Pop-up tent for mobile temporary shade - good idea/bad idea

[cheshious]

Long story short, I've scaled down my project/performance art plans substantially but still want to have some sort of portable 2-person shade structure, if at all possible. The best idea I've come up with so far is a pop-up tent/cabana - one of those suckers made of ripstop nylon with sproingy circular wires that pops up instantly and can be folded up in < 1 minute with practice. (Typically about 3-3.5 feet tall and with a footprint in the 10-15 square foot range).

The idea is that I can carry it with me, and when I sit down in it, I'll be anchoring it with body weight, which should be sufficient against moderate wind. If I see a dust storm coming, I can pack it up quickly so it doesn't kite, and if I don't see the dust storm coming, I can just sit on top of it to squash it and reduce its ability to kite.

So! Experienced burners! Does this seem like a halfway reasonable plan or should I abandon all hope?

Hugs and sparkles,
-Chesh

P.S.
Good Idea: Climbing a mountain!
Bad Idea: Climbing a mountain lion.

[theCryptofishist]

Bad Idea

[Ano]

Well, if your art projects incorporates a "highly dangerous high-speed sail flying down the playa with spikey parts and swinging wires" aspect to it, this would be a good idea. The wind can (and does) pick up out of nowhere. I can't tell you how many times I've been cruising on my bike, clear skies and no wind, to all of a sudden find myself encapsulated by a dust tornado.

Perhaps on a very very clear day it would work, but, it might not be worth the investment. What about two umbrellas? Just... thinking out loud.

[9ah]

Wait, what? You're going to walk around with a tent on playa? I must be a bit tired. This sounds like a bit of a silly idea if so.

[VultureChow]

I'm picturing something like this:


Let me play devils advocate here. How is this different than umbrellas? A sudden gust of wind is likely to wreck both, but at least with what is being suggested here, they'd have the weight of one or two bodies holding down the structure. With umbrellas, it's your grip strength. Bad gust would likely wreck this, but it's less likely to literally go flying and hurt someone or some other structure.

Furthermore, I bet with some creative reinforcement or addition of vents, you could make said"pop up structure more resilient.

That said, there is large scale art out there and if your performance is relatively short, you might be more comfortable just looking for a slightly shady place and then performing, rather than lugging shade around with you.

[FIGJAM]

Post a link to the shade so we can see what you're talking about.

[Aurelia]

some years I used that as my shelter
it was okay
some years it wasn't

xoA.

[Canoe]

And, where would you be popping this up?
Somewhere where the art cars don't expect you to be?
When the wind comes up, the dust first rises close to the ground, obscuring anything there. With the driving position higher up, some art car drivers convince themselves that they can see fine and drive when they're not supposed to...

[trilobyte]

Bad idea. Do a little reading (tents, shelters, and shade is a popular subject), you'll get a better sense of why.

[cheshious]

Posting a couple Amazon.com links to possible pop-ups here:



Salient aspects being that these have no spikey bits, no wires/guy lines, weigh in the vicinity of 4 pounds, and pack down to a circular bundle a couple feet wide and a few inches thick. (i.e., this is me trying to demonstrate that while I didn't consider the art car aspect, I have put a little bit of thought into it).

It occurs to me that replacing non-floor sections with shadecloth would lessen the load that wind could apply, but that would also make it less visible. And I hadn't thought of the art car aspect - do people often keep driving around when dust storms blow up?

So does this mean that by sitting down in an open section of deep playa to talk to somebody (whether the shelter is two parasols or a modified pop-up cabana) I'm inviting the death of me by art car or others by flying shade item if the wind suddenly starts gusting?

*grump, grump, grump* Back to the drawing board, I guess.

(Small rant here: I'm trying not to be a stupid newb, I swear, but I'm also getting tired of all my Burner friends basically telling me I'm not allowed to try and do an art project my first year because reasons (it's an overwhelming experience, I don't know how the playa/altitude/heat/dryness will affect me, I can't know what will work on the playa, etc.). All my costume ideas are of a big enough scale that I'll probably only be able to tackle one or two, given my day job and budget, and really, it's the opportunity to do art, not the parties and music, that makes me want to come to the burn.)

[lucky420]

I believe art cars/mv are supposed to come to a stop during a dust storm/white out. I agree with vulture chow. Your body weight will keep it in place unless your light as a feather...

[VultureChow]

I'm also getting tired of all my Burner friends basically telling me I'm not allowed to try and do an art project my first year because reasons

As someone who did a modest art project my first year, I give you permission to tell them to fuck off.

They are correct that you may find yourself affected by the climate in weird ways. You might not get out to perform as often as you think. You might not get out at all. But if it makes you, excited or happy or fulfilled, then do it. You're doing the right thing by making sure you are not mooping or doing something dangerous.

But creating art to contribute adds a whole other level to the event. It gave me a sense of ownership and excitement and anticipation. I wasn't just experiencing Burning Man, I was creating Burning Man in my own tiny way.

I think you are safe here. You might add some reinforcement to the poles or the corners just to keep this thing from shredding itself. Plenty of people manage to camp in relatively cheap nylon tents. You are not leaving this structure unaccompanied. It will not be subject to extended wind strain.

[Elorrum]

I think that the wind will blow this whole thing flat, and since you will be sitting upright, it will be blown right against you as a big whippy, flapping, loud, straitjacket, until the whipping about starts to rip it apart. Bring it, see if you like it.

[tamarakay]

I might look into a couple of those to pop up for some random dye events deep playa. Biking out, setting up next to the bike and having a little space for someone to come in a dye a sarong sounds pretty damn fabulous to me. Bike adds a little visibility.

How long do you plan on having it up?

Also, from looking at the drawing of the tent like areas surrounding the man this year, I'm wondering about having the ability to just set up under there.

[FIGJAM]

From what I've read, I think that's exactly what that space is for.

[Elorrum]

those shades have around 4 ft. headroom. an ez up comes down fast.

[theCryptofishist]

... it's the opportunity to do art, not the parties and music, that makes me want to come to the burn.)

Might not be the best place for it, actually. I found that the burn just sucked up a year's worth of creative energy, and I didn't get more personal projects done.

[Canoe]

I believe art cars/mv are supposed to come to a stop during a dust storm/white out.

Yup.
Key Words: supposed to.
I guess all the shots I have of art cars appearing out of nowhere in whiteouts are illusions...

They're not supposed to DUI either.

When the LEOs and other emergency vehicles encounter blowing dust on the playa, they stop and fire up their roof lights so they can be seen by art cars (and bicycles) that may not have stopped driving.

[Canoe]

... So does this mean that by sitting down in an open section of deep playa to talk to somebody (whether the shelter is two parasols or a modified pop-up cabana) I'm inviting the death of me by art car or others by flying shade item if the wind suddenly starts gusting?

Yes.
But you can easily manage that risk.
You have to always keep an eye, and an ear, open for art cars (and bicycles).

• Very much so in the playa art area.
• Less so out in the deep playa, as much fewer people & art cars go there,
  but, and it can be a big but, they expect openness there and occasionally one, two or a parade will swing out through the deep playa for a joyride.

A shelter will block your eye from approaching art cars at the best of times, more so if you're busy. A rising wind will raise dust to block your view (and that of a driver), and wind noise will make your ear less useful. Many art cars run rather loud sound systems, but some run silent, some even using electric motors.

Note that the worst dust is first close to the ground, so having something visible up higher means it is much easier for an art car driver to see that something is there. It also explains why so many keep driving, as they feel they have a good enough view out above the worst of the blowing dust. Your shelter is well below that level.
If you're out in blowing dust and can't see where to go, look up slightly, and it's often possible to see higher objects, like The Man, lampposts and such, allowing you to navigate to shelter, even if it's just to a lamppost to decrease the likelihood of getting hit by an art car.

NIGHT: the recommendation is to have a light on at all times while you're walking or stopped. If you stop and put up your shelter, make sure it has a light on all sides, or one lighting it up from the inside, or something. Blinking lights are very popular.

Your body weight will keep it in place unless your light as a feather...

Yup.
But by the time the wind picks up to the point where you can't take the sides whipping against you anymore and you want to go find real shelter, it's too late to be able to get out of it without a very high risk of watching it blow away into the whiteout.

As to tent/shelters. There's a reason people set them up under shade. After around 9:30 in the morning, most become ovens. Are you baking cookies to handout?

[Canoe]

It hasn't happened often, but while stopped beside esplanade in the day I've had four art cars screech to a stop to avoid hitting me after they're close enough to pick out the flag/strobe through the dust, and I've seen many more suddenly change direction. And that's with a strobe on top. I also hung a blue tube light at night.

On edge of playa art area sm.jpg

You could use a flagpole or a light but tall tripod with cloth, shiny stuff and a light on top, but that's a pain to carry around.
Easy to add to my setup.

[tamarakay]

Good ideas canoe. My first plan is to try and get one of the village art cars for the morning and set up next to it. Back up plan is bikes and setting up in shade from other art pieces, though I would be hesitant in fear of interfering with the artist intended view lines. Third plan is smack up against the trash fence with a blinkie or two on a pole.

[cheshious]

Planned duration: I'd be sitting down for 30-90 m periods (probably mostly in the 30 m range).

Back to the drawing boards with considerations for visibility at 4+ feet above ground level, ability to take down safely in a whiteout, and stability during lighter steady winds.

Thanks for the feedback, everyone!

Good Idea: Being served breakfast in bed.
Bad Idea: Being served tennis balls in bed.

[Canoe]

And, can it be open for shade, or do you need closed for privacy.

If closed, watch out for it being an oven. For a surprisingly low cost, you can make & take a DIY bucket swamp-cooler around with you, on a bike trailer, child's wagon or a trike.

If you're along esplanade (the edge along the open art area), ask the camps on the edge if you can setup in their shade.
(I had one camp let me stash bottles of water (cases) at their esplanade camp so I didn't have to pedal all the way back to my camp all of the time to restock.)

If you can do a trike instead of a bicycle, easy to add a flag of some sort.

And you can always run a line from your shelter to your bike laying on the ground, to stabilize it for light winds.

[BBadger]

(Small rant here: I'm trying not to be a stupid newb, I swear, but I'm also getting tired of all my Burner friends basically telling me I'm not allowed to try and do an art project my first year because reasons (it's an overwhelming experience, I don't know how the playa/altitude/heat/dryness will affect me, I can't know what will work on the playa, etc.). All my costume ideas are of a big enough scale that I'll probably only be able to tackle one or two, given my day job and budget, and really, it's the opportunity to do art, not the parties and music, that makes me want to come to the burn.)

Ah yes, the folk who project all their own insecurities on the newcomers. "You can't do that, you'll be overwhelmed!!!" Are they the kind of assholes who also want to "guide" you in your burning experience? Those people are the worst. I can't believe the sheer arrogance some people have demonstrated in the past by proposing to foist such a regime on new burners as a necessary part of joining the experience.

If you're truly confident in your abilities to bring art to the playa, any year (even if you're not attending at all), give those people the "fuck you" and build/bring it. Don't let them talk you down. That said, make sure you don't bring the equivalent of a "pop-up tent" piece of art that is going to cause trouble. Do your research. Over-engineer your art. Make it safe just as much as it is spectacular. A newcomer should overestimate what is needed, never underestimate.

Good luck with your art!

[Eric]

(Small rant here: I'm trying not to be a stupid newb, I swear, but I'm also getting tired of all my Burner friends basically telling me I'm not allowed to try and do an art project my first year because reasons (it's an overwhelming experience, I don't know how the playa/altitude/heat/dryness will affect me, I can't know what will work on the playa, etc.). All my costume ideas are of a big enough scale that I'll probably only be able to tackle one or two, given my day job and budget, and really, it's the opportunity to do art, not the parties and music, that makes me want to come to the burn.)

Ah yes, the folk who project all their own insecurities on the newcomers. "You can't do that, you'll be overwhelmed!!!"

What BBadger said. This is the Cradle of Mir from last year, made by first time Burners from Russia. Next time one of these so-called friends tell you that "you can't", just point out this piece made by first timers who came from the other side of the damn planet.

burning-man-2013-08-29-at-08-26-53.jpg

[Canoe]

My bad, and it could be a big big bad.

...If you can do a trike instead of a bicycle, easy to add a flag of some sort.

And you can always run a line from your shelter to your bike laying on the ground, to stabilize it for light winds.

With a shelter tied off to a trike, watch out for a high wind turning your shelter into a sail/drag-chute and taking your trike roaring across the playa, with or without you along for the ride...

Anyone it hit would not be happy, even if you set the wind-powered trike speed record.

[VultureChow]

Resurrecting this. Grai wants to do a pop up bar out on the playa in the middle of the day. The biggest stumbling block so far is shade. Not a lot, and not enough for a crowd, mostly just for the bartender and two or three people. What about using an EZ-up (I've got a sturdy one) with an aluminet top instead of the normal nylon one. Lag bolt anchors. And waiting for a relatively calm time on the playa.

[Ratty]

I made this silly thing from some golf umbrellas and PVC pipes and fittings. I can't quite work it out in my mind but...I think a bike could be fashioned into a stabilizing umbrella stand. (I got as far as flipping it over).

[VultureChow]

Love it. My first idea was an aluminet covered market umbrella, but I think the pop up might be easier to anchor with better shade.

[Joeln]

Resurrecting this. Grai wants to do a pop up bar out on the playa in the middle of the day. The biggest stumbling block so far is shade. Not a lot, and not enough for a crowd, mostly just for the bartender and two or three people. What about using an EZ-up (I've got a sturdy one) with an aluminet top instead of the normal nylon one. Lag bolt anchors. And waiting for a relatively calm time on the playa.

Canoe is right, gotta be careful. That said, lag bolt anchoring an EZ-up while keeping an eye on the wind would be a reasonable precaution. Please do tie the EZ-up to the anchors in such a way that if you get caught by wind, it will remain tied down as it self destructs.