Hello Jon:

Hey thanks for the info. I figured once I got into the routine of this business, I would work it out, but always like to hear from the pros who are out there pitching everyday, and encounter these things. Thanks again Jon for taking the time to answer this, I have enjoyed your other posts on magic Café, as they always have good info and tips in them.

See you down the road!

Turnpike Rod

Hello Jon:

Hey thanks for the info. I figured once I got into the routine of this business, I would work it out, but always like to hear from the pros who are out there pitching everyday, and encounter these things. Thanks again Jon for taking the time to answer this, I have enjoyed your other posts on magic Café, as they always have good info and tips in them.

See you down the road!

Turnpike Rod

Pro? Hey!! Thanx for the compliment. I'm about as UN-pro as anyone can be and still be on here. (You obviously haven't seen my DL, have you?) ;-) I've done VERY few shows with either Svengali or Zibit. But I just enjoy doing them. In my mind, there is NOTHING like having fun. (And not always in public!)

Maybe I'm just a latent actor. But if I can help, I will.

Good luck.

Jon

Here in Memphis, I had my Zibit at the Mid-South Fair (thanks Doug), I paid $1,000 plus $125 to plug my extention cord into the pole for electricity, then the night before opening, the "council" created a new tax which was $175. I forgot what it was for, but 3 guys with guns came to my booth to collect. All that for 10 days and MAYBE 300,000 people. For a fair gig, Memphis SUCKS! I made my nut plus about $1,300 for the 10 days. A lot of the vendors did not make theirs or just barely. In this area, I'm sticking with the Big One flea market.

Thanks again Jon!!!!!!!!! Your posts are always full of tips and personal expiences with the public. I send along some posts as the season goes on, and let you know how its going for me. Have a great season!

Rod

I have never done an overnight show, but if I did, I would remove the top and sides from the canopy frame. That reduces your chance of a blowdown if there is an overnight storm. If the site was secure, I'd leave the frame up, especially if it was pitched and staked. Otherwise, the frame would come down, too. I carry my merchandise in one or two large plastic crates, so it's really no big deal to move it in and out easily. Ditto on the pitch table, which is a folding affair.

As for security during the show, usually an adjacent vendor will keep an eye on your stuff while you use the rest rooms if you do the same for him/her. SETH

Hello Seth:

Great info on securing the joint during the day and overnight. I figure I will also just tear it down and reset the next day. Don Driver and you have both said how important it is to stake down the ez up, so I am getting ropes and stakes ready right now, and work that in as part of the set up. I will be watching your posts to see how your season is going. All the best!

Rod

Hi Rod, hope all is OK with you. As long as you are getting some stakes, get the long metal ones with the plastic hooks on top, along with a few spares. And get yourself a stake mallet and a stake puller, available from any sporting goods store, it will save you plenty of time and aggravation. In a pinch a regular claw hammer will do, but the other stuff is easier to use. BTW, while you're at the sporting goods store, get yourself a small roll-up piece of outdoor carpeting, about 3' by 2', they are sold as "doormats" for tents. It will help keep your feet dry on damp ground; it's also great for your feet if you're working a street fair and are set up on the concrete sidewalk or other hard surface.

I have done a few fleas so far, which helps pay the bills and get the rust out of the pitches, but nothing spectacular. However, I have an Earth Day festival coming up soon, with about 5,000 people expected to attend, and hopefully, many of them will be kids. All the exhibits had to be "environment-friendly," so I explained that Willie the Worm uses no batteries, is hand-powered and is biodegradable, ditto my Svengali decks (which are probably well represented in more than a few landfills!). That plus the show booker's fascination with the idea of a continuous free magic show for the kids, got me in. We'll see how it goes. SETH

Hi Seth:

Hey thanks for the great info! I was going over to get the rope and stakes this week, so this info was very timely! I can only imagine what the wind could do to an EZ UP, Many years ago in New York state, the huge Ringling Tent was up and ready for the days performances, there wasn't a cloud in the sky and no storms..OUT OF NO WHERE>>> a gust of wind came up and picked up that huge tent , and set it down in an open field right next to the lot. AMAZING!!! The carpet mat is a GREAT idea too., I never would have thought of that. Seth that was great how you worked out the Environmental friendly deal with the commitee, very creative and most importantly IT GOT YOU IN!!! It is still pretty cold up here in Michigan, and still snowing , even in the middle of March up here. So it will be a few more weeks until I can get out under the sun and warm weather, so gives me time to tweek the show. I still have to get my P.A. system and some lighting up and running. Good to hear from you anytime Seth, that Earth Day Festival sounds like a real winner!

Rod

BTW, you will need at least 11 stakes -- one for each tent leg, one for each tent corner, and three for your rear wall if you use it (one for the center and one for each end). So get a dozen or more stakes and you'll be all set.

If you want to add some flash, get a package of those multi-colored plastic pennant streamers (about $12 at any party store). Then cut off four lengths, each about 5 feet long. You can tie each one to the top of each tent corner and run it down the stake line, winding it around the line a few times to hold it on. Then tie the end of the streamer to the stake itself. I use metal shower curtain rings for the hookups, this makes it go much faster and easier. For even more flash, you can wind another line of the pennants around each of the front two tent legs as well. The pennants flutter in the breeze and add some color and movement to the tent. Hey, every little bit helps!

I also wanted to give credit where credit is due -- in Don's Svengali DVD, he specifically makes the point of staking your tent for safety, and also recommends breaking it down overnight, for the same reason. For those of us who weren't in the Boy Scouts, this is VERY good advice! SETH

One more thought --- if you are planning to plug into anyone else's electric line, get yourself an industrial-strength surge protector.

Not only does this enable you to plug all your stuff (PA, CD player, lights, fan, etc.) into one power strip and then run one cord to your AC source, but it also protects all of your valuable equipment, especially that PA, from possible funky electrical arrangements. I have learned from sad experience that many county fairs and other outdoor events aren't exactly wired in accordance with State building codes! SETH

The first flea market I took my zibit to (alone) was outside on a Saturday, 9-4. I didn't use the bathroom once! The next day, I wanted to be able to have a break if needed, so I brought a small case to put the zibit in. I would make a big deal of covering the glass case, and putting the zibit into the case behind the tabe, and then take it to the restroom with me. For anyone who cared to pay attention, it was clear that the zibit was rare and valuable enough to go through this trouble..

I thought of handcuffing it to my wrist, but that's no good once you get to the stall.