How cold will you work in for an outdoor gig?

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rickryan.com

rickryan.com

Mac Daddy DJ
ODJT Supporter
Dec 9, 2009
20,046
18,426
62
Hendersonville, TN
www.rickryan.com
I have an event booked for 11/19 at a local venue and the ceremony and reception are planned in an outdoor courtyard. I've urged the groom to put up an enclosed tent but he's insisting on leaving it open. We're currently having temps in the 30s at night. I sent the groom an email this morning to ask if he's changed his mind on heating the area. I do plan to take my ez-up 10X10, with walls, and can supply my own heat (Coleman Lil Buddy-propane). Obviously, this client isn't being terribly smart on his choices but I'm mulling over just how far/cold I need to go. Just wondering aloud what you guys usually do regarding cold. Do you just bundle up and do it and, if so, how cold will you go? For reference, here's my email sent this morning (and before you ask, I waived the ceremony fee because of the extra uplighting he bought):

I received your voice mail. Thanks for the call. In regards to the slideshow, please send it to me at your earliest convenience (so we can test it out). Email if it's not too large or you can send it USPS to Rick Ryan, P.O. Box 99999, Nashville, TN 99999. If you use USPS, please drop me an email to let me know when you send it so I can be watching for it. In regards to the Ceremony, this was not part of our contract. However, I've gone ahead and added it to your planner and have waived the $150 Ceremony add-on fee. I assume the ceremony will be in the courtyard, around back? One more thing, if I remember correctly, you are not planning to tent/heat the courtyard. Is that still the case? Given this assumption, I'm planning to bring my own tent and heater, however, if it's below 50 by the start of the service, we're going to have to re-think an outdoor, non-heated setup. Would appreciate your input regarding any provisions that you're planning.

Thanks and have a great day.
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I'm not familiar with what equipment your using, but I know my cd player in my car skips horribly when it's below about 45 degrees. I've never had experience with CD-J equipment but I'd be careful at those temperatures if you are planning on using CDJ
 
rickryan.com said:
I have an event booked for 11/19 at a local venue and the ceremony and reception are planned in an outdoor courtyard. I've urged the groom to put up an enclosed tent but he's insisting on leaving it open. We're currently having temps in the 30s at night. I sent the groom an email this morning to ask if he's changed his mind on heating the area. I do plan to take my ez-up 10X10, with walls, and can supply my own heat (Coleman Lil Buddy-propane). Obviously, this client isn't being terribly smart on his choices but I'm mulling over just how far/cold I need to go. Just wondering aloud what you guys usually do regarding cold. Do you just bundle up and do it and, if so, how cold will you go? For reference, here's my email sent this morning (and before you ask, I waived the ceremony fee because of the extra uplighting he bought):
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I would not use a propane tank around other electronic equipment. Try using this instead. It is awesome, looks high tech, oscillates at different speeds, cool to the touch and puts out a lot of heat. It also has a remote control.http://www.samsclub.com/sams/shop/product.jsp?productId=prod1700102
 
We just did an outdoor Halloween party this past weekend. The temp got down to 26 degrees by 10:00pm. We were under a tent with the sides installed, and a portable propane heater that out client bought just for us. While it was really cold out, we didnt have any trouble with out equipment at all with the low temps. We only had 2 laptops, a Behringer mixer, and 4 Behringer speakers. Not one time did our equipment skip a beat. That was also our last outdoor show for the year. This gig was set up several months ago, and was not planning on it being as cold as it was. And no one even thought of moving it inside thinking it was going to be as cold as it was.
 
ahoustondj said:
I would not use a propane tank around other electronic equipment. Try using this instead. It is awesome, looks high tech, oscillates at different speeds, cool to the touch and puts out a lot of heat. It also has a remote control.http://www.samsclub.com/sams/shop/product.jsp?productId=prod1700102
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I have a Lasko similar to that, that I heat my 5x6 foot bathroom with. It takes about 30-45 minutes to heat that room from 40, up to about 60. And it pulls over 15 amps on high! You essentially need a dedicated 20 amp circuit for it.
 
ahoustondj said:
I would not use a propane tank around other electronic equipment. Try using this instead. It is awesome, looks high tech, oscillates at different speeds, cool to the touch and puts out a lot of heat. It also has a remote control.http://www.samsclub.com/sams/shop/product.jsp?productId=prod1700102
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I'm with softjock on the electric heaters. To get anything that'll actually work in an outdoor setting, you're probably looking at a full circuit just for the heater. The Coleman I have has done well on a couple of 40-ish degree gigs. I just set it up directly behind me and smile while everyone else freezes. Had one gig back in the Spring where the bride was cold so I put it near her sweetheart table. Major brownie points on that one.
 
ahoustondj said:
I would not use a propane tank around other electronic equipment.
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Curious why you think that...?

It's been my experience, that propane tanks are essentially safe, unless you put a bullet through them -- or drop them 50 feet onto concrete. Mine have always set out in the hot sun (over 100), and 6 inches under 50,000 BTU worth of flame at the same time.

As long as you have good ventilation, you should have no issues.


I'm reminded of a funny story -- before my aunt passed away, she had an oxygen tank in the room. She put up a no smoking sign, because she was afraid of an explosion. #1, we know oxygen does not burn. #2, the gas heater sat 8 feet away from her, blazing away ;)

She laughed like hell when I pointed that out to her, as I was lighting a smoke :)
 
ittigger said:
You bring up a good question - why the no smoking signs then?
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Well, I assume in most cases, it's because if a fire were to break out, the oxygen becomes a catalyst, and helps the fire along. Sorta a moot point, when you have a 60,000 btu gas flame 8 feet away. The heater would just put out more heat, and nothing would explode.

Then there's the fact that people on oxygen are doing so (in many cases), because they are having a hard time breathing. My aunt, a non-smoker, liked the smell of smoke -- go figure, she died of lung cancer...
 
Steve LeBlanc said:
I doubt that heater will be efficient in freezing or below freezing weather...especially outdoors.
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Have you ever used one outdoors? I never said it will heat up the whole outdoors but I have used it in an EZ up tent and it does keep those nearby (The DJ warm) It blows out the hot air (Like you) instead of radiating it from a heated element.

SoftJock Rick said:
I have a Lasko similar to that, that I heat my 5x6 foot bathroom with. It takes about 30-45 minutes to heat that room from 40, up to about 60. And it pulls over 15 amps on high! You essentially need a dedicated 20 amp circuit for it.
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I sent one up to my son in Boston and I also use one here in Houston at winter time just in the bedroom. I do have central Air and heat but the Lasko is great when you only want heat in one room.
SoftJock Rick said:
Curious why you think that...?

It's been my experience, that propane tanks are essentially safe, unless you put a bullet through them -- or drop them 50 feet onto concrete. Mine have always set out in the hot sun (over 100), and 6 inches under 50,000 BTU worth of flame at the same time.

As long as you have good ventilation, you should have no issues.


I'm reminded of a funny story -- before my aunt passed away, she had an oxygen tank in the room. She put up a no smoking sign, because she was afraid of an explosion. #1, we know oxygen does not burn. #2, the gas heater sat 8 feet away from her, blazing away ;)

She laughed like hell when I pointed that out to her, as I was lighting a smoke :)
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At a wedding or event outdoors where there are many decorations, a gust of wind can blow something into a heated exposed element and cause a fire to start. I would not like that to happen with a propane tank nearby.
 
djmike said:
We just did an outdoor Halloween party this past weekend. The temp got down to 26 degrees by 10:00pm. We were under a tent with the sides installed, and a portable propane heater that out client bought just for us.
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I, too did an outdoor event this past Saturday.
It was the second batmitzvah for the daughters of a friend of mine. (they called them BOO-mitzvah's)
I did his older daughter's mitzvah 2 years ago and there was no snow and not nearly as cold.
but if you were watching the news, you know the Northeast got about 6-inches of snow on Saturday.
we had a small tent on the patio, with a few electric heaters, and a firepit just off the deck.
I was pretty cold, but they handed out custom printed hoodies for everyone.
I had a heather all to myself, so my toes and my equipment survived.
The kids all hung out with me, while the parents stayed warm inside.

I talked with the dad several times prior to the event...to make sure it was still 'ON'
even though it snowed all day....
even though there were trees down ALL OVER the area
even though those trees took out power lines and thousands are still without power
and even though some people cancelled

the show went on, the power held out, and the crowd was pretty good

to answer the question, Rick...
I only put up with those circumstances because it was a friend...(like the other guests who showed up)
your client is nuts.
guests wont put up with that crap!
 
Ausumm said:
to answer the question, Rick...
I only put up with those circumstances because it was a friend...(like the other guests who showed up)
your client is nuts.
guests wont put up with that crap!
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I don't mind to "put up with those circumstances" as this guy is paying me close to a grand for basic DJ + 10 uplights (not bad money for mid-November). Heck, I won't even mind packing up early and going home. What I hate though is for his new little wifey. My opinion, dude's not being even close to smart and her day gets crapped on for it.
 
Remember to be safe with the tent and the propane heater and keep it away from plastics (Some of you electronics) a fire may not start but, melting stuff is a big possibility.
 
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