Party rental companies enhance events with diverse offerings

Three party rental companies jumped at the chance to share why the perfect tent, chairs, table linens and even a bounce house can make or break your next big event.

What services do you offer?

Annetta Goss: "We do tents, tables, chairs, linens, dance floors, champagne fountains, inflatables, frozen drink machines, portable bars and concession machines."

Kelly Adams: "Tents, tables and chairs are the core of our business. We also offer flooring, stages, wedding accessories, inflatables, chairs, china, stemware, fountains and frozen drink machines."

Lakisha Lately: "We offer bouncers, concession machines, inflatables, carnival games, dunk tanks, and custom cakes and candy wrappers. We can also stay and work the machines for a small fee."

How do you charge?

Goss: "We do estimates based on daily rates for each piece of equipment and we do long-term rentals at special rates."

Adams: "It's a quoted price for the weekend or the duration of the event because each piece of equipment has its own price and rate."

Lately: "It's quoted by the day by the piece of equipment. We have packages that include several pieces of equipment from $199 to $399."

What's the most popular rental item?

Goss: "Tables, tents and chairs."

Adams: "Tents, tables, chairs and linens."

Lately: "Bouncers, and cotton candy and snow cone machines."

Is setup and takedown included in the cost? Can customers save money by picking items up themselves?

Goss: "For flooring, tents and inflatables, setup and teardown is included. We offer pickup on things like tables and chairs if they want to save money."

Adams: "Yes. You can't set up or take down tents yourself, but we do have pickup options for some equipment."

Lately: "It's free delivery, setup and teardown."

Who is liable if somebody gets hurt by one of your products?

Goss: "We carry equipment insurance, but usually their homeowner's policy should cover them."

Adams: "Our insurance covers weather damage. If it's something else, the homeowner's policy covers it."

Lately: "It's covered by our liability insurance."

What's the funniest or oddest rental request you've had?

Goss: "Someone wanted know if they could rent a bouncer for an 'adult' party and put oil on it."

Adams: "People rent the moon walks for their weddings to keep the kids occupied."

Lately: "Somebody once asked if Darrel [Fuqua, the owner] would jump out of a cake."