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Reference

Trade Show Industry Glossary

A

Advance Warehouse

The off-site facility where freight is accepted before a show. Exhibitors ship crates and materials to the advance warehouse weeks ahead of move-in. The general contractor then delivers everything to the booth on show site.

Aisle Carpet

The carpet installed in the aisle ways between exhibits. The general contractor usually provides this.

B

Booth

The rented space an exhibitor occupies on the trade show floor. Common sizes: 10x10 (100 sq ft), 10x20 (200 sq ft), 20x20 (400 sq ft), and larger island configurations.

Booth Package

A pre-configured booth setup that includes basic walls, carpet, lighting, and signage. Often used by first-time exhibitors.

C

Convention Center

A large facility designed to host trade shows, conventions, and exhibitions.

Crate

The shipping container for exhibit materials. Crates are stored during the show and returned for dismantle.

D

Dismantle (Dismantling)

The process of taking down an exhibit after the show ends. Also called teardown or move-out.

Double-Decker

A two-story exhibit booth structure requiring structural engineering approval.

E

Exhibit House

A company that designs, builds, and manages trade show exhibits for clients.

Exhibitor

A company or organization that rents booth space at a trade show to display products or services.

F

Floor Plan

The layout of the show floor showing booth locations, aisles, and common areas.

Freeman / GES

The two largest general service contractors in the trade show industry. They handle freight, carpet, booth furnishings, electrical, and other services.

G

General Contractor (GC)

The company responsible for managing the trade show floor. Also called the general service contractor (GSC).

General Session

A large meeting or presentation open to all show attendees, separate from the exhibit floor.

H

Hanging Sign

An overhead sign suspended above a booth. Requires rigging and approval from the venue and general contractor.

Hardwall

An exhibit built with solid walls (wood, laminate, etc.) rather than fabric or pipe-and-drape.

I

I&D (Installation & Dismantle)

The full cycle of setting up and taking down a trade show exhibit. The core service Synergers provides.

Inline Booth

A standard booth with neighboring exhibits on either side. Usually 10x10 or 10x20.

Island Booth

A booth with aisles on all four sides. Usually 20x20 or larger.

J

Jurisdiction

The labor rules and regulations that apply at a specific venue. Some venues require union labor for certain tasks.

L

Labor Call

A request for crew members to report to a specific booth at a specific time.

Labor Order Form

A document specifying the type and quantity of labor needed for an installation or dismantle.

Lead Retrieval

The system for capturing contact information from booth visitors, usually via badge scanning.

M

Marshaling Yard

The staging area where trucks wait before being called to the loading dock.

Modular Exhibit

A reconfigurable exhibit system using standardized components rather than custom fabrication.

Move-In

The scheduled period when exhibitors and labor crews can access the show floor to set up exhibits.

Move-Out

The period after the show closes when exhibits must be dismantled and removed from the floor.

O

Overtime

Work performed outside regular show hours. Usually billed at a higher rate.

P

Peninsula Booth

A booth with aisles on three sides, sharing one back wall with another exhibit.

Pipe and Drape

The basic booth setup consisting of aluminum poles and fabric drapes. Standard for inline booths.

R

Rigging

The process of hanging overhead items such as signs, lights, and truss from the ceiling. Requires certified riggers.

Rush Labor

Same-day or emergency crew deployment for urgent installation or repair needs.

S

Show Day

Any day the trade show floor is open to attendees.

Show Office

The show management headquarters on site during the event.

Space Only

Booth space rented without any furnishings or services included. The exhibitor must arrange everything.

T

Target Move-In Time

The assigned time slot for a specific booth to begin installation. Also called targeted move-in.

Teardown

Another term for dismantle. Taking down the exhibit after the show closes.

Truss

A metal framework used to support overhead lighting, signs, and audio-visual equipment.

U

Union Labor

Workers represented by a labor union. Some venues require union labor for electrical, rigging, and other specialized tasks.

V

Venue

The facility where a trade show or convention takes place (e.g., Las Vegas Convention Center, Venetian Expo).

W

Work Order

The formal document authorizing labor and services for a specific exhibit at a specific show.