Skye Rentals | Film Production Supplies and Rentals

“How To Ensure You’re Not Going To Be Shut Out Of Your Own Tent”

When you need a festival tent to house your talent and/or crew, there are crucial considerations that you must take into account before committing to the build. One of the most important considerations is permitting the build. With a little planning, this process can eat up important prep time, and add a few bucks to the budget. Without planning, you risk getting shut out of your own tent. Below you will find a handy guide to permits for festival tents for both the city and county of Los Angeles. As always, be sure to contact each appropriate office to verify the information.

County Fire Permit
The permit must be applied for in the corresponding regional office. Must apply for the permit at least 48 hours in advance of the build, and the office hours are 7:30am-10am M-F. No charge for the permit, but they do require an application, copy of Skye’s flame resistance certificate, and a plot plan (a plot plan must include distances to each surrounding structure, vehicle, and generator).

County Department of Building and Safety
This permit requires an inspection. The permit must be applied for in the corresponding regional office. Each office has different hours and days of operation, and requires different lead times in order to inspect the structure. Inspections are typically done only Monday-Thursday, and cost $400-$600 for the inspection.

City Fire Permit
This permit must be applied for at City Hall East. Must apply for the permit at least 24 hours in advance of the build, and the office hours are 7am-9am and 2:30pm-3:15pm. The cost for the permit is $312 for structures up to 2500 square feet, and $624 for structures up to 25000 square feet. This permit requires an application, copy of Skye’s flame resistance certificate, and a plot plan.

City Department of Building and Safety
This permit requires an inspection. Permits are applied for, and inspections are scheduled online. Inspections must be scheduled at least 48 hours prior to the build. This permit requires an approved permit from the LA City Fire Department. Inspections are made 7am-3:30pm. Inspections requested for “off hours” incur an additional $300 fee. The inspection fee for tents up to 5000 square feet is $130. A 6% “systems fee” is applied to all fees.

As always, Skye Rentals is happy to answer any questions you might have. For a nominal fee, we can also permit the build for you.

We often get questions about the difference between a “Repeater” and a “Base Station”?

When used properly, these tools can be extremely useful and effective on set, preventing dangerous breakdowns in communication. The first question is whether you’ll need a Repeater or Base Station. If your crew will be more than 2-3 miles away from each other, or if there are obstacles that would prevent a “line of sight” transmission (like buildings or mountains), then the answer is yes.

Essentially, a Base Station is used as a central location, from which an amplified signal is broadcast to a network of walkies. A Repeater is used as a connection between two or more distant or obstructed points in a network. Let me explain…
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There is a lot to consider, when ordering a festival tent for set, and the costs can get out of control quickly, if you’re not careful. It’s always best to defer to an expert (like Skye Rentals!), and we’re always happy to walk you through requirements, permitting, and building. On the other hand, if you ever need a quick reference, we’ve put together a list of initial points that are crucial to getting your festival tent set up right (and to make sure a fire safety officer doesn’t have everyone eating lunch outside the tent!).
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100 Brand New Motorola CP2000 Radios.

It’s a beautiful thing.

When talking about electricity, and electrical power (like when you’re ordering a generator), it’s important to listen to what your electrician (or gaffer or caterer or whomever) says. Duh, right?

Personally, this is one of those subjects that I had a very hard time wrapping my head around. So, for another installment of basic information (and an excuse for me to educate myself) I’m writing a primer on electricity.
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Fire Safety On Set: What You Need To Know To Stay Safe & Compliant

Considering our climate, varied work environments, and long hours, it’s no surprise that fire safety is often at the forefront of our minds when considering the safety of production crews. Not too long ago, I was asked by a friend to explain the difference between the various fire extinguishers that we rent. In doing so, I discovered that there is sometimes a lack of knowledge as to how to stay compliant on set. Through a small amount of research, reading text that could be considered the worlds best non-pharmaceutical alternative to Ambien (check the link below, and you’ll be asleep within seconds), I filtered the information down to a few key points that (hopefully) won’t have you nodding off.
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