Ok I now have to buy a new tent, 9 hr. gig for festival today, which was shut down early due to lightening, rain etc. unfortunaely, I lost my "First Up" tent, it was several years old, I had it tied down, not sure if it was the crowd and well meaning people that tried to knock the water off but one side caved in and the metal broke, not sure of the damage yet to all my supplies I was so wet, tired and sore I just loaded up and I haven't yet check the damage. So here's my question to you all, what tent do you use and which ones do you recommend?

I recently got the Quest 10x10 Dome from Dicks. I have only used it one time and it seemed to be OK. I considered the professional/vendor tent, but the package was 18 inches longer and I was afraid it would be harder to transport. I go to most gigs in my smart car but suspect that any festival that needs a tent will also need table, chair and other stuff which will require my Trailblazer.

Wind seems to be the major force, with the first up tents they are quick set, pull out at four point to open and close quick set no removal parts, but the way it accordians make the side more weaker to the wind. Dad is going to take the broken rod out put a metal sleeve on and replace rivit with bolt, and re enforce the bent rod so hopefully I won't need to get a new one, right away.

Buy another First up. You now have repair parts to keep them repaired. We have a couple in the extended family that we use for parts.

Buy 4 of those spiral dog tie stakes. Put them a foot or so from each corner of the test and then use ratcheting tie straps from the top of each corner of the tent to the tie stakes. This is how I anchor my tent and it fairs very well. MAKE SURE you lower it down and tighten the ratchet straps when you arent using it and it will survive the wind much better. I learned that lesson the first fair I did with my old one because it ended up on the other end of the fair grounds in a tangled mess because I didn't lower it down I left it full extended.

What do you use to anchor when you're on concrete? I've followed what I saw others do, I weight down 4 large buckets and tie down to those. Often they do the fair/festivals on parking lots or in the street itself no grass to go down in, I was using the large tent stakes where there was ground along with my trusty hammer [ always take hammer, pliers and a scewdriver and rolls of tape.

Oh and btw I changed my set up for when I'm doing this alone and it worked out real well, esp. to keep the kids from crowding to close. I place my table all the way to the back then put pink caution tape across it so no one could get behind my table to my stuff, I'm on the other side then I drew a chalk line with do not cross and a mark place for line starts here.... I only had to remind people to step back as if I get bumped it will mess up the art work, no problems with it. [Until the down pour]

I usually am on grass and dont have to worry about concrete. I would try asking to be on grass if there is any, lot easier on the feet than concrete. If I had to go on cement I'd get some small buckets and 4 more tie stakes and stand the stakes up in the bucket and then fill the bucket with cement. Now I have my stakes weighted down.

sound good but not sure I could lift the buckets, right now I weight them down with water. 5 gallon buckets

I have a tent, EZEE up, I think. Anyway, last year a BIG gust of wind came up and snapped the metal on the frame. I would like to get it repaired..is it worth it or does anyone have any suggestions?:(

I have lost 2 of them now..last weekend a inflatable water slide that wasnt anchored yet fell on one and we lost the other in a storm...good thing no kids were on it yet. We just ordered a bright pink one from ebay..should be here monday and it has walls that can each be removed separately and it was less then a 100 bux with free shipping.

I'll have to check that out Squiggles!! Colored tents are hard to come by. Cool.8-)

my dad's 80 but still very creative and handy when it comes to fixing things. He took the frame apart where it had broken and inserted a nylon bar and reattached. My feet, [the plastic part on the bottom of the legs] had been broken off, [my brother works for a company that is into machine manfactoring]. My brother made new stainless still ones and My dad attached them so now the frame is good as new and for me the repair was free.... Very luckly and thankful for my family.

tent up date. the repair worked great but metal fatique and it still want to cave in on the weakend side, so I guess it's a new tent for me. First time I've had to be outside since last months festival.