Arts and Crafts Canopies

Canopies

Outdoor shows have their own unique requirements. Generally speaking you are expected to provide your own canopy or in some cases the promoters provide large tents or other shelter. Canopies and coverings for outdoor shows range from nothing at all to deluxe outfits costing many thousands of dollars. Look around at a show to see what people are using and what seems to be working best.

A popular canopy, especially for beginners is the pop up or ez-up style. This style has the benefit of quick set up and break down and they can be had for a few hundred dollars or less if you find one used. One drawback on older versions is the sagging top syndrome. The tops would sag a bit forming a pocket and when it rained water would collect in the pocket which would then sag even more gathering more water and if left unchecked the canopy would fill up with 100s of gallons of water. If you are in the booth you can spill the water from inside with a pole or stick but if the booth is left unattended, say overnight, the collecting water can become a big problem.

One year we were set up for outdoor show on a Mothers day weekend. It rained all Friday night after setup and when we arrived at the show grounds Saturday morning, there were numerous canopies straining under the weight of the collected water. Many people were forced to abandon the canopies and some frames were bent and ruined.

When we used a popup type we would jam hula hoops in the top framework, eliminating the sag. This funny looking fix worked well to keep the water from collecting but it looked goofy. However it may be safe to say the manufacturers have solved the problem, judging by the fact that we don't see as many hula hoops in the pop-ups these days.

By the way it is considered very bad etiquette to spill water, or anything else from your canopy onto your neighbor's area.

Another problem in the past with the pop ups is light weight frames that can be bent in heavy winds. It it really important to ...
Keep it tied down. No matter which type of shelter you pick, chances are eventually you will be confronted with the fact that strong winds will turn canopies into into kites. And this is not funny. We have seen the pop up style canopies flying through the air at heights of 20 or more feet. At one show the wind came up and very few of the canopies were securely attached to the ground. A woman suffered a very severe head wound when she was struck by a flying canopy.

However we had the exact same canopy and ours was quite secure because we had screwed it into the blacktop. This really works and does not hurt the pavement. We learned this technique one windy weekend some years ago in Bennington Vermont, when we were set up in the street on blacktop. While we were wracking our brains trying to think of how to keep the canopy on the ground we noticed our neighbor securing each leg of his setup with deck screws. He showed us how with a heavy deck screw, a fender washes and a power driver, we could secure our canopy legs to blacktop pavement. The square “Roberson drive” or star drive screws work best but we have used Philips head as well. A fender washer is just a washer with a smaller hole in the center so the screw head can not pull out.

Very Important If you break a screw make sure you break it off flush with the pavement using a hammer. Imagine how it would feel to step on a protruding screw in your bare feet!

To this day we carry screws and washers for this and other on the fly repairs. That said, It doesn't hurt to have some "dummy weights" or covers to hide the screws and washers. Chances are no one will know, if you are crafty, but be sure that if the promoters see you driving screws into the road or parking lot they may not be pleased. We wait until we have the side curtains on and then do our dirty work from inside the tent.

The canopy we are presently using came with large bags designed to be filled with sand and hung from the top of each leg. We really have enough weight with our setup and stock with out carrying an extra 400 lbs of sand with us.

Concrete blocks can be used but they are heavy. Other options are weigh lifting weights or sections of 6" plastic sewer pipe filled with concrete. All heavy to carry and they take up space. Another approach we have seen for pavement is plastic water jugs. Fill 'em up and empty them out when you are done. The big draw back is they are not so heavy and so it would probably take a lot of them to provide real security.

Nothing beats being securely attached to the earth! On grass or dirt tent stakes do the trick. There are many types and styles to choose from. We carry a set of the long thin nail type that came with our old ez-up and an extra 4 very large nails to supplement them. We also have a number of 12" long fiberglass tent pegs that hold really well. Just don't forget the hammer. The nail types are especially good in hard ground while the wider fiberglass models hold fast in loose or soft ground.

We have a 5 gallon bucket and filled with stakes of all kinds, hammer, 12" plastic zip ties, duct tape, strong nylon line, knife and stapler and various screws washers. We also include some really big spring clamps and bungee cords. Fitted with a top, the bucket makes a really good foot rest, step stool and extra seat for company.

*Tip.
Don't go buy a bucket. Go to the grocery store and ask them for a bucket. Many stores have bakeries where they make doughnuts. The frosting, filling and other delicious goo comes in 5 gallon buckets. In some high volume stores they throw them out every day. Just hose 'em out it up and you have a free pail.

It makes sense to get the side curtains to keep the weather out and for securing the setup overnight.

A step up from the pop-ups is the "craft hut" style. These setups consist of a strong tubular framework with a heavy, tight fitting vinyl cover. These are a bit harder to transport and set up but they are by far more durable. They are available with an optional "clear" window in the roof and air vents on the ends. The sides zip on and can be rolled up.

Probably the main reason you do not see as many of this type is the price. Expect to spend from $750.00 to $1500.00 and more depending on the make and options. Look for used ones that are in good shape. We found one on eBay for $200.00. It had only been used twice and has served us well for a number of years.

Another canopy option would be emt pipe, used for electrical work and corner fittings that can be purchased on the internet or at flea markets. The idea is to design a framework using the ridged pipe and cover it with tarps. Cords or "bungee balls" which are fasteners made from bungee cord and a ball as a locking device hold the whole affair in place. These setups are durable and relatively inexpensive and can be tailored to your specific needs.

Keep the canopy clean. It is rare that we do not need to set the canopy up when we get home to wash it off. If there is rain or even dew, dust and mud can stain the cover and that looks shoddy. A dirty canopy will wear out faster. A canopy put away wet can mildew.

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