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Author Topic: FOH Canopy / Tent KD??  (Read 8143 times)

Kevin Maxwell

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Re: FOH Canopy / Tent KD??
« Reply #30 on: June 16, 2018, 12:26:25 PM »

This is a partial cut and paste from something I wrote almost 2 years ago with additional updated information added just today.

The white top of the tent acts as a diffuser, it doesn’t cut the light by enough for me.

I have been using an M32 for outdoor shows and the trick I found to be able to see the indicators on it is I am using a dark blue tarp (blue on one side and gray on the other) that I tie up like a suspended ceiling in the tent, blue side down. It is a 10x10 foot tent and the tarp is 10x8 foot. It cuts down the light in the tent a lot. It is a very cheap tarp from Harbor freight. I have a backup for when this one tears. But it has lasted for 2 seasons now. I have a light intensity app on my phone and under the tent without the tarp in place I was reading about 1400foot candles with the tarp in place I was reading about 400foot candles. The tarp really helps.  There are a whole bunch of grommets around the edges and I have tie line attached to them. I start on one end and tie that side up and then I work my way back towards the back of the tent. I do this with the tent at a reasonable height so I can reach the frame easily. I then extend the legs to raise the tent to a reasonable level. Doing it this way isn’t pulling the frame in at all, it may droop a little bit in the middle but not more than a few inches. The tarp has acted as an additional rain barrier at least once, so I hesitate to put a hole in the middle to take up the slight droop. I also use a thin (tied on) side wall that helps to keep the direct sunlight off of the mixer as the sun is going down. I tie it up and lower it more and more as needed. But usually remove it part way into the show.

I would like to find a lid for this tent that is white on the outside and black on the inside but except for a little additional time to tie up the tarp and take it down at the end of the show it doesn’t seem to be worth the cost that I have seen for dark replacement lids. I was thinking of layering 2 lids on top of each other. A black one and then a white one to reflect the sunlight so it doesn’t get too hot under the tent. But I haven’t found what I am looking for at a reasonable price and attaching it so it doesn’t blow off is a concern for me.

At a lot of these shows the sun is down enough by the time the band takes a break (if they take one) so we will sometimes break the tent down at the break time, if the weather is looking good. So the people behind us can see the stage better. The promoter has been pushing the bands to play thru without a break and then wrap up earlier. So we didn’t have that break many times last season.

This tent is a little bit water resistant but we have had rains where it leaked thru but before that happens we have tarped the mixer. The biggest problem that I have seen is the top droops just enough that in a heavy rain a lot of water accumulates in the low spots and then starts dripping thru.

I have taken to removing the top when folding it up and the top seems to last longer that way. I used to just fold it up in the frame.   

I just did an outdoor Pops show last week that I also did last year. The venue has a FOH bunker cut into the side of the hill with a white cover over it. It looks like something off of a speedboat. I had a really hard time seeing the touch screen last year on the Yamaha CL5 so this year I brought along the tarp I use for the EZ-Up tent and put it over this white cover with the shiny gray side up. I tied it on the 4 corners and it reduced the intensity of the sunlight a lot. Just before show time the sun was lower in the sky and I removed the tarp because of the look of it and the wind was causing it to flap a bit. 

I would like to find a lid for this tent that is white on the outside and black on the inside but except for a little additional time to tie up the tarp and take it down at the end of the show it doesn’t seem to be worth the cost that I have seen for dark replacement lids. I was thinking of layering 2 lids on top of each other. A black one and then a white one to reflect the sunlight so it doesn’t get too hot under the tent.  I also use a side piece for when the sun is setting, in this case always to my left. That is just a thin white piece that came with one of our tents.     

I had one tent blow away and destroy itself even though it was staked down. I was working at one event in the south of France where the evening party tent (a BIG circus type) blew away into the Mediterranean never to be seen again. It was a big storm.
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Lyle Williams

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Re: FOH Canopy / Tent KD??
« Reply #31 on: June 16, 2018, 06:59:35 PM »

There is spray paint that sticks to vinyl.  Has anyone tried painting the inside of a white canopy black?  Does it show through to the outside?  Does it just look ok?
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Bob Faulkner

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Re: FOH Canopy / Tent KD??
« Reply #32 on: June 17, 2018, 09:35:16 AM »

This is a partial cut and paste from something I wrote almost 2 years ago with additional updated information added just today.

The white top of the tent acts as a diffuser, it doesn’t cut the light by enough for me.

I have been using an M32 for outdoor shows and the trick I found to be able to see the indicators on it is I am using a dark blue tarp (blue on one side and gray on the other) that I tie up like a suspended ceiling in the tent, blue side down. It is a 10x10 foot tent and the tarp is 10x8 foot. It cuts down the light in the tent a lot. It is a very cheap tarp from Harbor freight. I have a backup for when this one tears. But it has lasted for 2 seasons now. I have a light intensity app on my phone and under the tent without the tarp in place I was reading about 1400foot candles with the tarp in place I was reading about 400foot candles. The tarp really helps.  There are a whole bunch of grommets around the edges and I have tie line attached to them. I start on one end and tie that side up and then I work my way back towards the back of the tent. I do this with the tent at a reasonable height so I can reach the frame easily. I then extend the legs to raise the tent to a reasonable level. Doing it this way isn’t pulling the frame in at all, it may droop a little bit in the middle but not more than a few inches. The tarp has acted as an additional rain barrier at least once, so I hesitate to put a hole in the middle to take up the slight droop. I also use a thin (tied on) side wall that helps to keep the direct sunlight off of the mixer as the sun is going down. I tie it up and lower it more and more as needed. But usually remove it part way into the show.

I would like to find a lid for this tent that is white on the outside and black on the inside but except for a little additional time to tie up the tarp and take it down at the end of the show it doesn’t seem to be worth the cost that I have seen for dark replacement lids. I was thinking of layering 2 lids on top of each other. A black one and then a white one to reflect the sunlight so it doesn’t get too hot under the tent. But I haven’t found what I am looking for at a reasonable price and attaching it so it doesn’t blow off is a concern for me.

At a lot of these shows the sun is down enough by the time the band takes a break (if they take one) so we will sometimes break the tent down at the break time, if the weather is looking good. So the people behind us can see the stage better. The promoter has been pushing the bands to play thru without a break and then wrap up earlier. So we didn’t have that break many times last season.

This tent is a little bit water resistant but we have had rains where it leaked thru but before that happens we have tarped the mixer. The biggest problem that I have seen is the top droops just enough that in a heavy rain a lot of water accumulates in the low spots and then starts dripping thru.

I have taken to removing the top when folding it up and the top seems to last longer that way. I used to just fold it up in the frame.   

I just did an outdoor Pops show last week that I also did last year. The venue has a FOH bunker cut into the side of the hill with a white cover over it. It looks like something off of a speedboat. I had a really hard time seeing the touch screen last year on the Yamaha CL5 so this year I brought along the tarp I use for the EZ-Up tent and put it over this white cover with the shiny gray side up. I tied it on the 4 corners and it reduced the intensity of the sunlight a lot. Just before show time the sun was lower in the sky and I removed the tarp because of the look of it and the wind was causing it to flap a bit. 

I would like to find a lid for this tent that is white on the outside and black on the inside but except for a little additional time to tie up the tarp and take it down at the end of the show it doesn’t seem to be worth the cost that I have seen for dark replacement lids. I was thinking of layering 2 lids on top of each other. A black one and then a white one to reflect the sunlight so it doesn’t get too hot under the tent.  I also use a side piece for when the sun is setting, in this case always to my left. That is just a thin white piece that came with one of our tents.     

I had one tent blow away and destroy itself even though it was staked down. I was working at one event in the south of France where the evening party tent (a BIG circus type) blew away into the Mediterranean never to be seen again. It was a big storm.
Thanks.

I'm thinking this may be the way to manage it.  We've always used white... but it's been a struggle every time (no actual shade... it's always "bright" under the tent... can't see the console and outboard lights). 

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Bob Faulkner

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Re: FOH Canopy / Tent KD??
« Reply #33 on: June 17, 2018, 09:46:33 PM »

hmmm... well, thought I would check ABC Canopy out - BBB gives them an " F "

https://www.bbb.org/central-california-inland-empire/business-reviews/online-retailer/abc-canopy-in-ontario-ca-850027333/reviews-and-complaints

Anyone purchase something from ABC within the last 3 months?  The BBB complaints are all from late 2017. 

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Steve Ferreira

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Re: FOH Canopy / Tent KD??
« Reply #34 on: June 18, 2018, 09:46:03 AM »

The canopy I have is apparently water resistant, and not actually water-proof.  Where I'm located, it's common to get a huge downpour for about 1 minute... and then it moves on.  I noticed water seeping from all areas of the canopy, but could not find any holes.  After that, I always have tarps ready to deploy over the gear, even when under the tent.  I'm glad the XTF has been working for you... it's on my list.

I haven't had any issues with rain getting through my canopy. I also tarp off all equipment and lower the canopy on overnighters.
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Bob Faulkner

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Re: FOH Canopy / Tent KD??
« Reply #35 on: June 18, 2018, 01:53:51 PM »

Has anyone used Scotch Guard on their tents to help water-proof them? 

Looks like there is Scotch Guard available for tent/fabric for outdoor use.  If this stuff works, this will greatly open other doors for locating something that will work.

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Art Welter

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Re: FOH Canopy / Tent KD??
« Reply #36 on: June 18, 2018, 02:54:46 PM »

Has anyone used Scotch Guard on their tents to help water-proof them? 

Looks like there is Scotch Guard available for tent/fabric for outdoor use.  If this stuff works, this will greatly open other doors for locating something that will work.
I sprayed a large umbrella with a coat of standard Scotch Guard every season, kept it dry underneath. UV breaks it down eventually, so it won't last forever, but it's a quick fix when needed.
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Bob Faulkner

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Re: FOH Canopy / Tent KD??
« Reply #37 on: June 18, 2018, 09:57:43 PM »

I sprayed a large umbrella with a coat of standard Scotch Guard every season, kept it dry underneath. UV breaks it down eventually, so it won't last forever, but it's a quick fix when needed.
Perfect.  Thanks.
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Bob Leonard

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Re: FOH Canopy / Tent KD??
« Reply #38 on: June 19, 2018, 07:37:45 AM »

This may sound strange, but I was looking for an HD canopy the other day and my search brought me to gazebo's. It seems like high quality gazebos with screens, etc. are available at very good prices from all of the big box stores. Get as fancy as you want, and spend as little or as much as you want.
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BOSTON STRONG........
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Re: FOH Canopy / Tent KD??
« Reply #38 on: June 19, 2018, 07:37:45 AM »


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