calif., has added Everun America, Valencia, Calif., to the Shelter Structures America brand portfolio. Everun America debuted in the U.S. market at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2023 in Las Vegas. Everun America offers compact equipment in the U.S. market with nationwide distribution centers in Los Angeles and Chicago.    “We are excited to bring …

Company News

TapGoods acquires Reventals

May 26, 2023

TapGoods, Dallas, has acquired Austin, Texas-based Reventals, a large online event rental marketplace. TapGoods says the acquisition marks a key step in its goal of leading the innovation and growth of the rental industry.  TapGoods launched in 2017 as a cloud-based business management and e-commerce software solutions provider for the rental industry. The company says its robust, feature-rich software …

Company News

PEAK Event Services launches luxury linen and tabletop accessory brand

May 26, 2023

Event logistics and equipment supplier PEAK Event Services, Boston, has launched its newest endeavor in Reverie Social, a luxury table linen and tabletop accessory brand available to rent nationwide.   “Our team truly understands what it takes to put together an event, from ideation to execution, and we are excited to help planners, designers, venues, caterers and trendsetters …

Company News

Lubbock Event Rentals acquires Spoil Me Rotten

May 26, 2023

Lubbock Event Rentals, Lubbock, Texas, has acquired Spoil Me Rotten, also located in Lubbock.   Through the acquisition, Lubbock Event Rentals has assumed ownership of Spoil Me Rotten’s location at 2311 109th St. and will relocate here from its previous address at 1211 Avenue F in Lubbock.  As part of the acquisition, Lubbock Event Rentals says it …

Company News

New leadership at Crown Point Enterprises

May 19, 2023

Crown Point Enterprises Inc. announced its new women-led leadership roles within its triad of sister-companies in the Pittsburgh, Penn., event industry market. Cindy Scott has moved into the role of managing director for Crown Point Enterprises Inc. Scott has been with the company for over 21 years and has led the sales team for the …

Industry News

PMI increases to 50.2 in U.S.

May 10, 2023

The U.S. manufacturing sector registered a slight improvement in operating conditions in April 2023 with a seasonally adjusted purchasing managers’ index or PMI at 50.2 in April, up from 49.2 in March, and broadly in line with the earlier released flash estimate of 50.4. The latest index reading was the first to post above the …

Industry News

Join the National Safety Stand-Down May 6−10

May 1, 2019

Fatalities caused by falls from elevation continue to be a leading cause of death for construction employees, accounting for 366 of the 971 construction fatalities recorded in the U.S. in 2017 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data). The National Safety Stand-Down raises fall hazard awareness across the country to stop fall fatalities and injuries. What …

On the Job

Codes set for adoption

December 1, 2016

Code revision process reaches final voting stage. A proposal to regulate outdoor events regardless of the presence of tents or special event structures was approved at the Public Comment Hearing of the International Code Committee (ICC) in October. This proposal (F310-16), submitted by the Fire Code Action Committee, had been disapproved at the code committee’s …

On the Job

Site survey equals site safety

December 1, 2016

A thorough site survey communicates event needs and flags potential safety issues. Ensuring the safety of tented event participants and the tent installation crew starts at the beginning of the job. Before a single rental item is loaded onto the truck, a site survey should be completed by a qualified professional with set-up experience. A …

On the Job

TopTec training goes on the road

December 1, 2016

TopTec Event Tents, Moore, S.C., is taking its long running tent installation and safety training program on the road in 2017. The first Tent School On The Road session will be held at Rent-E-Quip in Colonial Heights, Va., March 7–8. “Our goal was to make Tent School more accessible to our customers across the United …

On the Job

Tent inspections before events ensure safety

October 1, 2016

Inspections will help avoid disaster and add years to the life of a tent. The tent is up and the event is underway. But there may still be work to be done. Especially for installations that will be up for any length of time, inspection and maintenance are top priorities for keeping the tent as …

On the Job

IFAI’s Tent Rental Division works toward standard

October 1, 2016

IFAI’s Tent Rental Division looks to write an industry standard for tent anchorage. With final voting on tent-related code revisions for the 2018 Model Code set for late October, IFAI’s Tent Rental Division (TRD) is looking ahead to writing an industry standard that could be taken up in the 2021 code cycle. “As the 2018 …

On the Job

Moving on up with multiple locations

August 1, 2016

Expanding to multiple locations offers numerous benefits, if the timing is right and both will and cash flow are strong. Delores Crum didn’t see that she had a choice. Sure, her party, tent and wedding rental store in south Austin, Texas, opened in 2000, was doing well. But up in north Austin, another rental company …

On the Job

OSHA fines increase

August 1, 2016

New law directs U.S. Department of Labor to “catch up” penalties to inflation. Fines assessed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) increased by 78 percent as of Aug. 1. OSHA’s top penalty for serious violations rises from $7,000 to $12,471, and its top penalty for willful or repeated violations rises from $70,000 to …

On the Job

Collaboration yields successful code revisions

August 1, 2016

F-CAC work group is a key factor in the code revision process for tents, membrane structures and outdoor assembly events. The International Code Council (ICC) Committee Action Hearings were held in Louisville, Ky., in April. During the International Fire Code (IFC) hearings, stakeholders representing IFAI’s Tent Rental Division (TRD), the ICC Fire Code Action Committee …

On the Job

Ballasting for safety and safety when ballasting

June 1, 2016

Learning to ballast with concrete? Follow these steps to ensure safe and efficient jobsite practices. My crew has forgotten how to use a sledgehammer. Well, not really, but it could happen. In my local tent rental market, ballasting is common. So common that the top priority for my management team has been to figure out …

Installation Spotlight

Project showcase: Meyerhoff Symphony Hall

June 1, 2023

With a large hospital fundraiser coming up, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra wanted to temporarily expand its home at Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. Loane Bros. Inc. was tasked with the project, which aimed to provide a climate-controlled space for cocktails, dinner and dessert for the fundraiser.  The Towson, Md., company tented outside the iconic rounded building over …

Design Spotlight

Design spotlight: Beachside winter wonderland

April 1, 2023

Staging an outdoor event in January can present a number of challenges, from blizzards to ice storms. But at this reception, held at the Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club in Dana Point, Calif., the only white to be seen was on the inside of the tent. From chairs and linens to drapes and …

Installation Spotlight

Project Showcase: Formula One Grand Prix

April 1, 2023

Each year since 1978, the Formula One Grand Prix of Canada has taken place at the Parc Jean-Drapeau, a public park in the heart of Montreal, Que.—and for more than 40 of those years Montreal-based Fiesta Tents Ltd. has provided its tenting and flooring. The international event that takes place on the Saint Lawrence River …

Projects

Igloo marquees in Edinburgh

December 1, 2022

When the 2021 Edinburgh International Festival asked Worcestershire, U.K.-based Fews Marquees to provide structures for three of its performance areas, the company had no hesitation in recommending its Igloo marquees for the event. And while the job may have been more than Fews bargained for, it was a challenge worth accepting.  “Back in August last …

Design Spotlight

A whimsical wedding

December 1, 2022

All Occasions Party Rental, based in Eighty Four, Pa., staged this gorgeous June wedding under a 50-by-50-foot Anchor Industries Clear Navi-Trac® tent at a private residence in Washington, Pa. “The bride had a very energetic personality with an eclectic taste,” recalls Whitney Demchak, creative director at All Occasions. “The wedding planner, Tim Komen with TK …

Design Spotlight

Miami Open 2022

December 1, 2022

The legendary Miami Open returned to its home at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Fla., in the spring of 2022. Eventstar Structures, based out of Medley, Fla., was tasked with redesigning and building an upgraded hospitality experience that thousands of fans would traverse during the multiweek event.  The Terrace at the 2022 Miami Open contained …

Projects

Tented Teamwork

October 1, 2022

Tent and event rental people know—every event holds surprises. But for Party Reflections Inc. LLC, headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., a recent fundraiser proved to be more challenging than most. The company had handled the annual Charlotte fundraiser for nearly 10 years, so one might expect the event would be less than challenging. But as it …

Projects

Holding Court

October 1, 2022

This was an autumn wedding in the Sand Canyon area of Santa Clarita,” explains Stacie House, director of business development for 24/7 Events. “The couple really wanted to embrace the outdoors.” The event was held under a 40-by-80-foot Aztec frame tent, using the frame only with pole socks and drapery to allow the fall sky …

Projects

The Enchanted Forest

October 1, 2022

An over-the-top 21st birthday celebration staged by Oasis Events, based in Gloucestershire, England, was at the crest of a winding hill, through a wood, overlooking a lake on a private estate. The event was themed as an enchanted fairy-tale forest for 260 guests, with drinks, dinner and dancing, and the late-night reveal of a secret …

Projects

Tenting the Barrett-Jackson car auction

August 1, 2022

As Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Barrett-Jackson Auction Co. entered its 50th year of producing live collector car auctions, it secured a partnership with San Antonio, Texas-based National Structures Events & Services to ensure the tenting structures supporting the Scottsdale Auction were as phenomenal as the event itself. Awarded in July 2021, the five-year partnership kicked off in …