InTents August/September 2024 - 10

the news | TRD covered conversations
TENT
CONFERENCE
Chasing the " perfect event "
If you want gray hair, high blood pressure and unhappy employees,
make perfection your goal.
by Nick Deninno
I
vividly recall a meeting for a six-figure
event with a client who, at the end of
my sales pitch, asked me, " You are going to
guarantee my event is perfect, right? " My
candid response was, " No. " The astonished
look I received in return was unforgettable.
Does the perfect event even exist? Early
in my career, I sold the idea of the " perfect
event " to my clients. Why? Because clients
naturally want assurance that their significant
occasions-be it a wedding, graduation,
product launch, or another major
milestone-will be flawless. Given my dedication
and reputation, it seemed almost expected
that I would promise perfection.
The reality check
However, reality soon set in. The pursuit
of perfection was full of challenges, often
falling short. I found myself frustrated,
yelling at my staff and myself to do better.
Those who have known me for a long time
can attest to the fact that I started going
gray early.
What I eventually realized was that strivThe
Tent Rental Division (TRD)
represents companies in the
commercial tent marketplace.
It promotes safety for the tent
installer and the public in tented
events, assembles products and
services listings, and represents
members in code committees.
The TRD provides a network
to exchange information, solve
common problems and develop
mutually beneficial relationships.
Tent.Textiles.org
10 intents aug-sept 2024
ing for perfection was often thwarted by
circumstances beyond our control. This
was not our fault. It dawned on me that we
couldn't predict or prevent certain obstacles
including, but not limited to:
* Weather: Sudden storms can
disrupt even the best-laid plans.
* Venue access: Sometimes, access
to a venue is obstructed.
* Vehicle issues: Breakdowns or
road closures can delay deliveries.
* Accidents: Unforeseen accidents
with delivery trucks.
* Staffing issues: Last-minute
staffing shortages.
* Equipment failures: Missing
or broken items during setup.
* Miscommunication: Incorrect
information, like the mother of the
bride giving the wrong setup location.
* Technical failures: Generator breakdowns
or power outages.
* Environmental challenges: Saturated
yards from rain, dirty porta-potties
(even if we don't rent them), and the
occasional tornado.
Building readiness and resilience
Acknowledging these uncontrollable factors
forced me to change my strategy. We can't offer
perfection, especially for outdoor events
where so many things can go wrong. No
amount of planning can predict a road closure
or a tornado. What we can do is manage
obstacles efficiently and react swiftly.
To handle these challenges, we developed
several strategies:
* Extra equipment: Always pack extra
equipment and have backups ready.
* Training and preparation: Train the
team to handle unexpected situations
as if they knew they would happen.
* Operational readiness: Build a
readiness mindset like the military.
* Preventive measures: Leave earlier
for timed setups. Maintain vehicles
and equipment diligently. Have extra
trucks and staff on standby.
* Flexibility: Be willing to adapt to
changing circumstances with agility.
By focusing on readiness and resilience,
we aim to ensure that we can
handle any situation that arises. For instance,
for winter tent jobs, we send an
extra heater. For off-the-grid generator
jobs, we rent that extra backup generator.
And if you don't have a half a dozen
weather apps on your phone, are you
even in outdoor events?
http://Tent.Textiles.org

InTents August/September 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of InTents August/September 2024

InTents August/September 2024 - Cover1
InTents August/September 2024 - Cover2
InTents August/September 2024 - 1
InTents August/September 2024 - 2
InTents August/September 2024 - 3
InTents August/September 2024 - 4
InTents August/September 2024 - 5
InTents August/September 2024 - 6
InTents August/September 2024 - 7
InTents August/September 2024 - 8
InTents August/September 2024 - 9
InTents August/September 2024 - 10
InTents August/September 2024 - 11
InTents August/September 2024 - 12
InTents August/September 2024 - 13
InTents August/September 2024 - 14
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InTents August/September 2024 - 16
InTents August/September 2024 - 17
InTents August/September 2024 - 18
InTents August/September 2024 - 19
InTents August/September 2024 - 20
InTents August/September 2024 - 21
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InTents August/September 2024 - 26
InTents August/September 2024 - 27
InTents August/September 2024 - 28
InTents August/September 2024 - 29
InTents August/September 2024 - 30
InTents August/September 2024 - 31
InTents August/September 2024 - 32
InTents August/September 2024 - 33
InTents August/September 2024 - 34
InTents August/September 2024 - 35
InTents August/September 2024 - 36
InTents August/September 2024 - 37
InTents August/September 2024 - 38
InTents August/September 2024 - 39
InTents August/September 2024 - 40
InTents August/September 2024 - 41
InTents August/September 2024 - 42
InTents August/September 2024 - 43
InTents August/September 2024 - 44
InTents August/September 2024 - Cover3
InTents August/September 2024 - Cover4
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