The Shocking Truth, Part One

exhibiting 101

	Candy Adams, CTSM, CME, CEM, CMP, CMM, is an independent exhibit-management consultant, trainer, speaker, writer, and an Exhibitor conference faculty member. CandyAdams @BoothMom.com

lectricity. It's something we use every day at home and at work. But dealing with it in our exhibit on the trade show floor perplexes us. There are plenty of reasons to be flummoxed - not the least of them being that most of us aren't electrical engineers or electricians and don't deal with the nuts and bolts of power on a daily basis.

So to help you navigate the nuances of ordering power for your exhibit, here are answers to some of the most frequently asked electrical-related questions I've encountered.

Where does the power at convention centers come from?

The answer to this question depends on the venue and its business model, since electrical is definitely a revenue generator. There are three basic providers of power at convention venues. At some venues, the electrical power and labor to install it are provided by the convention center acting as an exclusive contractor (meaning that the show manager had to hire them as part of the overall convention-center rental contract). At other venues,
electrical may be provided by the show's general services contractor (GSC) or a subcontractor hired by - or sometimes owned by - the GSC (also acting in an exclusive capacity). GSCs, in turn, are hired by show management. Recently, some convention centers are even offering exhibitors a number of contracting options and allowing them to choose a vendor from a list of approved electrical providers.

To find out who'll be providing the electrical power and labor services at your next show, look in your exhibitor services manual under "utilities," or on the list of official vendors.

In addition to knowing who provides power at your venue, you'll need to know where it's going to come from as well. There are four main locations where power comes from in convention centers: Floor ports (square, metal covers placed 30 feet apart on the floor through which natural gas, water, telephone, and Internet connections are accessed), columns, wall outlets, or overhead catwalks high above the show floor. Some convention centers, especially those that have gone through a series of add-ons, may have halls with a combination of these sources.

I've had hanging signs with power that had to come from the floor ports up to the ceiling to illuminate them, and floor power that came from ceiling drops. Confusing? Yes, it is. And if you don't find the answer in the exhibitor services manual on where your power will come from, ask prior to placing your order.

Will power be available 24/7 from the time I install my exhibit to when I'm done dismantling?

Electrical power is typically "live" during exhibit installation when the power lines are laid, but if you have a large amount of power or will need the electricians to connect your equipment, you may have to request that the electrician return to your booth to turn it on. This request can be made at the electrical service desk, which is usually located on the show floor near the GSC's service center.

On show days, power is generally turned on an hour or two before the show opens and stays on for an hour after the show closes. Check your exhibitor services manual for the exact times stated by the electrical contractor. If you'll need power earlier or later than that - or if you have equipment that shouldn't be shut down (such as computer equipment, aquariums, or refrigerators) - you'll need to request 24-hour power. Most convention centers require you to pay extra (often up to double the price) for power that won't be turned off at all during the trade show.

When will my electrical power be installed in my booth?

In a carpeted exhibit, your electrical power cables (and any other under-carpet wiring such as CAT 6 Ethernet or video cables) will likely be run as soon as your booth space is measured and its outline is taped off by the GSC's labor.

Your electrical power order form will provide a space for you to write in when you will need your electrical
power in place to complete your exhibit setup. The electrical provider's scheduler will put your booth on his or her list to accommodate your time request. To save money, I write a note on my electrical form requesting that my installation not be completed on overtime if at all possible, due to budget constraints. Sometimes it works; sometimes it doesn't. But I've found that it never hurts to ask.

The electrical labor order form in your exhibitor services manual gives exhibitors the option to check a box specifying either "supervised" or "proceed without supervision." You'll need to decide if you want the electricians to lay your under-carpet electrical before you (or your installation-and-dismantle crew) arrive on site to supervise your electrical layout. If you have a complex electrical installation, I recommend checking the "supervised" box and either supervising the electrical installation yourself or delegating this to your lead I&D person, assuming he or she is familiar with the layout of your exhibit properties. If you choose not to supervise, your power cables will be laid by the electricians based on your specified locations per your written instructions submitted on a floor plan or grid. If you go with the unsupervised option, instruct your labor crew to measure the locations where your exhibit's electrical cables are pulled up through your carpet pad and carpet to ensure that they're in the correct locations before the crew begins booth setup. It becomes much more difficult - and expensive - to move electrical cables after exhibit properties are placed on top of them.

Where will the electricians place the power in my booth space?

The location of your electrical power drops depends on the size and type of booth space you have. If you have a linear or peninsula booth, power will automatically be dropped at the center of the rear perimeter (known as the "rear drapeline") of the space. There is usually no additional labor charge for this service.

But if you need power run to any other location in a linear booth space (such as near the aisle or within your 10-by-10-foot space) or have a larger peninsula or island booth space, you'll need to draw and submit a scaled floor plan showing your required power's orientation in relation to the front of the exhibit hall, aisles, and other booths; the location of the main drop; and the exact location and amount of power required at each additional location. To make sure your electrical drops end up where you want them, label each location with dimensions showing how far the drop should be from the outer edge of the booth space in two perpendicular directions. I also like to note if I will need a receptacle at the end of the power cable that will accept two plugs (duplex), four plugs (quad), or six plugs (a six-box or dog house).

A grid template is usually provided in the packet of electrical order forms you can complete (unless your exhibit house provides a scaled electrical drawing for this purpose showing all of your electrical needs). The electrical provider may have its own legend for you to use when drawing in your electrical needs to denote the primary location of power and the amount of power required at each termination point. But don't bother completing this drawing with a multicolor CAD program, since multiple copies will be made in black and white and distributed to electricians on the show floor, and your carefully executed color legend will be lost.

Can I plug in my own lighting and equipment, or does a union electrician have to do this?

Union jurisdictions (the "who-can-do-what" rules) vary from city to city based on union contracts regarding what electricians must do. But, in the majority of cities, an exhibitor can plug in exhibit properties such as demo equipment and lighting to standard 120V outlets and can interconnect equipment (such as connecting monitors to laptops), although some venues limit the number of lights exhibitors can plug in themselves. If you have AV equipment, this may come under another union's jurisdiction, so check if the Stagehands or Sign and Display union has jurisdiction over hanging and connecting AV equipment.

Generally speaking, interconnecting equipment, such as hooking a large monitor to a laptop, doesn't require an electrician. Electricians also do not have jurisdiction over laying nonelectrical cables, such as CAT 6 cables.

However, regardless of the show venue, an electrician is required for the following actions: plugging into 208V or 480V power; assembling and hanging lights on static truss; wiring and installing illuminated or rotating hanging signs; hard-wiring connections to equipment; and inspecting exhibitors' power panels.

When in doubt, read your exhibitor services manual for specifics, and if you're still not clear, call the number on the electrical order form and ask to speak with the show's electrician.

For answers to five more of the most frequently asked questions regarding in-booth electricity, including how to calculate the amount of amps and watts your exhibit will require, check out next month's issue of EXHIBITOR for The Shocking Truth - Part Two.e