By: Megan Garvey
Posted In: Features
Photo credit: Erica Johnson
A little over a month is left until the class of 2004 will walk through the gates in front of Wakehurst to begin their journey into life after college. The university, the caterers, the craftsmen, and especially the tent company have only one thing on their minds: “I hope everything goes perfectly. I hope nothing bad happens.”
“Is everything ok? Ask me after 12!” This is the typical response from Tom Flanagan, a professor in the business department at Salve Regina University since 1982. He is also the man who was originally responsible for the special events on campus. Flanagan has definitely seen his fair share of catastrophes in his day as part of the event planning committee on campus. “Bang! The large center pole snapped in half and fell to the ground,” said Flanagan of one disaster that happened while assembling the tent. This is just one small disaster that has happened to Flanagan while planning the commencement for the past two years. The first commencement that Flanagan managed was the first time Salve decided to have the ceremony under a tent instead of at the Navy base, the site of the graduation for many previous years. “One year, the tent was set up on a Friday afternoon and the tent company did not put the large cleats in the ground,” said Flanagan. “The next morning, the morning of the Baccalaureate Mass, at 6:30 a.m., I found the tent ripped, ruined, and on top of the O’Hare classroom building.” The tent company had to come and bring a replacement tent, set it up, re-set all of the chairs, fix the stage, and re-string the lights. Replacing a tent is not as easy as it sounds. Salve rents its tents from the Newport Tent Company and the tent Salve uses is 120 ft. x 270 ft. This is about equivalent to the size of a circus tent. The tent company usually has about 100 tents at certain events throughout the state. During these busy times, Newport Tent has many crews at the sites with about 30 men assembling tents, stages, lights, and chairs. The whole month of May is usually very busy for the company because many schools in the area are celebrating graduations, and there are awards banquets and weddings. The men on the crew during this month usually put in a 90-hour week. The tent company has what it calls “crazy weeks.” This is when the crews are working overtime and trying to make each event perfect. Working with a tent company can be very stressful. One has to be aware at all times of poles coming down, ropes letting go, chairs falling over, and lights that will not light up. Pete Galkowski, head foreman at Newport Tent, stresses about major events because of the many tents set-up and the chance of something going wrong. Bill Corcoran, the owner of company, has approximately six foremen that have worked for him for about 15 years. “The guys do not skip a beat,” said Galkowski about the foremen. “They are on call 24/7, and they will go that extra mile to take care of things.” Corcoran and Shawn Degan, also a head foreman, do not sleep during the week leading up to an event. The two men are nicknamed the “weather watchers” because it is all they do. Luckily, with the new technology, they are able to keep track of the weather 24 hours a day. The weather is a major factor for a tent rental company. The company has its schedule of when tents will arrive and be assembled for each event. If something happens with the weather or an unexpected storm arrives, it could throw the whole schedule off course. “I am nervous in the wind, with young guys under my supervision,” said Galkowski. “You have to be more aware with the weather and some of the younger guys do not take it as seriously.” “We have been doing business with Newport tent for a long time; they are used to reacting to emergencies,” said Flanagan about Newport Tent Company. “We have a great relationship with them.” Flanagan is proud that after 20 years of planning commencement, he has had only four major problems. Mike Corcoran began the Newport Tent Company approximately 34 years ago. His tents made a niche for themselves after appearing in “The Great Gatsby,” which was filmed around in some of Newport’s mansions. The company is still in the family with Billy Corcoran running the business. Newport Tent has many years of expertise in rentals and event planning, and makes it their goal to be available to customers regardless of the day of the week or the time of day. The company considers themselves, after 34 years in the business, knowledgeable and professional and want their customers satisfied their work. Even after 34 years though, Mother Nature is always on the tent company’s mind. “The weather, it makes or breaks you,” said Galkowski of the overall chances the company takes with each event.
