How to Talk the Talk

Above-the-Title Sponsorship – Placing of a sponsoring company's name above an event's name, in event promotional material.

Advance Order – An order for services sent to the service contractor prior to the installation date.

Attendance Promotion – The process of generating a qualified audience to attend an exposition.

Backwall – The panels at the rear of an exhibit.

Bill of Lading (B/L) – A document that establishes the terms between a shipper and a transportation company for the transport of goods between specified points for a specified charge.

Boneyard – A storage area for empty crates and contractor materials.

Brand Identity – The process of building or creating a proprietary franchise for a company's products in the minds of its potential customers.

CAD/CAM – Computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing.

Common Carrier – A transportation company moving people or goods, which usually only accepts crated materials that it can consolidate with the properties of other customers into one shipment bound for the same destination.

Corner Booth – An exhibit space with exposure on at least two aisles.

Cross Aisle – Any aisle that is at a right angle to a main aisle.

CWT – Hundredweight, a measurement used for shipping exhibit properties, usually 100 pounds.

Declared Value – A shipper's stated dollar value for the contents of a shipment.

Drayage – The service that includes delivery of materials to an exhibit space, removal of empty crates, storage of crates during the show, return of crates at the end of the show, and delivery of materials to the carrier loading area.

D.T. Labor – Double-time labor, or work performed on overtime and charged at twice the published rate.

Education Track – An education program designed specifically to meet learner needs based on occupational, educational or experience levels.

Exclusive Contractor – One who holds an exclusive contract with a facility or show manager to provide specified services to that facility or show.

Exhibitor-Appointed Contractor (EAC) – Also called an independent contractor, a contractor hired by an exhibitor to perform tradeshow services independently of show management-appointed contractors.

Exhibitors Guide – Also called a show guide, a list of all the exhibiting companies participating in an exhibition. The guide is often broken down by product and service, in addition to alphabetically.

Exhibitor Kit – A package of information that contains all rules, regulations and forms relating to an exhibition, provided to exhibitors by show management. Also known as a service kit.

Exhibitor Prospectus – An information and marketing package given to exhibitors during the exhibit space sales process.

Fire Lane – An aisle that must be kept clear of obstructions to allow emergency egress.

Floor Manager – An individual representing show management who is responsible for the exhibition area.

Floor Marking – Method used to mark booth spaces.

Floor Order – Order for services placed after exhibit installation has begun.

Floor Port – A utility box recessed in the floor containing electrical, telephone or plumbing connections.

Foam Core – Rigid foam covered with heavy paper stock used for mounting signs, art, etc.

Four-Hour Call – Minimum work period for which union labor must be paid.

Freight Desk – The area where inbound and outbound exhibit materials are handled at a tradeshow.

General Contractor – Show-management-appointed company that provides services to a tradeshow and/or its exhibitors.

Hardwall – A type of exhibit construction in which walls are made of a solid material, rather than fabric.

Header – A sign or other structure across the top of an exhibit.

High Jacker – Equipment used to lift people to a given height.

Hold Harmless Clause – A contract clause that relieves one party of responsibility in the event of a legal claim.

I&D – Installation and dismantling of an exhibit.

In-line – An exhibit that is constructed in a continuous line along an aisle.

Island Exhibit – An exhibit with aisles on four sides.

Labor Call – Method for securing union employees.

Lead Tracking – A manual or automated system to conduct follow-up activities for sales prospects resulting from a tradeshow.

Light Box – An enclosure, used to backlight signs or graphics, which contains lighting underneath a translucent facing material.

Manual Registration – The collection of data on-site for later processing.

Marshaling Yard – A lot where trucks gather for orderly dispatch to show site.

Masking Drape – A cloth used to cover storage areas.

Modular Exhibit – An exhibit constructed with interchangeable components designed to be set up in various arrangements and sizes.

Move-in – The date specified by show management for beginning exhibit installation.

Move-out – The date specified by show management for dismantling exhibits and clearing the exhibition floor.

Official Supplier – A company that, on payment of a fee, is named as the official source for a product or service to an exposition.

On-site Order – Floor order placed at show site.

Padded Van Shipment – Un-crated goods covered with blankets or other protective padding and shipped via van line.

Peak Night – Refers to the single night of highest occupancy within a room block.

Perimeter Booth – A booth space on an outside wall.

Pipe and Drape – Tubing covered with draped fabric to make up the rails and backwall of a tradeshow.

Portable Exhibit – A lightweight display unit that can be moved without a forklift.

Quad Box – Four electrical outlets in one box.

Request for Proposal (RFP) – The process used to select a service contractor in the exposition industry.

Rigger – A skilled worker responsible for handling and assembly of machinery.

Right-to-Work State – A state where no person can be denied the right to work because of membership or non-membership in a labor union.

Riser – A platform for people or materials.

Scissors Lift – A motorized platform used to lift people to a given height.

Service Desk – The location at which exhibitors order services.

Show Decorator – A company or individual responsible for providing drapes, carpeting and signage services for the tradeshow and its exhibitors.

Side Rail – A low divider wall, usually pipe and drape, used to divide one exhibit space from another.

Skirting – Decorative covering around tables and risers.

Space Rate – The cost per square foot of exhibit space.

Stanchions – Posts used to support signage or other elevated objects.

S.T. Labor – Straight-time labor, or work performed during normal hours at the standard rate.

Sub-block – A group of hotel rooms set aside within a block or rooms used to house certain groups of people together.

Table Top Display – An exhibit designed for use on the top of a table or similar surface.

Target Date – A date set by show management for the arrival of freight at a tradeshow which, if not met, will usually result in a penalty charge.

Teardown – The dismantling of the exhibits.

Traffic Flow – The manner in which people move from place to place within a confined area.

Union Steward – An on-site union official elected by coworkers to oversee a particular union's work in a facility and resolve any disputes over union jurisdiction.