Camelot Special Events & Tents, Inc.

Propane Tank Safety: In the “old days” propane tanks were just metal cylinders with a screw valve on them. There was also a safety valve ( pressure relief valve ) that allowed propane to escape when it expanded, as it got hotter outside. Those days are gone. Now propane tanks have a safety pressure valve inside the valve you hand turn. This interior valve will not allow you to let propane out of the tank unless it is connected to the correct fitting (which is usually your gas grill). When you screw the fitting onto the tank it pushes in on the interior valve and allows gas to enter the supply hose. Gone are the days when you just turned the hand valve to see if there was gas in the tank (with no hose attached). The second safety valve installed on these tanks is called an OPD ( Overfill Protection Device ). They do not allow the person refilling the propane tank to overfill it (which is bad – the explosive kind of bad). This is basically a float inside of the tank that rises as ...

When you are hosting or coordinating a sizable event and need a large amount of hot coffee at the end of the meal do you think “Box of Joe”? Well, there is another option. Commercial Percolators . These are the large coffee pots you would see in a function hall. They are available in several sizes such as 55 cup, 75 cup and 100 cup. There are basic aluminum coffee makers and fancier bright stainless ones for the more upscale events. If you happen to be a part-time or full-time event planner, you may consider buying one to have whenever you need it. You can also rent one when you need one or when you need additional capacity ( more than one ). If you have only a 100 cup coffee pot available and a smaller guest count, you can fill the pot to the 50-cup line, or whatever is appropriate. This is the same for all the commercial percolator sizes and styles. If you happen to be unfamiliar with how these coffee makers work, don’t worry, they are pretty simple to use. Fill the coff...

SAVE MONEY ON STAGE RENTAL BY ASKING 6 QUESTIONS Ask yourself: 1-How big of a stage do I need? 2-What height should the stage be? 3-Do I need the stage dressed? 4-Can the stage be installed/removed during business hours? 5-What is the physical location of the stage? 6-Can I use a self-install style stage? 1-Stage size is determined by what you put on it. A common size for a band stage is 12' x 16' which allows enough room for a drum set, keyboard, and two to three additional performers (maybe a vocalist, and two guitars). But the number of band members as well as the size of the instruments are what will dictate the stage size (think grand piano ). Any supporting equipment which needs to be on the stage such as speaker monitors should also be factored in. A dance performance may have a number of dancers, and depending on the style of dance, may require a significant size stage. For a lecture with one speaker you can get by with a much smaller stage (8' x 8...

Hot plates, crock pots, ovens, stoves, and microwaves can all be used to keep food warm at your party. They are not the best choice when it comes to a buffet. You want your guests to have easy access to a variety of hot food. The best way to accomplish this is with Chafing Dishes (also called Chafers). Chafers have their own heat source which is used to heat water which in turn heats the food. There is no direct flame on the food pan so your food stays warm without burning. The heat is most often created by an ethanol (alcohol) based gel in a can ( Sterno ). The fuel can last two to three hours depending on wind and how much the adjustable sterno cover is opened. The standard 8 quart Chafer is all stainless steel and consists of a base with at least two removable sterno cup holders and adjustable covers, a water pan, a food pan, and a cover. Preparing your chafer for use is easy: First, put about 2" of hot water in the water pan (the largest one). Next, load the p...

When dressing a stage for a political event, Flags cannot be overlooked. Flag Protocol: When displayed from a staff, the flag of the United States of America should hold the position of superior prominence, in advance of the audience, and in the position of honor at the speaker's right as he faces the audience. When used on a speaker's platform, the flag, if displayed flat, should be displayed above and behind the speaker. Any other flag so displayed should be placed on the left of the speaker or to the right of the audience. CLICK HERE For a printable list of flag protocols: HOW TO DISPLAY THE FLAG Mark Saponaro Email me camelotspecialevents.com