Balloon Chat
Uncategorized Boards => Off Topic.......... plus Hidden Talents => Topic started by: Stevie_Babe on July 13, 2008, 06:45:49 AM
Hi Guys & guyess's ;)
I am booked to do a job (fundraising) for a supermarket next Saturday. It's lasting 6hrs :roll: oh brother. The challenge is, I am going to be on there car park. I can't use my gazebo just in case any breeze/wind takes it. I was thinking of purchasing an umbrella/canopy with a steel base. But that is just extra expense.
What would you use? Is there someway of using my gazebo, it' a cheap one :roll:
Any input would be gratefully recieved.
Thanks
Steve
Hi Steve
A couple of years ago when I was racing at Manchester Velodrome we stayed in our caravan on site, this is on tarmac and so we couldn't peg down our awning. What we did was run some bars through the peg holes and put sand bags on the ends, it worked well very well in fact.
Sand bags are pretty cheap and so is a couple of bags of sand from a builders merchant. I would suggest a bag on each corner post and put a bag over a rod or wood brace put through the guy lines. If you can set up near a lamp post or similar tie on to that as well.
I hope this helps and best of luck with the day. Make sure you schedule in some breaks.
John
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GAZEBO-Marquee-Pa ... .m14.l1318 (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GAZEBO-Marquee-Pavillion-ANCHOR-WEIGHTS-FEET-SET-of-4_W0QQitemZ380045944256QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item380045944256&_trksid=p3286.m14.l1318)
These are a plastic barrel type item that can be wrapped round the legs of your gazebo, and filled with water or sand.
Depending on what you fill them them with they weigh 8 - 12 Kgs, and less then £25.00 for the set.
There is also a product availble that looks very similar to a weightlifters weight, and again clot over the foot. But they are considerably more expensive.
Hope this helps
Pete
I had an inspiration while out in my garage and it seems like the last post may have pipped me to it. If you have any weights for weight traing you may be able to use those, either slipped over or tied on :)
Thanks guys.
Brilliant ideas. Thats the beauty of this forum.
I had wondered about sand bags, but I never new, or even thought of going on Ebay, so once again thank you, can you tell I am very grateful? :)
You have put my mind at rest. No need for expensive aparatus. I've gone & ordered the items from ebay now, thanks for the heads up p_outen.
Steve
Hi Steve, only glad to help.
Once they arrive, would you be so kind as to let us know how you got on with them? Although i am aware the product exists its not something ive ever used. (Only ever used gazebos were i can guy rope them down)
Hope all goes well
Pete
and if youre on a tight budget, you could fill some plastic pots with quick setting post fix, cover the pole with a carrier bag (i rub the pole with vaseline also just for protection as the concrete is scratchy. place in the pot, holding it upright,using a spirit level, wait until set and remove the pipe. voila, heavy weights for your gazebo, balloon arch, column etc.
the pots could be decorative or be decorated.
just an idea :)
Yes thanks Mandy. I've ordered the Gazebo weights.
Yes certainly P_outen I will let you know how I got on with them...I'm excited & can't wait to recieve them :roll: oh brother, I need a life :)
Got an email told it got sent today.
Stevie_babe
You'll never guess what :!: . The charity event that I was booked to do today, was cancelled at the last moment :evil: :shock: :roll: .
I was looking forward to this. All the money I've spent out to be ready. :cry:
Never mind....eh :?: Onward & upward :lol: :lol: :lol:
What a pain - that i so unfair! Hopefully it won't be wasted money though and you'll use the weights in the future!
Quote from: "Stevie_Babe"You'll never guess what :!: . The charity event that I was booked to do today, was cancelled at the last moment :evil: :shock: :roll: .
I was looking forward to this. All the money I've spent out to be ready. :cry:
Never mind....eh :?: Onward & upward :lol: :lol: :lol:
Did you still get paid Stevie. My contract has a full cancelation fee in case of such events being canceled, because you might have turned work away for today.
I take a deposit just incase and if I have a big job where I have to get alot of stuff in I take a bigger deposit
Actually I haven't been taking deposits, or anything for charity events. :roll:
Maybe I will.....for the big companies etc :twisted: More money :o :lol:
Have you ever been axed because of that? Not hired?
Quote from: "Stevie_Babe"Have you ever been axed because of that? Not hired?
Never Stevie,
I started taking deposits about 5 years ago because in one month, December, I had seven birthday party cancelations because their kids were going to so many christmas parties.
At first I felt a bit uncomfortable asking but no-one ever queried it, and still, no-one has. I think most people expect to pay a deposit. Since then, I rarley get a cancelation, probably one or two a year if I'm unlucky, and thats out of 300+ bookings a year, so I think it's certainly worth while thinking about it if you don't already take a deposit.
I nearly always take a deposit, there are a few regular bookers where I don't bother - my booking form and letter say that the deposit is non-refundable.
If the booking is canceled at less than two weeks notice the full fee is payable unless I can re-sell the date. So far I've never had to do the full fee bit - but a few deposits have been forfeited without query - and the client has re-booked later
I wish I'd noticed this post earlier. Now, about the gazebo - for anyone else who reads this thread - there's also a very cheap solution - read "free". Fill plastic juice bottles - the ones with handles - with water, and attach to the corners of the gazebo.
I've also thoughtfully taken notice of Graeme's advice re non-refundable deposits in December. We have our summer then, and summer holiday bookings, so it's doubly hectic.
Cheers,
Kath 8-)
Hi everyone. Sorry I haven't been on the forum for a little while (for any amount of time, only little looks) Billy you mention about a contract, did you go to a solicitors to do this?
I suppose that several clients have asked about deposits, I've said that they can pay me on the day. Mmmm maybe I should be doing the deposit thing now.
Do you also take a deposit for a charity function as well?
I always ask for a deposit on all private bookings - Agents dont pay deposits, and with corporates it depends on what and when - it stops them finding someone else cheaper - and makes the booking legally binding as a token has been exchanged
Pam
Thanks Pam. I didn't see it that way. But I can see the value of asking for a deposit.
Stevie Babe
Personally I have stopped taking deposits (too much hassle banking cheques) but will always insist on a booking form being completed and signed by the client before I will commit to anything.
My booking form is really set up for face painting but can (and will shortly) be tweaked for twisting. It has in there about cancellation fees, all the booking details (inc billing address, clients phone numbers and number of kids expected), about breaks and various other things. I am happy to email a copy to anyone who wants a look but like I say it is a face painting agreement rather than a twisting one.
However, in this time of the credit crunch I have started asking smaller companies for payment in advance or on the day in cash. I will take cheques off agents or larger organisations (but always provide them with my BACS details) however, I now WILL NOT take personal cheques.
Scary thing is I have just heard on a different forum that Bennigans in the USA has just gone under leaving some entertainers thousands out of pocket and of a theatre company over Kent way (I think) that has also gone belly up so even more reason to insist on cash on the day with all businesses cos I don't want to end up right at the end of a huge list of creditors :)
Yvonne, you insist on having a booking form being filled out. A lot of my work seems to be last minute bookings, so unfortunately I can't do that :(
I'm not getting the work at the moment for some reason, it is so demoralising :x
Yvonne, I wouldn't mind having a look at your form, please.
Thanks
Steve
Yes I do!!! But I send them via email and will accept them back via email too, however, it must be a scanned copy and not a typed one as I am a little suspicious in this respect.
I will fill in as much info as possible from our telephone conversation but always send a covering letter that makes it very clear that they must check and (if applicable) correct the details in the form and return it within x days. If I have enough time I let them have 10 days if not I usually have a cut off of about 5pm on the Friday.
Half of the reason I do this is because I am a worrier and if I didn't have the info in writing in front of me I would panic that I had written it down wrong or I was going to the wrong place. The other reason is I know of other entertainers that have turned up at a job only to find another painter there and to be told that they were not booked (when they know they were) and have been refused even petrol money. At least if I have something in writing I can turn round and say well I have a signed contract here and you need to pay me whether you use my services or not ;)
I shall email you a copy of my contract and if you are planning on emailing it to clients I would advise either password protecting the document or downloading a free pdf creator so that client's cannot change any terms that they don't like :o
Oh sorry Steve I didn't realise I don't have your email address :roll: