In this special episode of Pitchin' Tents, hosts Bryan Bolt and Davis West share some big news. Bryan announces his transition from Technical Solutions Manager at TopTec to Senior Director of Tenting Solutions with ARA. In his new role, Bryan will lead the Safe Tenting Standard training program, bringing training and consistent safety standards to the entire industry.

Davis West will step into leadership at TopTec as the company continues product development and customer-focused service. Together, they discuss what this transition means for TopTec, ARA, and for the tenting industry as whole.

Hosts Bryan Bolt and Davis West sit down with Nick Deninno of B&R Innovations (Block & Roll) to trace the evolution of tent ballasting, from water barrels and concrete failures to engineered, attachable block solutions.

The episode covers ballast studies, practical rules of thumb (10–15 lbs/sq ft), why tying ballast to legs matters, transportation and site logistics, and how proper ballasting improves safety, efficiency and revenue for tent companies. You'll also hear a few funny stores along the way to keep you laughing while you learn.

Welcome to Episode 7 of the Pitchin’ Tents Podcast! Hosts Bryan Bolt and Davis West are joined by Kevin Gern of the American Rental Association (ARA) to kick off a two-part series focused on one of the most critical aspects of tenting: anchoring.

In this episode, the trio explores best practices for tent stability, the science behind stake holding power, and how soil conditions impact your installs. Kevin also shares insights into ARA’s research with Clemson University and introduces the ARA GT tool, designed to help rental pros test ground conditions with confidence.

From safety tips to risk management strategies, this episode is packed with valuable info to help you anchor smarter and safer.