Great events on a budget

October 1, 2008  |  Event Production, Features

To help clients with limited budgets, tent professionals need the imagination of an artist, the tact of a diplomat and the aptitude of an accountant. By Jill C. Lafferty You can’t always get what you want — but try telling that to clients who want everything for nothing. For clients on l…
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Eco-friendly weddings

August 1, 2008  |  Event Production, Features

Going green helps event companies gain both conscience and capital. By Shelby Gonzalez What does a green tented wedding look like? Just ask Alison Hotchkiss of Alison Events LLC in San Francisco, Calif. In 2007, she planned two weddings that included some of the same eco-friendly elements. Yet they …
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Service and product packages increase company profit

August 1, 2008  |  Features, Management

Rental companies stand to profit by creating packages for products and services. By Philip E. Anderson For several years, return on investment (ROI) has been the standard way for rental companies to measure profit potential. How many times, and at what rate, can a particular product be rented to max…
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Design tips from the pros

August 1, 2008  |  Event Production, Features, Management

Bring tented event layouts to life with these design tips. By Meleah Maynard Your clients may think they have the perfect “vision,” but it’s very difficult for most people to imagine how their event will look. CAD—computer-aided design—provides the link between a client…
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Choosing the right rental software

June 1, 2008  |  Features, Management

When buying rental software, be choosy to find the best fit. By Brianna Bowne You may have never figured out how to reset the clock on your VCR, but you don’t have to give up on technology entirely. Computerizing your business can make your life easier and your business more profitable. Softwa…
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Boosting your bottom line

June 1, 2008  |  Features, Management

Eight ways to boost your bottom line. By Bill Lynott Profit leaks lurk deep inside almost every service business, silently draining off hard-earned dollars. Some are harder to detect than others; some are far more damaging than others. Together, they can form a major obstacle on the road to optimum …
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Tent companies react when disaster strikes

April 1, 2008  |  Features, Safety & Codes

You can’t control Mother Nature, but you can control your response. By Janice Kleinschmidt With winds estimated at 80 to 100 mph uprooting a 30-foot-tall pine and an oak tree with a trunk 3 feet around, tents set up for the 2007 Minnesota State Fair didn’t stand a chance. Fortunately, th…
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The fine art of job costing

April 1, 2008  |  Features, Management

How to avoid surprises that could hurt your bottom line. By Julie Young There’s no such thing as a free lunch. No matter where a tented luncheon or special event takes place, you can be sure that every tent, chair, table, glass and fork has been accounted for and assigned a price. Every minor …
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Multi-year contracts benefit business

December 1, 2007  |  Features, Management

Capitalize on the benefits and avoid the pitfalls of multi-year contracts. By Holly O’Dell Because event companies cater to a fluid and unpredictable industry, they value services and practices that can bring stability to their business. One such element that provides security and peace of min…
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Tents in the music industry

December 1, 2007  |  Event Production, Features, Management

Collaboration and customer service are keys to pleasing your music industry clients. By Maura Keller On summer evenings across the country, drummers drum, banjo players strum and singers serenade concertgoers—all underneath elaborate tent structures. For the music industry, tents add a dramati…
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