Month: June 2014

How to create and manage zones in your conference tent

Wednesday 25 June 2014 by Amazing News Editor

SaddleSpan tents are great venues for conferences. This kind of tent can be sited in virtually any location in the UK where there is enough space, it has plenty of room for all delegates and importantly – it offers something a bit different to people who have been to a lot of conferences.

Can everyone hear me at the back?

There can be a few issues with event tents for conferences if you don’t plan the space properly. With a large number of delegates and one speaker at the front, it can be difficult to properly engage everyone, especially those sitting at the back. It can be virtually impossible to get a discussion or a debate going with so many people all in one place, so you’re going to do something different with the space.

Another potential problem involves trying to create a little variety with your event. If you want other speakers/sessions/meetings to take place at the same time as the main speaker, you might find that these are dominated and interrupted by the main event, which takes place in the bigger or central part of the venue.

The solution? Create zones

One of the main benefits of SaddleSpans for conferences, apart from the space and the fact that they can be located anywhere, is that they can be configured and reconfigured to suit your needs. These tents are modular, so they can be added to and redesigned in the best way for your conference. This makes creating zones far easier, as you can site different sessions and events in completely different parts of the tent. For example, if you hire a TriSpan tent, you can use each of the three sections for different things, with perhaps the showcase event in the very centre.

You can create:

• A conference area, a breakout space and a refreshment room
• A seminar, a keynote speech by a guest speaker and a networking space
• A multi-industry event, where each of the three sections is dedicated to a different but related industry
• Video conference, teleconference and face-to-face conference spaces
• One central, 360 degree focal point, with seating in each of the three sections of the TriSpan facing the central stage

The options for multi-zone conferences are practically limitless. However, it’s up to you to clearly define and manage each zone. Here are a few tips:

• Clearly mark and define each zone – delegates need to understand how the space works to get the most from the event
• Link zones together – while defining each zone, remember that each is part of the same conference, so it needs some connection with the other zones and the central point
• Leave space for breakout and refreshment areas, as well as welcome and reception facilities – it can’t be all business, all the time, after all
• Don’t forget about networking! This is one of the main reasons many delegates will be attending the conference, so give over a generously sized area and make every effort to make networking easier.

← Back to Amazing News

Wired for sound – preparing your Saddlespan tent for audio

Tuesday 17 June 2014 by Amazing News Editor

Saddlespan tents are ideal for events where sound is a major factor, whether it’s live music, PA systems or other audio. The unique saddle shape of the design, curved in all the right places, means that they can provide exceptional acoustic quality.

However, to turn an empty event tent into an amazing music venue, you need to do a little preparation.

Live music

Saddlespan stage covers are perfect for gigs and festivals, and musicians are always impressed by the sound quality these tents can offer. To set up a stage cover ready for amazing sound, you’re going to need a professional lighting and sound team. They will have the expertise and experience, as well as the equipment, to give you a professional setup. It’s a good idea to call in your sound team at the same time as hiring your event tent, as you don’t want to end up with the venue without the sound, or vice versa.

Bars and DJ booths

If you’re creating a bar with your tent, you’ll find that you have plenty of space for a DJ booth. Make sure you plan out the space properly though, leaving enough room for all the equipment you’ll need to fit in – whilst still ensuring the space looks the way you want it to. Remember that you’ll need to properly cover or hide your wires and cables, as they can be a health and safety hazard as well as making the space look cluttered and unprofessional.

PA systems

Just like with stage covers, the framework of Saddlespan tents is setup for sound and lighting equipment. You can easily fit in all the PA speakers and equipment you need, and much of it can be attached at ground level so that there’s no need for dangerous installations at height.

Microphones and speeches

Event tents are often hired for weddings and other personal special occasions. If you’ve got such an event coming up, you’re going to need microphones for your speeches. This is easily achieved, especially if you hire the right equipment (tip: cordless microphones are a good idea, to save wires trailing all over your venue). However, if you’ve got a very large tent for your wedding, birthday or anniversary party – you’ll need to make sure your sound levels are carefully judged so that all your guests can hear everything.

Top tips for getting your event tent ready for sound:

• Make health and safety a priority – just like with lighting, you need to follow all regulations and carry out risk assessments when it comes to using electrical equipment for sound
• If in doubt, use a professional sound engineer – or at least consult one!
• Cover your wires – don’t leave it to the last minute or you could end up with potentially dangerous loose wires.
• Have a backup plan – what will you do if the power goes out, or a vital cable goes missing? Make sure you have a ‘plan B’ just in case the worse should happen.

← Back to Amazing News

7 amazing fundraising events you can hold in a tent

Tuesday 10 June 2014 by Amazing News Editor

 

When some people think of fundraisers, they think of musty old village halls and rubbish raffle prizes. A creatively-minded fundraiser knows that it really doesn’t have to be that way – that these events can be fun and special as well as helping a good cause.

It’s becoming really popular to hold fundraisers in event tents – mainly because they are so versatile that they can be used for pretty much anything. Here are a few examples of fundraisers you can hold in a marquee or tent:

1. A gig or music festival
SaddleSpan tents are perfect for gigs and festivals, as they are the perfect shape to provide amazing acoustics. Hire one of these stage covers and all you really need is some open space and some fantastic artists and you’ll have an amazing gig or festival.

2. A film festival
Large event tents are perfect for film screenings, as they are large enough for a full size screen as well as sound equipment and plenty of seating. You should show foreign films, shorts, work by local film-makers or even films to raise awareness for your cause – it’s up to you.

3. A special breakfast or afternoon tea
For the price of a ticket, give your guests a special breakfast or afternoon tea and a little entertainment, along with a raffle or two, and you’ll give them a fantastic day out whilst also raising some money. If you go for a large tent as your venue, you could even have a dance floor on which your guests can learn a few steps and have a bit of a dance after their meal.

4. A craft market
Encouraging local artists to come and sell their work at your charity craft market is great for the local community as well as for your fundraising efforts. If you’re hiring a marquee or large tent, why not make your market the talk of the area – inviting as many stallholders as you can comfortably fit in your tent? You could even make it a regular occurrence.

5. A dance-a-thon
There just aren’t enough dance till you drop events around anymore – they’re so much fun! Sell tickets, fill your event tent to the rafters (fire regulations permitting, of course) and see how many can carry on dancing until the very end – just make sure you offer plenty of water and rest breaks.

6. Fashion show
Charity fashion shows are not only good for raising money for charity; they are also events that sartorially-minded people want to attend. If you market your event just right and choose your designers and models carefully, you may be able to get some industry movers and shakers lining the catwalks – some of whom just might splash out on some of the pieces. This could potentially make your event hugely profitable for your chosen charity.

7. A themed disco
If there’s two things guaranteed to get people through the doors of your fundraiser, it’s the chance to dance and dress up! People absolutely love fancy dress events, so you should be able to fill even a large marquee with guests. Choose a great theme that is quite easy for everyone to do – for example, a school disco, 70s night or Hollywood stars theme. Then, all you need is a DJ, a bar and a dance floor, and some prizes for the best dressed and the best dancers!

← Back to Amazing News

6 essential safety tips for party tents

Monday 02 June 2014 by Amazing News Editor

If you’re throwing the bash of the year, the best venue to hold it in has to be an event tent or marquee. You can choose the size and even the configuration of your party tent, then plan what you’ll put inside, from seating, a dance floor and bar to a VIP area or a stage for live music – it’s up to you. If it rains, everyone is under cover and the party can continue. If the sun shines, you can open things up and enjoy the beautiful weather. A party tent really does offer the best of both worlds.

Safety first, fun later

It is always important to remember that a fun party is a safe party. After all, you don’t want your event to be memorable for the wrong reasons, such as a fire or an accident. To stay safe and follow all health and safety rules, here are the 10 essential party tent safety tips you need:

1. Don’t bring BBQs indoors Any burning fuel brought indoors (and a mostly sealed tent does count as indoors) can emit carbon monoxide, which can be fatal. It is a colourless, odourless and tasteless gas, so it can be very dangerous. If you want to cook indoors, have a fire pit or anything similar in your event tent, consult a specialist to find out how you can get the right ventilation and safety precautions to make it safe.

2. Carry out a risk assessment Just because a tent is not a building, it doesn’t mean that a full and thorough risk assessment shouldn’t be carried out. Your tent is a venue with its own hazards and risks, and these need to be spotted and made safe before you invite people to your party.

3. Don’t overload electrical sockets If you have power for your marquee, make sure you don’t overload plug sockets and extension leads. This could cause a fire or a dangerous electrical problem, or a power outage that could spoil your party. If you need more power, do it the proper way and call in the experts.

4. Follow all fire safety precautions This means carry out a fire risk assessment (different to a standard health and safety risk assessment, ensuring you have an emergency escape route, fire extinguishers, smoke alarms and a plan for what to do if a fire should break out.

5. Avoid overfilling your tent Your event tent will have a maximum capacity, and a certain number of exits for this number. Don’t be tempted to go over this limit, as you’ll be breaching fire safety regulations and potentially putting your guests in danger.

6. Watch where you store your flammables Any flammable materials, such as gas canisters or alcohol, should be stored very carefully and away from sources of ignition. If possible, don’t store anything very flammable inside the tent. If you follow these 6 fairly common-sense tips, you can be sure that your party will be talked about for the right reasons.

← Back to Amazing News