From Installer to Industry Insight: The State of the Tent Business

From Driving Cattle to Building Luxury Weddings with Jeff Holloway

Jeff Holloway joins Ray and Davis to talk about going from dairyman and cowboy to running successful tent rental operations in Georgia and Texas. They cover Macon Tent Rentals, high-end weddings, working with planners, building reliable crews, structured and sailcloth tents, trade shows, and what it takes to stay persistent in the event rental industry.

Inside Charleston’s Event Rental Boom

Greg Casciato of Snyder Events joins Ray and Davis to talk Charleston’s fast-growing event rental scene, high-end weddings, coastal tent installs, labor, crew training, tent trends, and the controlled chaos that keeps rental teams coming back.

From Summer Job to Industry Leader with Matt Smith

In this episode of Pitchin’ Tents, Ray and Davis sit down with Matt Smith of Special Events Virginia and MATRA for a conversation about building a career in the tent industry from the ground up. Matt shares how a summer job at 19 turned into a lifelong career, the mentors who helped shape him, and how MATRA became a major part of his growth in the industry. The conversation covers hands-on education, mentorship, certification, PPE, code officials, and what it takes to help the next generation of tent professionals succeed. From field experience to industry leadership, this episode is a real-world look at how people, training, and a little stubborn tenacity can shape the future of tenting.

Safe Tenting: ARA’s Plan to Raise Tent Standards

Hosts Ray and Davis welcome industry veteran Bryan Bolt to Pitchin' Tents to discuss his new role at the ARA and the Safe Tenting initiative. They cover upcoming nationwide in-person trainings, certification programs, the ground-testing tool for stake holding power, and how ARA is engaging with codes and regulators to improve tent safety. The episode highlights efforts to professionalize tent installation, document site testing, and give rental companies practical resources.

Inside the Tent Industry with ARA President Brian Richardson

Davis & Ray sit down with industry legend Brian Richardson, President of L & A Rentals Inc. and ARA President, for a conversation filled with stories, humor, and hard-earned insight. From on-the-job mishaps to leadership and mentorship, Brian shares practical lessons on safety, employee culture, and building lasting relationships in the tent and event industry.