Glossary

A

Advance Order: Goods and/or services ordered prior to setup.
Aisle Carpet: Carpet installed in aisles.
AV Contractor: Official supplier of audiovisual equipment and services.

B

Backwall Booth: Booth on the perimeter of the show floor.
Bill of Lading: Document or form listing goods to be shipped. (Also known as a Material Handling Unit.)
Bone Yard: On-site storage area for contractor materials. (Could be a trailer)
Booth Sign: Traditionally 7"x 44" sign indicating company name and booth number.

C

Carpenter: Skilled craftsmen used in the installation of exhibits and displays.
Common Carrier: Transportation company that handles crated materials.
Consignee: Person to whom goods are shipped.
Contractor: One who contracts to supply certain labor, services, or materials.
Corner Booth: Exhibit space with aisles on two sides.
Cubic Content: Typically a display regulation. Under the Cubic Content Rule, and exhibitor may build right up to the front of the booth, (without protruding into the aisles or into a neighboring booth) up to the maximum allowable height (without exceeding the booths height limitation.)
Customs Broker: Person or company which provides customs-clearing services to shippers of goods to and from another country.
Cut & Lay: Installation of carpet other than standard booth size, generally at an increased cost.
CWT: Cost per "Hundred weight." Equivalent of 100lbs.

D

Decorator: Craft person used to install drape, fabric, signs, etc.
Dismantle: Take down and removal of exhibits.
Drayage: Transfer of freight from point of arrival to exhibit space. (Also know as Material Handling.)
Drayage Charge: The dollar cost based on weight. Drayage is calculated by 100 pounds units, or hundred weight abbreviated CWT. There is usually a minimum charge.

E

Exhibitor Designated Contractor (EDC): Any company (other than the designated "official" contractors listed in the exhibitor manual) providing a service (display installation and dismantling, audio visual, etc.) and needing access to an exhibit any time during installation, show dates and/or dismantling.
Exhibitor Manual: Manual containing general information, labor/service order forms, rules and regulations and other information pertaining to exhibitor participation in an exhibit.
Exhibit Hall: Area(s) within a facility where exhibits are located.

F

FHC: Notation on floor plans indicating location of fire house cabinets.
Fire Exit: Door, clear of obstructions, designated for emergency egress.
Floater: Worker(s) used by foreman to help out assigned labor for short periods.
Floor Load: Maximum weight per square foot a floor can support.
Floor Manager: Person retained by exposition management to supervise the installation, dismantling and operation of the exhibit area.
Floor Order: Order for labor or services placed on site.
Floor Port: Utility box, recessed in the floor, containing electrical, telephone, and/or plumbing connections.
Foam Core: Lightweight material with a Styrofoam center used for signs, decorating and exhibit construction. (Also called Gator Foam, or Gator Board.)
Four Hour Call: Minimum work period for which union labor must be paid in special circumstances. (Generally minimum call is one hour.)
Free Form Exhibit: An exhibit with aisles on all four sides. (Also called an island)
Freight Forwarder: Shipping company.

G

General Contractor: company which provides all labor and services to an exposition manager and exhibitors.

H

Hand Carryable: Items that one person can carry unaided (meaning no hand trucks or dollies). A person with a package should be able to fit into a typical revolving door.
Hardwall Exhibit: Exhibit constructed of plywood or similar materials as opposed to exhibits formed by drapery only.
Hard Wire: Any electrical connection other than receptacle to receptacle. Charged on a time plus material basis.
Header: Overhead display sign, sometimes illuminated. Hold Harmless: Clause in contracts ensuring that a group or company will not be responsible in the event of a claim.

I

I & D Company: Company hired to install and dismantle exhibits. (A type of Exhibitor Designated Contractor.)
Island Booth: See FREE FORM EXHIBIT.

J

Kit: See EXHIBITOR MANUAL.

K

Labor Call: (1) Method of securing union employees. (2) Time specified for labor report (as in 7:00 AM labor call) (3) Minimum amount for which labor must be paid.
Linear Booth: A booth Bound by one or two aisles.
Loading Dock: Area of facility where freight is received.
Lock-up: Secure Storage area that is either guarded or locked.

M

Manual: See EXHIBITOR MANUAL.
Marshalling Yard: Control point at which all freight is checked in. Freight is then dispatched to the appropriate loading dock as space becomes available. This process insures a safe and expedient fashion in which freight is delivered to the exhibit hall.
Masking Drape: Drapes used to cover storage or other unsightly areas.
MIS: Abbreviation for modular interlocking system. Any of a number of modular exhibit systems using extruded metal framing and PVC or masonite wall materials. (Some brand names are: FLEX, OCTANORM, & MICROFORM.) Modular Exhibit: exhibit constructed with interchangeable components.
Move-In: Date specified for beginning of exhibit installation.
Move-Out: Date specified for dismantling of exhibits.

O

Official Contractor: Company designated by exposition management to provide labor and/or services to exposition management and exhibitors.
On-Site Order: See FLOOR ORDER.
OT Labor: Work performed on overtime billed at either time and one-half or twice the published labor rates.

P

Padded Van Shipment: Freight shipped via van lines where material is pad wrapped but not crated.
Peninsula Booth: Booth space with aisles on three sides. (Also called an End Cap.)
Pipe and Drape: Tubing with drapes which separate exhibit booths.
POV: A privately owned vehicle, such as a passenger car, van, or small company vehicle, as distinguished from trucks, tractor-trailers, and other over the road vehicles.

R

Rental Booth: Complete booth package offered to exhibitors on a rental basis.
Rigger: Skilled person used in the handling and assembly of machinery, steel contraction and heavy materials.

S

Scooter: Electrical or gas propelled cart.
Security Cage: Metal Cage provided by security contractor to lock up exhibitor materials.
Self-Contained Unit: Type of exhibit where crate is opened and become part of the exhibit.
Show Management: Company totally responsible for an exposition.
Side Rail: Low spanider wall, usually pipe and drape, used to spanide one exhibit space from another.
Skirting: Decorative covering around tables or risers.
Special Handling: Applies to material shipments requiring extra labor, equipment or time in delivery to exhibit space.
ST Labor: Labor performed on straight time as specified in the Exhibitor Manual.
Subcontractor: Company retained by exclusive general service contractor to provide services.

T

Targeted Floorplan: A colored coated floorplan letting exhibitors know when their freight should arrive and will be delivered to their exhibit area.
Terminal: Freight handling or dock area.
Time & Materials: Method of charging on a cost-plus basis.

U

Union Steward: On-Site union official. The steward is elected by his co-workers to oversee his particular union’s work in the facility. Stewards are responsible for resolving disputes over union jurisdiction that may occur.

V

Van Shipment: Shipment of exhibit properties via van lines, often consisting of large pieces, crated or uncrated, such as furniture or exhibit materials.

W

Waste Water Return: Drain.
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