The setup of a popup booth is quite easy. That's why they have become so popular over the years. If you are transporting your own booth to the show site, usually you are allowed to wheel your booth into the show site yourself. This is determined by local convention rules which do vary from place to place, so check with show management to be sure.

The first thing you'll want to unpack from the case is the frame which needs to be setup first.

1. Unlatch the restraining strap from around the frame and set the frame on the floor in front of you.
2. With both hands grasp the middle tubes of the frame and raise the frame up to approximately waist high.
3. Regrasp the center tubes in the middle of the frame and raise the frame up to its full height.
4. The frame will lock into place when it reaches its full height.
5. Engage the center locking posts to secure the frame. This completes the setup of the popup frame.



Next we will install the magnetic channel bars that the panels will attach to. The channel bars are stored in a separate nylon bag in the case. Remove the channel bar bag from the case and take out the first folding channel bar.

1. Carefully unfold the channel bar and notice there is a notch on the backside of the bottom and top of the channel bar. The top of the channel bar is marked.
2. Slide the bottom channel bar notch over the hub post at the bottom of the frame.
3. At the folds of the channel bar are spring connections that will snap over the center hubs of the frame. Squeeze the connections to allow the channel bar connection to engage the center hub post in each frame hub location. Work from the bottom up engaging each hub as you proceed up the frame.
4. To engage the top connection , stretch the channel bar up and over the top connection post and engage the notch with the top frame post.
5. Install channel bars in all the front curve locations facing you, plus the far left rear and far right rear locations. These back channel bar locations are for the wrap-around end panels to attach to.
6. There are no channel bars for the other center rear hub locations.
7. This completes the installation of the magnetic channel bars.



At this point, install your lights. You can do this one of two different ways:

1. If you are not able to reach the top of the frame, you can tilt the entire frame toward you to install the light(s). Each light has a rectangular tube that simply slides down into the top of the channel bar. Flip the extension cord(s) over the back of the frame to get them in position and out of your way.
2. Use a ladder or chair to reach the light locations without tilting the frame toward you.
3. After a few setups you'll quickly determine which method works best for you. By the way, it pays to practice the setup and take down a few times in the office to get used to the procedures before you hit the show floor for the first time.



The final step in the setup is to install the panels. The panels are flexible and they need to be handled carefully to avoid kinking or creasing the panels. This is more important with printed mural panels than with fabric, but even fabric panels can be creased if not handled properly.

I prefer to start with one of the center panels. Each panel has a flexible black plastic hanger at the top with two notches, one on either end of the hanger. These notches drop over the panel pegs at the top of each magnetic channel bar.

1. Take one center panel in both hands gripping it on either side about one foot above the verticle center of the panel.
2. Gently flex the panel toward you allowing it to form a curve
3. Drop the notch on one end of the hangar over a panel peg on one of the channel bars, and the other notch over the panel peg immediately to the left or right on the next channel bar over.
4. Help the panel to slowly unfurl toward the ground engaging the matching magnetic strips on the channel bar as you proceed.
5. The magnetic strips are polarized and the panel magnet will snap into perfect alignment all by itself.
6. Proceed to the next panel, finishing with the installation of the end panels last.
7. Installation of the end panels will require a more severe curve in the opposite direction to install, but they are slightly thinner in construction to allow for the tighter bend required.
8. When installing your panels, work slowly and be patient. This will insure that you do not inadvertently damage any of your panels
9. This completes the basic setup procedure.
10. If you are not using mural panels, install your flexible graphic panels as required.