Tricks of the Trade


GET THERE EARLY!!!

There are some vendors who get to the shows very early and some who get there just minutes before the event starts.  Since it takes us a long time to set up, we are one of the early birds.  As time goes on, things can become more hectic by the minute.  It's nice to get there, unload, park the vehicle and set up.  Whatever works for you. 

The squeeze.  In a lot of events, a 10x10 space is exactly what you get.  Your canopy is 10x10 and have you ever found yourself getting to an event where canopies are set up on each side of you and they have 'squeezed' you out.  Like, you are short several inches which makes propping up your canopy difficult.  One time in Clovis I arrived there somewhat late (coming from the Bay Area in the wee hours of the morning) and found that I only had about 4 feet for my space.  Each space was supposedly 10x10, but a number of vendors used a 'few extra inches' and I ended up with that.  They had to push their canopies over to allow me to get in.  I must say that was not very easy to do.

Get to your event early.  It's hell waiting at the end of a street for cars/vans/trucks to unload.  Plus as time goes on, people do get stressed out. Al;so, if there are any problems with your space, etc., you can get things worked out a lot easier (if possible).

 

HOLES IN YOUR CANOPY?


I use a couple Caravan white canopies and have spotted a number of small pinholes and other holes a bit larger, where rain could creep in.  Went down to Home Depot and picked up some white duct tape and I think that will do the trick.  So, I patched up several of my holes....underneath and on top and it held up through some pretty heavy rains.  Cheaper and a lot easier than going down and picking up a new canopy.  Actually, if you don't do something about the holes, they will eventually grow bigger.

 

                                IS YOUR CANOPY (Caravan, EZ-Up, etc) SAGGING?

 

Last year we encountered some heavy rain in Winchester Bay Oregon.  Since our canopy is older, it sags in a couple places and when we have rain, it accumulates and causes the 'roof' to sink.  If you get large concentrations of water/rain, it can cause the canopy to collapse.  On the morning after a heavy rain, I walked down and looked at the canopies to see how many had similar problems.  I came up to one of them and saw that he had propped up the top of his canopy in four areas.  It was done in such a way that the rain would fall off.  Since he wasn't open yet, he let me look inside and explained that he had gotten four of the flag poles (that ATV's use) and ran them underneath the top in four areas.  Very slick.  So, I went down and purchased four of these and did the same and they have worked ever since.  Whenever I expect heavy rains, I prop up the top with the flagpoles.