Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Ben Lawrence]

Just curious what some of you do for mounting lighting on tent poles. I have a local vendor that i rent from occasionally that has custom fabricated pole clamps but am wondering if there is a lighting supplier etc that sells a pre fabricatede mount / setup. Or is this not even recommended.

[Gus Housen]

Just curious what some of you do for mounting lighting on tent poles. I have a local vendor that i rent from occasionally that has custom fabricated pole clamps but am wondering if there is a lighting supplier etc that sells a pre fabricatede mount / setup. Or is this not even recommended.

Generally I dont do it unless its just a couple of light weight cans, be carefull you dont get the fixture to close.

[Bonnie Lackey]

Not saying I haven't done it but now with LED lights the heat isn't an issue.  Don't dimple the tent pipes and check with the tent vendor.  We used to use cardboard between the clamp parts and the pole so you don't dimple it.  Make sure you use a safety cable.  Bonnie

[Ben Lawrence]

Actually i was not talking about around the edges or anywhere near the fabric of the tent. I was referring to the center posts. They are usually like a 6" post or something.  I was wondering if there was a pre made rigging solution.

[Kevin Ballard]

Actually i was not talking about around the edges or anywhere near the fabric of the tent. I was referring to the center posts. They are usually like a 6" post or something.  I was wondering if there was a pre made rigging solution.

On the occasion we have that problem, we secure the folded tripod to the tent pole so that the tripod still holds the weight, but the tent pole provides the stability. Having a cloth dress to wrap the whole is a good idea (either your own or the tend companies to match).

[Ben Lawrence]

On the occasion we have that problem, we secure the folded tripod to the tent pole so that the tripod still holds the weight, but the tent pole provides the stability. Having a cloth dress to wrap the whole is a good idea (either your own or the tend companies to match).

Wow i am a little surprised that this is not made commercially. Something like this with cheeboroughs attached for a pipe to be inserted. Some events have to be very clean visually.

[Craig Leerman]

Actually i was not talking about around the edges or anywhere near the fabric of the tent. I was referring to the center posts. They are usually like a 6" post or something.  I was wondering if there was a pre made rigging solution.

There are a bunch of commercially made clamps for hanging stuff from a tent pole.

Future Light makes the "Pole Cat" that is made for tent and utility poles.

http://www.future-light.com/products/polecat.html

Great American Tent has a variety of clamps that could be adapted for rigging lights

http://www.tentwasher.com/products/olympia/clamps.html

Eureka make a cool scissor clamp for tent poles

http://store.eurekapartytents.com/products/151316

Starlight has a cheesy looking clamp that takes a few tree arms.

http://www.starlight.com/lghtstnd.html

JR Steelwork makes some great stuff including the "Side Arm" clamp for tent poles.

http://jrsteelworks.com/products.html

Otis makes a multi bracket that could be useful

http://www.otisdm.com/products/product-1/

JB Mabb has the "Pole Hugger" clamp

http://www.jbmabb.com/JBMabb_Theatrical_Lighting.html

This should get you started

Craig

[Ray Cerwinski]

I have tent pole brackets that were manufactured by a local event company that has since gone out of business. You might be able to show these pictures around to your local tent companies to see if they know anybody manufacturing something similar. The first is really for movers, being more elongated on one side with two parallel "blades", while the other is more conventional fixture oriented with 4 mounting arms in a star pattern.

[Laura Jacobs]

Just curious what some of you do for mounting lighting on tent poles. I have a local vendor that i rent from occasionally that has custom fabricated pole clamps but am wondering if there is a lighting supplier etc that sells a pre fabricatede mount / setup. Or is this not even recommended.

Ok, I'm so glad I found this thread because I'm putting together some last minute details for my daughters late November wedding and these are some of the final things I'm trying to figure out. I need a ten first of all, but secondly I need spotlights for the tent poles. We aren't renting out a lighting guy and out DJ doesn't have that service so I think we are on our own. I got some good information from you about the lights but does anyone know what kind of tent that American Pavillion has that would be able to hold the spotlights on the poles? I just don't know if I would need to look into a certain kind of tent for that. Anything would help, so I appreciate any responses!

[Mac Kerr]

Ok, I'm so glad I found this thread

Please go to your profile and change the "Name" field to your real full name as required by the posting rules clearly displayed in the header at the top of the section, and in the Site Rules and Suggestions in the Forum Announcements section, and on the registration page when you registered.

Mac

[Steve Hurt]

Ok, I'm so glad I found this thread because I'm putting together some last minute details for my daughters late November wedding and these are some of the final things I'm trying to figure out. I need a ten first of all, but secondly I need spotlights for the tent poles. We aren't renting out a lighting guy and out DJ doesn't have that service so I think we are on our own. I got some good information from you about the lights but does anyone know what kind of tent that American Pavillion has that would be able to hold the spotlights on the poles? I just don't know if I would need to look into a certain kind of tent for that. Anything would help, so I appreciate any responses!

Sounds like you want a standard "pole" tent with poles in the middle of it.
From a quick look at that company's site, it appears that they offer pole tents and clear span tents (clear span = no inside poles) 
Figure out what tent you want to use, and then find out from the tent company what size the poles are.
Then you can figure out how to attach lights.

That said, it's going to be a lot less work and hassle if you pay someone to do it for you.  Do you really want to: Buy something you'll never use again (the light hangers and lights)?  Be at the tent the day before the wedding on a ladder hanging lights?  (you'll probably be needed to handle some other last second wedding crisis at the same moment that you're on the ladder)    Be at the tent with that ladder to remove the lights before they come after the tent.   etc.

Hire it out and enjoy the wedding!

[Thomas Bishop]

Also, what happens when the light falls on someone?  Since you don't do this every day you 1. will not have a good grasp on what needs to be done and 2. probably do not have liability insurance.  If this is on your property home owners may or may not cover it, or you may need a separate rider.  Also, what's the tent company say about this scenario?  They may not be too keen on the idea.  Or they may have exactly what you're looking for and can do it for minimal cost.  I agree with Steve: Hire professionals to do what they do.  Then you can sit back and enjoy your daughter's special day.

[Frank Jenestreet]

There are a bunch of commercially made clamps for hanging stuff from a tent pole.

Future Light makes the "Pole Cat" that is made for tent and utility poles.

http://www.future-light.com/products/polecat.html

Great American Tent has a variety of clamps that could be adapted for rigging lights

http://www.tentwasher.com/products/olympia/clamps.html




Thanks for the mention, Craig. The multi brackets can fit most sizes of tent poles. We also make a clamp for clear span structures.

Eureka make a cool scissor clamp for tent poles

http://store.eurekapartytents.com/products/151316

Starlight has a cheesy looking clamp that takes a few tree arms.

http://www.starlight.com/lghtstnd.html

JR Steelwork makes some great stuff including the "Side Arm" clamp for tent poles.

http://jrsteelworks.com/products.html

  Thanks for the reference, Craig.  Here are some pictures of the multi bracket and clear span clamp.

Otis makes a multi bracket that could be useful

http://www.otisdm.com/products/product-1/

JB Mabb has the "Pole Hugger" clamp

http://www.jbmabb.com/JBMabb_Theatrical_Lighting.html

This should get you started

Craig

[Thomas Bishop]

Hey, Frank, and welcome to PSW!  I know the expression is "a picture is worth a thousand words," but a few words to go along with these pictures would be great.  The first picture looks cool, but I'm having trouble visualizing how the lights attach.  The second picture shows individual pars, but something that accepts cheeseboros and/or pipe for 4-bars would make more sense for me.  The third picture just looks like a chunk of aluminum without any reference point.  Please, go on...

[Frank Jenestreet]

Hey, Frank, and welcome to PSW!  I know the expression is "a picture is worth a thousand words," but a few words to go along with these pictures would be great.  The first picture looks cool, but I'm having trouble visualizing how the lights attach.  The second picture shows individual pars, but something that accepts cheeseboros and/or pipe for 4-bars would make more sense for me.  The third picture just looks like a chunk of aluminum without any reference point.  Please, go on...

Sorry Tom!  Thought I had responded to this long ago ... let's see if I get it right this time!
The first pic is a multi bracket...  You can see that there are t-slots on the sides.  We manufacture and sell the t-nuts that fit in these slots, and you just attach a t-nut to your gear with bolts, then slide the nut into the slot.   The second picture is a multi bracket attached to a tent pole with t-nut equipped lights attached to the bracket.
  The third picture is a structure clamp, designed to fit the beams that support structure style clearspan tents.   In this pic, the clamp is attached to a section of the tent beam. Lighting equipment can be attached to the face of the bracket with bolts, or along the side by using the t-nuts, which for this application are equipped with a stop bolt to keep the t-nut secure in the slot.
  The idea is for the lighting or tent vendor to be able to reduce installation time by having their gear set up with the t-nuts in advance... multi brackets are rated for 150lb load, and structure brackets will hold up to 400lbs. We also make attachments for these brackets, such as bar holders, truss hangers, chandeliers that surround a tent pole, etc.  More pictures are posted ...

[ProSoundWeb Community]