Setting Up a Frame Tent for a Party

October 7, 2016

When setting-up for any party… remember, it’s all in the details.

If you caught my Facebook LIVE show yesterday, you know I hosted a very large party for the Young Presidents’ Organization, Fairchester Gold Chapter. The Young Presidents’ Organization is a global network of chief executives with 24-thousand members in more than 130-countries. YPO provides its members with access to educational resources, alliances with leading institutions, and specialized networks designed to support their businesses and communities.

More than 110-guests were expected to attend the event at my Bedford, New York farm, so I decided to hold it in the cobblestone courtyard outside my stable. Earlier this week, our friends at Greenwich Tent Company came by to set-up a large frame tent in the space. It is a tedious process, but a well-crafted tent creates a wonderful setting for any event. Over the next couple of days, I will share with you what it takes to prepare for a large party. Enjoy these photos.

: Our friends from Greenwich Tent Company came to the farm bright and early to start setting up the tent. We’re using a Navitirac frame tent. These tents use very strong supports and fabrics.

: Zachary Wilson is president of the Greenwich Tent Company. He came along with three members of his team to set up our 60 by 40-foot structure.

: Zachary measures the space to determine the center of the courtyard.

: The tent will take up the entire area in front of my stable, stable offices and carriage house.

: Zachary begins putting together all the steel support pieces, including hip bars which connect the corners to the peak of the tent.

: This is a ridge weldment which is a bracket that connects the bars together.

: This process takes quite a bit of time, but Zachary and his team work very smoothly and efficiently.

: The team starts to raise the end unit of the frame. This requires several hands to avoid any slippage along the ground. Safety of the team is the biggest concern.

: This section will be one of the end walls of the tent. When setting-up a tent be sure there is enough space overhead. This tent is 20-feet tall at its tallest point, but there is nothing obstructing it in this courtyard.

: Zachary continues to put together the bars.

: Here, Zachary is making sure it is all secured.

: Once the end unit is secured, Zachary begins to attach the fabric – it’s a very durable vinyl.

: The fabric is attached to a pulley system with wheeled panel guides that slide the fabric over the frame.

: The fabric is then pulled tight and transferred to the frame.

: Base plates are at the foot of every upright support. Because the courtyard is cobblestone, stakes were not an option. These bases are very strong. Wooden shims protect the stone and also help to balance the bases.