From William T Lasley,
Your Guide to Arts / Crafts Business.
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Purchasing a high cost canopy may not be right for you. Here are some alternatives to investing hundreds of dollars into a shelter for your display. (Keep in mind that if you attend many outdoor shows, a good, sturdy canopy is a must. Also be sure to check with show management. Some events require that you have an attractive canopy.)

No need?

Simply attending an outdoor event doesn't warrant putting lots of money into a canopy. In fact, there may be no need for shelter at all. There are many outdoor festivals that provide shelter for you, usually in the form of a large "circus"-type tent. Check with the promoter/management well in advance of the show to see when and if you will need to provide covering for your booth. I can tell you from experience that it is annoying to invest cash in a brand new canopy and have no use for it at the first several shows you attend after buying it. At shows where shelter is provided, it's still a good idea to use plastic or sheets (depending on your product) to cover everything after hours.

Another reason to delay the purchase of a canopy would be the number of outdoor events you will be attending. Sometimes the urge to buy something is greater than the actual need. If you will only be attending a few outdoor events this season, it might not be cost-effective to purchase a canopy yet. In this situation, depending on your products, you may want to try one of the alternatives below.

Some low-cost alternatives...

If you have decided, for whatever reason, that you do not want to invest in an expensive canopy this season, there are some alternatives to that $3000 air-conditioned, lighted, all-purpose, deluxe tent! If you are blessed with a near-by friend who is also a crafter, you might ask to borrow theirs. (If they have one. ;) ) While most of us are not in this position, if you can cover your booth for free; do it, but keep in mind the cost of canopies. If you borrow someone else's property, you are responsible for its safe return. There is no guarantee that a storm will not come through and destroy your friend's tent, leaving you with the responsibility of its replacement!

A simple and very inexpensive solution would be to simply use plastic to cover your products with after the show. Use clothespins or some other type of clip to fasten down the edges and sides and you'll have a quick and easy make-shift cover for your booth. While this is only a step better than leaving everything exposed, if you expect good weather, this may be all the shelter you wish to invest in. A little more cash can buy more sturdy protection in the forms of "tarps" that are used to cover cars and such. Either way, in light rains and low winds this can be a great way to protect your goods.

One low cost, but effective way to protect your products is to use a "picnic tent" to cover your booth. They can usually be found in the camping section of department stores and cost very little. While they won't last very long in rough weather, they can provide your display with adequate protection from the elements when conditions are mild. These tents consist of 4 or 5 poles that hold a "tarp" overhead and have no sidewalls. A simple (and still cheap) way to remedy the lack of walls is to use plastic to secure the sides. I've used plastic "drop-cloth", found in housepaint stores and have had good luck with it. (Though it rarely lasts for more than a show or two...) For more secure protection at the sides, again, you could use a tarp made of a durable plastic or nylon. With a little regular maintenance, this type of structure can be a great way to cut costs and still provide decent protection from weather.

What if you want a more secure structure, but just do not want to invest a thousand bucks into a tent? No problem! Many companies offer very nice canopies specifically designed for festival use for a few hundred dollars. If you will be attending quite a few outdoor shows but don't have a large budget, this is the way to go. While I do not endorse any particular brand, most of the links below are to companies that provide booth shelter at a reasonable cost.

• Cover Me Inc.
  These folks carry a large variety of tarps and canopies for almost any type of event, including crafts fairs.

• Easy Up Canopies
  Easy Up Canopy and Tent Products has been "covering the world" with shelter since 1984.[/a]
  
  
• EnviroShade
  A wide selection of canopies designed to provide shade. A few also protect from rain and other elements.

• Fred's Studio Tents & Canopies, Inc.
  Tents and canopies ranging is size from 10x10 to 30x60, in many different styles and colors. They also carry additional items like sidewalls, bellies or skirts, and banners with your logo.