I glue baste and found that if I do the backing first and then let it dry overnight, then glue the front down the next day or so, it works better. That way, I don't have to keep checking to see if the back has moved or puckered when I'm smoothing down the front, because the glue on the back was still damp.
I found out by accident, as I didn't have time to do both sides the same day, and realized how much quicker and easier it was to do one side, let it dry overnight, and then do the other side. Now I do it this way all the time.