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Post by candyenchanted on Jan 19, 2015 22:14:21 GMT -5
I have sort of an interesting problem/idea. After reading several threads here and seeing tons of cool campsites, creations, and things some of you built, I was hoping for some creative input.
Today I was gifted a very large circus tent. It's just a tent top, and it has no poles. I've yet to spread it out to see just exactly what I'm working with because I don't have the space here, and I just got it a few hours ago. But from what I understand it measures about 30x30.
So... I want to use it this year at roo for some shade. I know it's very big, but I'll be covering a few campsites when I meet up with friends. I mean, I have a circus tent- I have to use it!!!! But I don't know where to buy poles, or exactly how to construct them. And the thing is pretty heavy duty, light weight poles aren't going to cut it. Does anyone have any advice?
EDIT: I won't be invading anyone else's territory with said tent. My plan is to cover only the crew I'm going with, which will be for anywhere from 3 to 6 cars. To cover everyone, we need a big tent. And I'm up for anything with this. I don't even have to use the whole thing. I could cut and re-sew to make it smaller, or find a way to let a side hang down.
Do you have enough people to do Groop camping? I'm not sure what minimum number of people is, but you'd have enough space for the circus tent, and it'd be real easy to find (as well as for the people who camp near you). I'm not good with spatial visualization, but I think this is an awesome idea as long as it's not invading anyone's space. You could probably find poles or something to hold it up.
Post by candyenchanted on Jan 19, 2015 22:56:58 GMT -5
I don't think we have quite enough people for groop. I'm guessing we have around 15 people this year, give or take. But I can't be sure just yet. people are still deciding, and some may be camping in access. So groop is out.
I think I can find some poles, I'm just not sure where to look. I know a lot of people on here have created their own structures- I'm hoping someone might shout out some ideas for me.
Am I the only person that would be absolutely thrilled if my neighbor brought a circus tent?
Sure, until the random DIY circus tent collapses to a gust of wind and a pole goes through your tent or your car window. From the sound of what the OP is describing, it will take much more then flimsy collapsable poles to keep it up.
I'm not saying this is what will happen with her, but I had an industrial tent from a neighbor at Coachella catch a gust of wind and completely destroy 3 camps including mine, and end up upside down on top of my rental car, scratching it all to hell.
Post by governmint on Jan 20, 2015 11:34:34 GMT -5
Gotta say I'm with Philly here. I had a similar experience to his at Counterpoint in Atlanta a few years back. Also, I feel like if you can't get Groop camping you will be cramped for space. Even if you could (luckily) get three campsites all lined up next to one another you would have an approx 30x20 campsite. While the circus tent sounds really awesome (and on brand for Roo). I think you may be getting carried away in this instance.
That being said, all of this is coming from someone who values simplicity above all else when it comes to festival camping. IMO Amenities are nice, but are often more of a pain than they are worth.
I say research the cost of getting poles first. Then talk to your crew to see what their thoughts are. If you put it up over top of your vehicles as well as your shared space, it could work. Make sure that you have that sucker tied down, though. It sounds like it'd be awesome, as long as it's secured so as not to cause any damage. It also sounds like a lot of work. But I'm lazy and sleep in my car.
Post by trimalchio on Jan 20, 2015 13:35:29 GMT -5
I hate to discourage anyone from trying something new or creative, especially at Bonnaroo. While this sounds cool IN THEORY, in practice I think it's 99% certain to not go the way you are hoping. I can see it being a huge frustrating hassle for you and everyone involved that, even if it actually gets set up, will almost certainly not be worth the effort. That's not even considering the risk of real harm it could cause to your neighbors or their property. Depending on how high it goes it may even be forbidden by the Bonnaroo staff who could consider it a hazard. I would strongly recommend against this.
Who makes guacamole happen!?!? Does a tabloid like the University of Oklahoma student paper make guacamole happen or do ME AND YOU make it exist? Just cause they write about it doesn't make guacamole exist - ME AND YOU MAKE IT EXIST!
Post by candyenchanted on Jan 20, 2015 14:02:06 GMT -5
Wow. I really didn't foresee the idea being met with so much negativity. I guess I can see your point though, and I definitely won't bring it if it turns out to be too much work, or ends up being at all unstable.
Post by candyenchanted on Jan 20, 2015 14:10:26 GMT -5
Let me try this approach- I have 6 months to figure out if this thing will work or not. I think it's worth a shot. If I can get it to work, it could be really cool. If I can't, then I scrap the idea and take a few ez-ups. No biggie. I was just looking for some idea sharing.
Let me try this approach- I have 6 months to figure out if this thing will work or not. I think it's worth a shot. If I can get it to work, it could be really cool. If I can't, then I scrap the idea and take a few ez-ups. No biggie. I was just looking for some idea sharing.
I think that's definitely the way to go. If you're able to figure out the pole/tie down situation, it could be a really cool thing. Like you said, you have 6 months to get it right. Good luck, would love to walk by and see a circus tent!
Wow. I really didn't foresee the idea being met with so much negativity. I guess I can see your point though, and I definitely won't bring it if it turns out to be too much work, or ends up being at all unstable.
It's not a bunch of negativity. It's experienced campers giving their insight on it being a hazard, an untried idea, and suggestions on alternative opportunities for you to try and use your circus tent. You should know that when you ask for people's thoughts in here, you're going to receive the most honest responses. And for that you should be thankful that they're looking out for you and your fellow campers.
Wow. I really didn't foresee the idea being met with so much negativity. I guess I can see your point though, and I definitely won't bring it if it turns out to be too much work, or ends up being at all unstable.
It's not a bunch of negativity. It's experienced campers giving their insight on it being a hazard, an untried idea, and suggestions on alternative opportunities for you to try and use your circus tent. You should know that when you ask for people's thoughts in here, you're going to receive the most honest responses. And for that you should be thankful that they're looking out for you and your fellow campers.
In her defense, mine was a tad negative without any helpful advice.
Post by trimalchio on Jan 20, 2015 14:35:58 GMT -5
I wasn't trying to be negative, just helpful. It's a cost benefit analysis. I just think that in best case scenario you are only getting minimal benefit that could have been duplicated by much easier, tried and true methods - ez ups and tarps. And in a worst case scenario it's awful (at least in my imagination of this unfolding.)
When you set it up, just imagine trying to set it up in the middle of a bunch of cars and other campers who are in a frenzy to set up their tent. Then also consider that your group may not even be lined up under optimum conditions. I guess 3 x 2 would be the best case scenario for six cars, but there is no guarantee that will happen. It could be 1 2 2 1 or something along those lines. You just don't know.
If I see a circus tent death star going up near me on Wednesday night, I'll be sure to come over and introduce myself.
Who makes guacamole happen!?!? Does a tabloid like the University of Oklahoma student paper make guacamole happen or do ME AND YOU make it exist? Just cause they write about it doesn't make guacamole exist - ME AND YOU MAKE IT EXIST!
Park 3 cars next to each other, drape it over and see what it looks like. if it's 30x30 like you said that's about 3 campsites wide (they're supposed to be 10 ft). Then figure out if you can find and secure the right poles to make it stable. If not just don't bring it. The wind can get pretty crazy and as a few people mentioned, it could cause horrible damage to nearby campsites if it gets blown away.
Maybe consider visiting a local tent rental place and talking to them about renting just the poles (or where you could buy some) and how to best approach the situation. I'll tell you that large tents like that need to be anchored pretty far out so that will be a factor as well.
Also - someone had mentioned the height of it. You may want to just shoot a message off to Bonnaroo peeps to see if this is something they'd allow or if they'd end up asking you to take it down. It would really suck for you to spend 6 months figuring out how to make it work to have someone come up to you as you're setting up and say you can't have it. You know?
Also - someone had mentioned the height of it. You may want to just shoot a message off to Bonnaroo peeps to see if this is something they'd allow or if they'd end up asking you to take it down. It would really suck for you to spend 6 months figuring out how to make it work to have someone come up to you as you're setting up and say you can't have it. You know?
It's just the top, there are no walls. So theoretically, I should be able to make it as tall or short as I like. But I'll make sure to check. Thanks for the suggestion. You're right- that would suck.
Post by downonthefarm on Jan 22, 2015 18:10:19 GMT -5
As stated elsewhere, I doubt bonnaroo would allow this. You may get your poles set up and do lots of work only to have them tell you to take it down.
If they do allow it, you may want to plan this for next year's (2016) roo. This type of tent is typically erected by professionals. Get this down to a science, find out how it reacts to wind and rain, leave it up for several days. There is more to this than setting it up. You will want professional grade stuff. Poles, guy wires, stakes, it will likely cost a good amount of money even to rent. This doesn't sound like something you can rig up on the cheap.
I wouldn't want the responsibility that would come with this. I would want one or two people around 24/7 in case there are complications.
Wow. I really didn't foresee the idea being met with so much negativity. I guess I can see your point though, and I definitely won't bring it if it turns out to be too much work, or ends up being at all unstable.
Screw the negativity, just do it. And document it.
Of course, figure out how to do it beforehand, making sure it will fit in whatever space you'll have and won't cause Bonnaroo to be cancelled.
Don't underestimete the power of rebar driven into the ground, 2x4's, and guy wires. I've seen circus tents before, and been under them without them collapsing, so I'm sure it could work. Without knowing your budget and seeing what you have to work with I don't have a solution, even being an amateur civil engineer (that's a joke - civil engineers are all amateurs, according to other engineers), but I'd lend a hand with the setup just to see something cool. And a circus tent for shade at Bonnaroo would most certainly be cool.
Or you could just use tents and E-Z Up-style canopies. Less guess work, less cool.
You also need to consider your guy lines and rain displacement.
Guy lines will go from your tent poles (structure) to the ground to secure it in place. They are essential for withstanding wind gusts. Given the size of the tent, it seems that your guys lines would be running thru other neighboring camp sites.
The structure you are speaking of will displace large amounts of rain water onto neighboring campsites. It doesn't always rain, but if it did, your structure could dump water into neighboring campsites.
I've seen large structures at festies before, so it's not out of the question. It needs to be well thought out and planned. If you are not proactive with it, your plan will likely fail. Aka build it before you come.
what kind of asshat brings a tent that's way too big for the amount of people it's going to shelter? Next thing you know you'll give it an obnoxious nickname that describes just how unnecessarily huge it is like "MegaTent" or "bacon's penis"
Post by culloweird on Jan 23, 2015 17:28:43 GMT -5
I would just suggest to just not bring it. It sounds like you'll be constructing a frame for it. Remember- once you get parked, nobody wants to deal with crap like that... you just get excited to be there and work furiously to get set up. If you have to use 2x4's and rebar to keep it up, you are going to be driving in with an INSANE amount of materials; will you still have room in your car for a cooler? I mean, just think about how much room that tent fabric takes up on its own (I'm imagining a thick 30'x30' tarp, which I own, which takes up the space of a medium sized cooler). Also, when I hear the term "circus tent" I imagine a large "big top" style tent with walls. While walls are good for rain, an enclosed structure will be death in the heat. Lastly, if it takes up a 30' by 30' area, that means you have to have 6 parking spots involved, in a 3 spot wide by 2 row deep configuration. Unless you get extremely lucky with you entrance timing, or have neighbors that are cool enough to keep moving around, I can almost guarantee that everyone won't be parked where you need.
On a side note- If you do end up doing this, for the love of God don't put it out in the fire lane. First off, sometimes people really do need to drive through. Second- people who work there will force you to take this monstrous structure down in a heartbeat if you go one inch into this lane... it would suck to put in all that work to have to take it right back down. Just use some ez-ups with tarps tying them together... really is the best way to go.
Isn't a circus tent made out of pretty heavy vinyl? I feel like wooden poles would need to be put into the ground in order for this to happen. Good luck with that while everybody around you is snatch and grab to the space.
