ABSTRACT
In this chapter, we will explore the use of tents in special events, starting with why and how they are used today. We will then explain and illustrate the different types of modern tents used in events, including fabrics and accessories, followed by a review of setup considerations, then a look at where
In Chapter 1 of Special Event Production: The Process, we examined the underlying reasons why special events are held: political, religious, educational, social, and commercial. These, however, are not necessarily the same reasons why one would choose to use a tent for a special event in today’s world. In essence, a tent is an alternative venue, nothing more, nothing less, but one with very special characteristics that sometimes make it more attractive than a traditional venue such as a conference center, a hotel, or another permanent structure. According to John Schluetter, President of Karl’s Event Rental, a major supplier of event tenting in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Schluetter, 2004), a tent provides an interesting venue, it creates additional space, and it can be personalized in that it represents a blank artistic canvas. Because so many of today’s special event attendees have used traditional venues on a regular basis, they are looking to escape from hotels and convention centers in favor of a unique venue that takes advantage of the geography of the local area. Tents afford them the opportunity to do this, often enabling an event to take place in a locale where no buildings exist but that is an attractive setting in itself. Additionally, some destinations do not have facilities of sufficient size to accommodate larger groups and a tent may provide the only alternative for an event. In forming additional space, a tent can be placed closer to key activities that require support structures to enable them to take place at all. Examples are the large temporary tented corporate pavilions at air shows (e.g. Paris and Farnborough Air Shows) and automobile races.
