A couple of tips that I have found very useful:
1: when needing to pin something to the stabilizer, use the curved safety pins that are used to pin baste the three layers of a quilt. I don't close them, but that curve really makes it easy to get the pin in, up and out. As always...make sure they are NOT in the actual embroidering area, I keep them as close to the edge of the hoop as possible.
2. If your machine has a basting stitch, use it. Makes everything stay in place and is easy to remove.
3. Be super careful of which marking pen you use. I try to avoid pens as much as possible and simply fold and make a light press (enough to see the marks) to align with the marks on the hoop. Don't care what they say about themselves, not all pen marks are removeable!! lol And we won't even talk about those chalk markers....
All I can think of right now....