|  still remember
when my boss asked me to put together a gang box for my first trade show. Not only did I not know what a gang box was, I had no idea what to put in it.
After asking my tech-support team a few questions, I learned that a gang box is a place to put the supplies necessary to run your exhibit. It can be anything
from a metal toolbox to a plastic storage tub to a gargantuan wooden crate on wheels, with a foldout desk and compartments to hold everything from your
first-aid kit to a mini refrigerator.
If I’m attending a show with a 10-by-10 or 10-by-20 foot pop-up or modular display, I’ll probably limit my gang box to what I can pack in a
small toolbox. If I’m attending a show with a larger island space, the sky’s the limit, depending on the size of the show and the complexity
of the exhibit.
The Basic Gang Box
Let’s start with my smallest toolbox: approximately 10-by-5-by-5 inches. Mine is part of a two-piece set I purchased for under $20 at one of the large
discount chains. It fits nicely in the bottom of my larger toolbox and resides in my reception counter during the show. Its minimum inventory includes:
 A pair of scissors
A mini stapler with extra staples and a staple remover
Adhesive tape dispensers with regular and double-sided tape
A solar-powered hand calculator
A box of black pens
A mechanical pencil with eraser
A highlighter pen
Two black felt-tip markers (one medium point and a really
fat one)
An assortment of stick-on notepads, message pads, and three-by-five
note cards
A hand-held paper punch
A glue stick
A tube of superglue
A bottle of correction fluid
A box of breath mints
A fingernail clipper with file
A pair of tweezers for removing crate splinters
A small sewing kit
A smaller plastic box with an assortment of binder clips,
paper clips, rubber bands, and clear map pins
If you don’t want to lose the contents of your gang box, mark each item with your return address labels. And always label your toolboxes with your
company name in indelible pen.
The larger plastic toolbox in the set, approximately 18-by-9-by-9 inches, has a tray that separates the box into two layers. The upper tray holds my tools,
which include:
A multi-purpose tool or large and small flathead and
Phillips screwdriver set
Regular and needle-nosed pliers
A small claw hammer
A measuring tape
A small flashlight with an extra battery
A metal ruler that can be used for trimming graphics
Touch-up paint or matching felt-tip markers for repairs
A small level for hanging graphics
An assortment of black and white cable ties
Clear fishing line
A few strips of hook and loop fabric fasteners in black
and white
Cutting tools, either a razor blade holder or Exacto knife
with extra blades
On top of the tools I stack the following items:
A no-spill can of aerosol cleaner and a partial roll
of paper towels
A toolkit of mini-screwdrivers for computer repairs
A mini first-aid kit that holds adhesive bandages, antiseptic
wipes, and some packets of antacid, headache, cold, and hangover remedies
A disposable camera (indispensable if you have to prove
exhibit damage was incurred in the shipping or material handling processes)
In the bottom of the box, under the tray, I store the stocked office supply box (p.18), and the following items:
A grounded UL-rated surge protector strip
A roll of shipping tape without the dispenser
An assortment of self-closing plastic bags
A small staple gun with extra staples
A tiny can of adhesive remover
The Super-Sized Gang Box
If you’re managing a larger exhibit, or just want to be prepared for anything, you can pack lots of goodies in your biggest gang box. One of my favorite
goodies over the years is my small ABC fire extinguisher, since I have had fires in my exhibit caused by both overheated equipment and halogen lighting.
You might also consider packing some of the following items:
A screw gun with an extra battery
Spare light bulbs
Extra connectors specific to your system exhibit
Extra screws, bolts, and wing nuts
An extra set of exhibit-setup prints
Literature racks
A clipboard
Pre-printed FedEx labels and envelopes
Spray carpet cleaner
A small box of tissues
A can of artists’ spray mount
Wide masking tape (that can double as a lint roller)
Gaffer’s tape (it doesn’t leave a residue like
duct tape)
Strapping tape for shipping
Double-sided carpet tape
Clear packing tape
Electrical tape
A portable strapping kit
Rolls of hook and loop fabric fasteners
Black stretch wrap
Plastic sheeting to keep your carpet clean during setup
Purchasing these items locally rather than at the show site will
save you a bundle.
Never assume your technical-support group will ship all the necessary extras. Pack the following:
Software
Computer and network cables
Blank, formatted diskettes and CDs
ZIP drives and diskettes
A label maker for marking network connections
Extra power strips equipped with surge protection
Telephones
Phone and modem cords
An assortment of batteries
A backup copy of all your graphics files
Ultimately, what you include in your gang box varies based on your exhibit size and personal preference. Experience will teach you which items are essential,
and which items are best left at home.  |
