X Marks Tents at Gatherings

**michael steinrok** · 10th April 06, 10:52 PM

At Ardenwood Some of us were talking about having tents to carry the message to others who still suffer bifurcated garments! It would also give us a place to mingle and relax with the kilted brethern. My regional chieftan offered some space at his tent (Clan Cian) but, we need a banner any ideas?

**BLAZN** · 11th April 06, 07:58 AM

Perhaps someone could have a banner printed up by some sign shop that looks similar to this:

Just a suggestion.

I know I'd like to "work" such a tent.

**RockyR** · 11th April 06, 11:32 AM

2 options...

FIRST: Check with Graham! He's a FANTASTIC signmaker. He's made a vynil one for us as well as an outdoor sign in the shape of our crest. Not sure what his prices are as we did things on trade.

Second: http://onlinesigns.biz/

**Alan H** · 11th April 06, 12:22 PM

Well, one of those 10 x 10 fold-up tents that all the clans use is not that expensive.

I have 4+ yards of gray stewart crepe material...totally inappropriate for kits, for a tablecloth. I also have some red tablecloths. I can borrow a folding table from church.

Kinkos can make a vinyl sign (for about $30), and I have access to a VERY large format printer (for a few more weeks anyway) that can turn out an "X Marks" sign. We bang out 200 half-page color handouts about X Marks, grab a coule of tartan books and some stuff about our advertisers and settle in.

Not a problem.

Graham, what would you charge to make a 2 foot by three foot X Marks sign, with the tartan on it?

**Kilted KT** · 11th April 06, 12:26 PM

I'd be more than happy to help come up with ideas and anything else to make this happen.

I have some software to design business cards, and can design and print some off if it would be of any help!

**macwilkin** · 11th April 06, 12:55 PM

Let me play devil's advocate here and ask: what exactly will you be doing at the games, besides promoting Xmarks? I believe this question was raised before in another thread when someone brought this idea up -- which kiltmakers will you be promoting, and will the vendors at the games like that? I know at some games I have attended, the clan tents have to be very careful in what they sell because the vendors don't want competition -- I'm not saying I agree with that, but it's still something to consider.

Also, many games & festivals charge registration fees, rentals, etc. -- who will pay for that. Again, something to discuss before the tent ever goes up.

And, in regards to tartan identification, you may be in someone else's "bailiwick", such as the Council of Scottish Clans and Associations (COSCA), the Scottish District Families Association (SDFA), the Tartan Educational & Cultural Association (TECA), etc. These organisations will sometimes provide information tents for clan/tartan look-ups, etc.

Not trying to "rain on anyone's parade", but just giving food for thought before anyone spends any major amounts of money.

Cheers,

Todd

**GTRMAN** · 12th April 06, 08:50 AM

Originally Posted by RockyR

2 options...

FIRST: Check with Graham! He's a FANTASTIC signmaker. He's made a vynil one for us as well as an outdoor sign in the shape of our crest. Not sure what his prices are as we did things on trade.

Second: http://onlinesigns.biz/

I just took a JPG file to Kinko's and they made my band's banner for about $100 and I got it back the next day..

**way2fractious** · 12th April 06, 11:37 AM

Originally Posted by michael steinrok

... a place to mingle and relax with the kilted brethern. My regional chieftan offered some space at his tent (Clan Cian)...

Do you go afield as far as Woodland? See my post in the "Games" section.

**Alan H** · 12th April 06, 01:43 PM

If the vendors objected or if the clan tent folks objected then we could easily drop the information about X Marks vendors. The idea really is just to promote kilt-wearing and the web site. It's a social-hour, honestly.

I'd be wearing a tartan kilt while I sat at the tent, but others might wear Freedom kilts or Utilikilts or Pittsburgh kilts.

The impression I got was that tent space went for around $30. with that you get a couple of entry passes, so that's no big deal. We'd print off some stuff...I have access to a super-big sized printer so a sign is basically free for me. I have the tablecloths. I can borrow a table. Between the lot of us we can probably come up with a few books on kilt-wearing. If Wi-Fi is available I'll bring a laptop and hook it up and have the laptop pointed to the website.

And then we'll bring a cooler with some good ale in it, and sodas for the kids and just hang out.

**Colin** · 12th April 06, 01:54 PM

Originally Posted by Alan H

If the vendors objected or if the clan tent folks objected then we could easily drop the information about X Marks vendors. The idea really is just to promote kilt-wearing and the web site. It's a social-hour, honestly.

I'd be wearing a tartan kilt while I sat at the tent, but others might wear Freedom kilts or Utilikilts or Pittsburgh kilts.

The impression I got was that tent space went for around $30. with that you get a couple of entry passes, so that's no big deal. We'd print off some stuff...I have access to a super-big sized printer so a sign is basically free for me. I have the tablecloths. I can borrow a table. Between the lot of us we can probably come up with a few books on kilt-wearing. If Wi-Fi is available I'll bring a laptop and hook it up and have the laptop pointed to the website.

And then we'll bring a cooler with some good ale in it, and sodas for the kids and just hang out.

Not sure what the games you go to are like, but at mine there are tents for that sort of thing on one side, whereas the vendor canopy tents are on the other side of the field. If the sole purpose is to meet up and promote kilt wearing, than just go the the "hang out" tent area, set up, and find away for people to want to come to you, maybe have the bigger party than the beer tent.