Inflatables Should Be “Safety Always”

Inflatables should never be “Safety First”, rather
“Safety Always”

Safety has become the preeminent concern among the inflatable amusement industry, as kids and parents expectations of our attractions grow, so must the products. As the sizes grow so must our attention to the effects the environment around the install location will have on our equipment. In the eighties, you could only rent a Moon-Walk Bounce House, the nineties Giant Inflatable Slides and Inflatable Obstacle Courses were available to rent. Now there are inflatable slides that are over three stories tall for company picnics, one-hundred foot long inflatable obstacle courses for school carnivals, and challenging inflatable games that add mechanical elements into them available for college fun-days.

Taller inflatables have a greater potential to become affected especially by wind, swaying from side to side if not properly tethered. The proper way to offset this concern is to ensure that all guy lines are secured at the angle the manufacturer recommends, another trouble shooting method is asking the manufacturer to increase the number of tie down points. Something whoever you hire proactively does even for our low to the ground inflatable, because you should make sure whomever you hire believes in “Safety Always”

“All reputable manufacturers provide weight and tethering guidelines” says Scott Weisberg, President of Everything Entertainment.

Scott has been in the business since 1988 and carries some inflatables that require a dozen cement blocks, each weighing over eight hundred pounds.

“There have been many scary videos online of bouncers blowing away with children inside, that could have been avoided if the rental company just did what they should have done in the first place, which is follow the manufacturer's guidelines” said Scott Weisberg, President of Everything Entertainment.

Further measures can be taken such as using stakes whenever possible, and concrete weights on surfaces that are cannot be staked. By using cement block in lieu of water weights, you are greatly reducing the chance for wind gusts sliding an inflatable across surfaces such as concrete, asphalt or turf due to the increased friction of the concrete weights versus the smooth surface of water barrels. Secondly and unfortunately overlooked, is sandbags are prone to rips and tears, spilling its contents and reducing the weight with no one aware until it’s too late. In another “Safety Always” measure, we recommend you hire a company that uses extra durable sandbags when there is no other choice but to use sandbags.

Properly trained staff can considerably reduce the frequency of safety issues. Many more issues than just wind can affect the safety of the inflatable bounce house or slide. How power is run and where it is drawn from can lead to fire hazards, trip hazards, and blown electric circuits. If a cable is run to far from its source the wiring may be “working too hard” raising its temperature as well as its potential for overheating. Another power related concern can be overload, if too many items are drawing power from the same source, overheating again is a risk, both potential fire hazards. Please check that you use a company that trains its staff in proper electrical practices, places fire extinguishers within 6’ of every ride to ensure quick reaction to an unfortunate situation.

By having staff attend seminars led by industry professionals they begin understanding how every step they take can impact the safety of the event guests, which should always be the company you hire’s number one priority. Understanding the importance of watching those on the ride as opposed to just standing by, making sure rules are followed and injuries are greatly reduced. 

Having a Street Fair in NYC? 

Each year the NYC Street Activity Permit Office issues permits to thousands of street fairs and special events, many that use multiple blocks over several days. Events increase overtime costs to the City for use of additional police, etc. Street fairs and events also take police officers from their main job of fighting crime and counter terrorism.

Street Activity Permit Office is to deny permits for new events scheduled for calendar year 2017 if the event was not held in the calendar year 2016.

If you are hosting a Street Fair in New York City and are able to obtain a permit, contact Everything Entertainment for your Tent Rentals, Staging, Amusements, and more. Call 718-556-3430 or email us today.

For more information, feel free to read the adopted rule here: http://rules.cityofnewyork.us/content/street-fair-moratorium-1

Tips to Renting Inflatable Rides for Your Party

Tips to Renting Inflatable Rides for Your Party

Whether you are planning a milestone event like a communion party, a child’s birthday, a block party or school carnival, inflatable rides are a big hit for youngsters.

Inflatable jumps, giant slides, inflatable slides, and other inflatable rides are something the kids will remember. Young guests leave with big smiles, and so do parents because their kids are totally exhausted (parents really like the exhausted part).

Finding a company that rents inflatables is usually easy, and most companies have a variety of styles to choose from (inflatable obstacle courses, inflatable combo units, etc.), but please hire someone that will make safety their number-one priority.

Before you pick up the phone and enter into a contract for a bounce house or inflatable interactive sports attraction, be certain to ask these three important questions:

1. Are they setting up and operating as per the inflatable manufacturer’s recommendations?
   The manufacturer knows how the inflatable was designed to be set up safely better than anyone. Confirming the company you hire knows and uses the amount of weight required to tether the attraction is paramount.
   

   "Proper tethering can help avoid unsafe situations like the ride shifting, moving, or even blowing away while being used" says Scott Weisberg of Everything Entertainment, an amusement operator since 1988.

   
   
2. Has the individuals that setup been trained?
   What type of training did they receive? Was the training documented with the state (certain states require it.)
3. Will they advise you when to cancel the attraction because of high winds.
   It is generally recommended inflatables shouldn’t be operated in winds over 15 mph. From time to time you see a news report of an inflatable ride blowing away with a child inside! It can happen. It has! If their answers demonstrate that they put safety first by assuring you that their equipment is maintained and operated in the safest manner, then you probably can feel comfortable moving forward.

Once you have hired someone for your inflatable bounce house, inflatable slide, etc., here are a few things you should bear in mind:

1. Have the inflatables been set up professionally.
   When using inflatables for entertainment at events and parties, don’t inflate or deflate them yourself. Have the company you hired set them up and take them down for you, plus pay for a trained attendant to staff the ride for you. They possess the knowledge about the attraction and will be dedicated to the safety and operation of it at your event. Please remember the operator is not a babysitter. They should inform guests of safety rules, but still may need a parent’s help if a child isn’t listening. Having an attendant there will be one less thing for you to worry about.
2. What’s the best place for the inflatable?
   Give some thought to where you want the attraction placed. The best spot is typically flat, level ground, free of rocks and debris. Overhead branches, electric lines, etc shouldn’t be close either. A tree branch could fall and injure a child or tear a hole in the bounce causing it to deflate and possibly trap a guest. Somewhere close to where the parents are gathering, but not too close to affect the refreshment area and other party activities. You should discuss your thoughts with the company to find the best area to inflate the ride.
3. Check your insurance policy.
   Don’t just ask, but have the company send you a copy of their insurance (and licensing: needed in most municipalities.) Besides General Liability (which most companies carry to protect themselves,) they should also have Worker’s Compensation and Disability if one of their staff gets injured. If they don’t have the proper insurance, you may be left as the responsible party, so you should see if your homeowner’s policy covers you. (I am not an insurance agent or broker, this is just my opinion from my experience.)

Asking the right questions and having some knowledge about these attractions will go a long way in hosting a fun, safe event featuring inflatables.

Water Barrels As A Tent Anchoring Option

A water barrel demonstration at Industrial Fabrics Association International Tent Expo 2015 showed that a 20-by-20-foot tent required 40 water barrels to achieve 1,000 pounds per leg when all of the variables were taken into consideration

Water Barrels As A Tent Anchoring Option

When you mention water barrels within earshot of tent safety experts or insurance representatives, they noticeably cringe. Why? They are the worst option to tether tents for many reasons.

Scientific Reasons

• A water barrel is tall, narrow and it ties off from the top which could allow it to slip, especially if not tied properly.
• A plastic barrel offers little resistance against concrete or asphalt surfaces and has a tendency to slide.
• These factors reduce a typical 55 gallon barrel’s 480 pounds of water weight to a barrel that can fail at as little as 160 pounds of force.

Practical Reasons

• Professional tent companies properly anchor tents they lift the tent so they don’t have to combat the wind. That practice is almost impossible due to the time it takes to fill the water barrels all the way.
• Water appears to be an easy way to make weight. It’s not. Water is not always available, many venues won’t allow them to be emptied on site, and fresh water is wasted.
• Most tent manufacturer’s instruction don’t include water weighting as option. This puts the liability on the tent company and sometimes on the renter.
• More municipalities and venues are banning water barrels, and we expect this trend to spread.

Quantity Of Water Barrels Needed To Be Safe

Sure, water barrels are adequate for securing tents, IF you’re willing to use enough of them. Experts recommend installing tents so that the holding power is 1 ½ to 2 times the forces imposed on the tent. For a single 20’ by 20’ tent you need 37 barrels of water! If the wind is severe, even that huge quantity won’t be enough protection.

Other Options To Water Barrels

Consider using cement ballast, a widely accepted, safe and reliable alternative. Cement blocks weigh way over double that of water, have a lower center of gravity and offer much more resistance against sliding, greatly reducing the ballast footprint. The reduced footprint also presents an opportunity to properly ballast larger tents. For example, a 40-foot-wide tent will typically call for 2,000 to 4,000 pounds per leg, which is nearly impossible to accomplish with water barrels.

Everything Entertainment

718-556-3430

Children Entertained in Portable Haunted House

Children Entertained in Portable Haunted House

Two kids walking with their parents suddenly became paralyzed. Almost as mysteriously as it came on, they were actually giggling just minutes later. Many believe the paralysis was brought on by fear. Fear from seeing a ghost, not from seeing blood, gore, or anything gruesome.

Paralyze children with fear this Halloween, without all the blood and gore…

“Event planners and parents are always asking us for a gore-free, yet entertaining experience, in our Haunted Tent, “ said Scott Weisberg of Everything Entertainment, who has been providing a Walk-Through Haunted Tent experience for over fifteen years.

Young kids can enjoy being scared, but they don’t need all that blood and gore. Adults enjoy themselves too with just the entertainment factor!

The traditional haunted house, using sensory stimulation through a theatrical environment, creates tons of entertainment. According to the Haunted Attractions Association, professional haunted houses are a $300 million industry. People enjoy their entertainment value.

I think that there are lots of ways that people can enjoy scary material," said Margee Kerr, a sociologist who teaches at the University of Pittsburgh and a "scare expert" at a Halloween attraction. "I see that a lot at haunted attractions," said Kerr. "People come out the other side hugging and exchanging high fives. Strangers come out the other end as friends."

“Around age 7 to 11, kids start to understand the difference between a real monster and a fake monster. Imaginative play is important, but when it crosses the line into terrifying, that's bad. You want people to have a good time, to laugh and smile after they scream," Kerr said. (published in national.deseretnews.com).

Everything Entertainment can help you and your family and friends have a good time and scream a bit too this coming Halloween.  We can help you create your own bit of fear and “paralysis” for your guests   - of all ages – with a custom designed haunted house.

Haunted houses make Halloween parties.

Proper lighting, professional actors, theatrical props, custom made props, computer controlled automated  special effects,  all set up in a physical portable structure,  have been the trademark elements of Everything Entertainment’s Halloween events for the past 15 years.

Cemetery scenes, ghosts playing chess, corpses popping up from behind tombstones, skeletons trying to enjoy dinner, haunted photo ops, and pictures changing in front of your eyes, are the thrilling presentations designed and executed at a variety of corporate and private parties.

Many people also enjoy decorating themselves for their Halloween party, but want to enhance their party with theatrical quality props. Everything Entertainment has lots of skeletons, coffins, tombstones, low lying foggers, and more. Even some minor theatrical lighting will add a huge impact to turn an ordinary party into a scary setting.

Although magicians are the most popular additional entertainment, other great Halloween party entertainment is disc jockeys, wax hand creations, photo booths with a Halloween theme border, a monster theme bouncer, and balloon sculptors. Lastly, rustic décor is super popular to use at parties and events. Realistic and flame resistant prop bales of hay, corn stalks, farm tables, split-rail wood fence, wooden wagon wheels, and much more.

“Paralyze” your Halloween guests with fear and fun, whether they are 5 years old or 50, this coming Halloween. Ghosts are waiting for your call: 718-556-3430, www.EverythingEntertainment.com.

NYC Fashion Show 2014

NYC Fashion Show 2014

Everything Entertainment was an integral part of the first ever runway show - held during Fashion Week 2014 - at the beautifully rebuilt South Street Seaport. Managed by the Howard Hughes Corporation, this popular tourist destination hosted an outside early evening Fashion Show on September third featuring the ModaBox clothing line. 

Everything Entertainment's team handled the staging of the runway, the audience layout, and private space for the ModaBox models, which resulted in a summer evening event not only enjoyed by fashion buyers but even NYC passersbys.

Everything Entertainment was honored to be part of Fashion Week 2014 and the other fashion show events they have lent their expertise over the years.   Companies such as Kleinfeld Bridal , Gant Men's Wear, and MAC Cosmetics showcase unique fashion show events and it has been an honor to work with them as well.

Click Here to see NYC Fashion Show Events Everything Entertainment has provided the production for.

Everything Entertainment has decades of experience in staging events for a variety of occasions. For more information and examples of our work, contact Everything Entertainment at 718-556-3430 or www.EverythingEntertainment.com

ModaBox models strut their stuff down the
80 foot long runway provided by
Everything Entertainment. 

Runway, Chairs, Tent, Lighting,
Stanchions, Ropes, and other rentals,
all supplied by Everything Entertainment.

Tailgating Season

Can’t make the game?
Then bring the game to you!

Football season is here and it just takes a bit of creativity to take your game viewing to the next level.
Everything Entertainment has turned private venues into virtual football stadiums.

Stadium seating can be re-created through custom made bleachers combined with turf-lined carpeting professionally laid with football markings creates your very own stadium.

Custom signage and personalized football jerseys as chair covers make it your unique football party. Personalized foam fingers are also a fun way to recognize someone’s milestone being celebrated.
Add in a sports trivia guy walking round giving away silver dollars, a cigar lady handing out cigars, and freshly popped popcorn and - let the football begin!

Everything Entertainment has decades of experience in creating themed parties for a variety of events and occasions. For more information and assistance on planning your next event, contact Everything Entertainment at 718-556-3430 or www.EverythingEntertainment.com.