What ideas do y'all have for outdoor show set ups that happen in a park, or a backyard, or a street festival. If anyone has pictures of your out door set up, I would love to see it. I'm thinking of getting a commercial grade Quickshade Canopy with a back screen wall. Not sure about side walls or other banners. Also, I was wondering what folks do for a sitting area for kids. Do y'all use any sort of ground cover? I would appreciate any ideas, thoughts, and especially pictures.

Here is a picture of an outdoor street festival that I did with Happy Dan's set up. He has some good ideas. Any others?

Click here to view attached image.

So, let me make the question more simple? What do y'all use for your outdoor set up? Do y'all use a canopy? Do y'all use something else? Is this worth the investment?

Also, do you also use a ground cover for the kids to sit on? I have seen one person use the foam playroom tiles that snap together to create a seating area. That worked well, but was a lot to cary. I have also thought about those zip up outdoor blankets that are designed for picnics. If you could find something like that that was large enough, I think that would be a lot easier to transport.

Is this important to most, and if so, what solutions have y'all implemented?

I use a canopy (like the Quickshade Canopy - this is the one I use: http://www.samsclub.com/sams/e-z-up-inst......vAction= ) for festivals or large company picnics. For outdoor birthday parties, I try to get the parents to keep me in a covered area because I don't want to have to set up the canopy for that. It takes me a little while to set up the canopy by myself and it's pretty physically demanding.) If there is no covered area and I have to bring the canopy to a birthday party, I offer to bring mine for an extra charge.

I don't bother with ground cover. At picnics, the families usually have blankets with them to sit on. At birthday parties, the mom provides it. If you really want to provide something for the kids, you could bring some inexpensive bed sheets or blankets.

Hi Tom
How often would you use this tent? Generally when I do festivals they have everything there for me to work. I carry a happie amp, and a Fender 150 amp, but cover is on the venue. At birthday parties I try to do my show under a tree.

You are talking about a problem that I have never experienced.

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I have used carpet samples for kids to sit on. My friend has a flooring business so they were free.

I charge extra for the canopy and polyfoam tile seating and use them exclusively for all day fair and festival childrens stages. Like Michael, if I need to provide my own canopy for birthday parties, I charge extra. I can set up and take down my E-Z Up Canopy by myself in a minute or two.

For outdoor parties and picnics, I carry two lightweight canvas painter tarps and two sheets of painter plastic. The plastic is laid across damp ground and the canvas over it. I put wire tent stakes through the corner grommets to hold them flat. All four pieces are inexpensive and fold small. The parents appreciate the extra consideration adding value to my parties.

I never rely on clients to provide my set-up. No one cares for your show more than you. If they forget one or two items on your list or saddle you with inferior equipment, it reflects poorly on you.