Pitchin’ Tents

Davis and Ray welcome MATRA’s Liz Wilson, Ian Sherwood, and Michael Micek for a special preview of the 2026 MATRA Tent Show in Atlantic City! From hands-on certification courses and Spanish-language education to a new first-timer buddy system and expanded expo hours, they break down what attendees can expect. The conversation also explores choosing the right employees to bring, building lasting industry connections, and turning what you learn into real improvements back at your business—with plenty of laughs along the way.

Davis and Ray talk with Martin Tiller from Event Rentals, Inc about delegating responsibility, developing leaders, and creating a company culture that attracts good people. He opens up about the burnout that forced him to rethink his role and the lessons that helped him start working on the business.

From Clemson football setups to managing growth across four South Carolina locations, Season 2, Episode 10 of Pitchin’ Tents connects the demands of event rentals with challenges small business owners know well.

Kurt Whittleton grew up at Classic Party Rentals—washing dishes, making deliveries and installing tents before stepping into leadership. Now, with his parents retired, he’s carrying their nearly 30-year legacy forward.

In Season 2, Episode 9, Kurt joins Ray and Davis to discuss earning his crew’s respect, building a dependable leadership team and growing the business through new tents, RFID technology and restroom trailers. He also shares two lessons that continue to guide him: get your hands dirty, and remember that your network is your net worth.

Morgan Shirley joins Pitchin’ Tents to share how she and her husband, William, grew Cypress Tents & Events in Baton Rouge from the “Crawfish Boil Starter Pack” into a fast-growing, design-focused rental company in less than three years.

Morgan discusses how their COVID-era wedding helped plant the seed for the business, how her background as a therapist shapes the way she leads employees and serves stressed clients, and the challenges of raising a family while building a company with her spouse.

The conversation also covers servant leadership, hiring for attitude, investing in quality equipment, and the changing trends shaping the event rental industry.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Live from the ARA Show in Orlando, hosts Ray and Davis sit down with Ben from NexTech to talk about his patent-pending Keder Clamp and how 3D printing is changing the way tent professionals approach installs. From replacing zip ties to improving efficiency on job sites, Ben shares the story behind the product and the real-world feedback that shaped its development. The conversation also dives into fast e-commerce fulfillment, customizable strength and color options, training the next generation of installers, and NexTech’s new partnership with Tentwares. It’s a look at how practical innovation and hands-on experience are raising the bar across the event tent industry.