’Tis the season for tented backyard parties

Summer means backyard party season. And today’s backyard parties often require more than a simple tent, tables and chairs. From concession equipment to custom flooring, rental companies strive to provide private clients with everything they need to have memorable events right in their own backyards.

Backyard parties are as diverse as the neighborhoods and families that throw them. There are the usual suspects, however. Weddings, graduation parties, receptions and birthdays top the list of the most common backyard events.

“May through August, we do a lot of canopies with tables and chairs for graduation parties, barbeques and birthday parties,” says Benjamin Moy, vice president of business operations, Atent To Rent Inc., Dedham, Mass. “The higher-end events, such as weddings, bat/bar mitzvahs and anniversary parties, go beyond our basic rentals and move into the Century® tents, clear roof tents, flooring, HVAC, specialized lighting, etc.”

A common challenge to backyard parties is incorporating tents into limited space with landscaping and uneven terrain. “At residential lots where they don’t have a lot of room to work with, we’re typically focusing on structure style,” says Tim Smith, senior sales representative at Ultimate Events of Plymouth, Minn.  “If they have a wide-open, two-acre yard, the styles have much more flexibility. We definitely tailor the style and size we use based on what space the customer has to work with.”

Being prepared to field unique installation requests during the busy season can help rental companies stay on top of their schedules and keep their customers happy, says Toni Thorne,  manager of Sandy’s U-Rent, Walla Walla, Wash. She turns to the tent’s manufacturer for assistance when special requests require specialized installation and anchoring techniques. That’s a strategy that can pay off, as a custom installation impresses the client and can often lead to future business and referrals, she says.