Hosting an outdoor event of any kind can be rewarding and fun, but it involves a lot of work. There is always a theme or a main focus, and that is where much of the energy will be directed, of course, but there are many other details that must be covered as well. Some of these are more obvious than others. For instance, you may know that you will need food and drink in some form at your event and will need to figure out how to provide those. Other things may not be as obvious, such as the need for medical care on site and, of course, the need for restroom facilities. Even if your event is held in or around an area with some facilities in place, will those be enough for the number of people that you expect at your event? The more popular your event, the more likely that answer will be no.
Some Types of Outdoor Festivals or Events
While there are many types of these events held throughout the entire year, here are a few of the most popular to consider:
- Music festivals (one-day and multi-day)
- Art festivals
- Arts and crafts fairs
- Carnivals
- Food-based events
- Marathons, half marathons, and fun runs for competition, for charity, to increase awareness, or just because
- Major obstacle course runs like Spartan Race or Tough Mudder
- Political events and rallies
- Farmers’ markets (either regularly recurring or occasional/seasonal)
- Community bake and yard sales
And the list goes on and on. All of these events tend to have lots of people that are interested in participating in some capacity, either as performers/vendors or as volunteers to set up and manage the event and plenty of people who will attend. All of those people will eventually need to have a clean place to use the facilities and then to clean up afterward.
Choosing the Right Porta Potty Rental Company for Your Event
While you might think that all porta potties are the same, you are not quite right. There are some variations both in terms of quality and overall size as well as, of course, in the service of the company that you are renting from. Smaller companies may only be able to provide a small number of units to you, and they may only be available for limited times. A larger company will be able to provide you with more units; however, will they be charging a fee that you can still reasonably afford? Many events work within a very limited budget and must plan carefully. Before you rent from the first name that you find, do some research to get the best deal. Here are some questions that you might want to ask:
- Do you give free estimates?
- How many units are required and/or allowed to be rented?
- What is the capacity of each unit?
- How long will it take for delivery and setup?
- How long will it take for cleanup after the event is over?
- What is your rental fee per day/per unit?
- Do supplies (such as toilet paper and hand sanitizer) cost extra? Do you require a specific brand (often only carried by the company)?
- What is the policy for a broken or damaged unit during the event?
This last question might be important in that if you have to close down a unit because it is full, broken, or otherwise unsafe, you will increase the traffic in others. If you have a limited number of units to work with, this can be a serious problem right away.
Locating Porta Potties at Your Event
The company that you choose should also be able to give you the best ideas for where to place your units. They may need to look at your location before the rental agreement is finalized so that they can help you plan this important step. You will want them to be convenient, accessible, and safe but not near food or the main event. For instance, you do not want a portable toilet next to a stage at a music event or a political rally. The rental company should look for the following things at your venue:
- Even ground, preferably pavement, that will allow the unit or units to sit flush and flat. No one wants to be in a slightly tilted porta potty.
- Located at a reasonable distance from food and beverage vendors
- Located away from public water sources in case of leakage
There may be additional codes for your area that must be adhered to. The rental company should be aware of these.