I would welcome anyone's suggestions regarding tent set-up and takedown. I am of an age when it is not easy for me to do alone, yet I usually am alone at shows. I really wish I had seen all the info about EZ-Ups BEFORE I bought one, so I would have known not to do so. (I've since sold it!) I found the 80+ pounds of weight very difficult to haul in and out of my rear-door van, and the carrying case spent more time rolling on to its side than it did rolling forward. I am in need of suggestions about specific tents that cost less than the one I want ($900) and that are genuinely easy to set up. My actual display setup is fairly uncomplicated, but if I want to go on doing shows, I really have to find a reliable, affordable tent. 

I have had 2 different e-z ups.  The one I got from Sam's club only cost around $200 around 4 yrs ago and was very easy to set up.  As the other person said just push up from the center.  The only thing I didn't like about it is it only had 3 sides and leaked after a year.  (I had a friend that bought the same one and it leaked from the get go) I understand the e-z ups there now do have 4 zip up sides.  My present tent is from John Mee Canapoy's and is heavy and does not fold down as small as my previous tent.  It has heavy duty top and sides that do not leak but sometimes get condensation if it is too moist out overnight.  I also set up by myself and am 60 and don't have the strength I used to.  I always have to find a man to lock in the corners as I absoultly can not do it myself.  Sometimes the men have a hard time.  It is not easy but I spent $1,000 on it and it will have to fall apart before I get another.

There are all kinds of EZ Up canopies.  The overall best one I have found for a reasonable price is the Encore II.  The one I have right now is about 6-8 months old.  I bought it at thehutshop.com and the complete package was about $250.  It weighs no more than 50 pounds.  However, the top is already starting to sag and leak, so I have to put a light tarp under it before setting up.  It also has the "new" sides, which are thin and also leak.  But I rarely leave merchandise in at night anyway.  The positive side is that I can completely haul it and set it up alone.  Sam's Club has been selling another canopy called the Embassy and it is total garbage.  Anyone who has an Embassy, take it back, even if it's broken, even if it's old.  As long as you can produce the receipt, they will refund your money because they know it's junk.

You did ask for hints.  I stopped using the carrying case.  I put the sides in a tote bag.  I cover the tent with an old spread and hold that on with bungee cords before storing it.  Always open it up at home if it got wet.  Same thing, spread out the sides and let them dry.

At the show, look for someone else alone and offer to help with their tent.  I almost always can get someone to help me with mine and then I help with theirs.  Once your tent has been used a few times, it should open easily.  If you are totally alone, go around it in circles and spread each side out bit by bit.  When you get it at least 7 or 8 feet out, go underneath and lift the center and shake.  By then it should be open enough for you to lock the corners.  If the corners won't lock easily, it's not open far enough.  Keep the tent at "half mast" while attaching the sides, stringing lights, hanging signs.  Then raise it after that (you won't need a ladder).  It is really best if you have a helper with the legs, as it creates a bit of stress if you can only raise one leg at a time.  But if you are alone, make sure the other legs can move when you put one leg up at a time.  Go in circles again, raising each leg only one notch at a time.

I am reading with interest all of the comments and suggestions recently posted regarding the EZ Up canopies and the various problems with the set-ups.  I, too, have a question as I just did a 3-day show this past weekend and I call it the "show from Hell" since I had one problem after another with the tent.   First of all, and I definitely need some hints here, I can never get the sides to meet each other so that I can zip it up at night.  It is a Caravan, supposedly a decent tent, but I am so frustrated with this thing that I just might toss it and get something else.  I have "practiced with it at home and if I drop one leg while attaching the side, it seems to help bring it together.  But, if my tent is 1/8" off in placement, it won't allow me to even get the sides more than 4-6" from each other for zipping. Why in the world the Caravan company couldn't add just a smidgen more to the sides for width  is a mystery to me.  I would say forget about the sides if I didnt have to leave all my props, etc. in the tent overnight and don't want them to get wet if it rains....or, worse yet, stolen!

Does anyone else encounter the problem with the zipping of the sides?...Please, someone ...give me a hint!  What am I doing wrong?  I have another show coming up and need to solve this problem.