[BC] Convention Costs

[Ernie Belanger]

I know in Vegas you have to use house electricians to run wires under 
carpet.

There are safety issues so I understand that reasoning. We cut cost by 
purchasing our own flat extension cords with mounded plugs.  They paid for 
themselves the first year we used them VS renting them for like $50 each.

The other expense of the shows which the CC has no control over is the show 
contractor. With GES in Las Vegas our Drayage from the loading dock to the 
booth and back is more than the cost to transport the equipment from NY to 
Vegas.

Plus there is the cost of the booth space itself. NAB is a perfect example 
of "a great sucking sound as the money rolls out of your wallet into their 
wallet." The booth costs could be halfed and NAB would still make a killing. 
Plus they get the kickbacks from all the concessions, official hotels etc.

All in all the Union's aren't the trouble it is the Trade Show organizer, 
the Trade show Contractor and the concessions that are the bulk of the cost 
of a show.

Example : Carpet  10x10  $130 without pad if rented.  Purchase better 
quality with a pad for about the same and you can use it for 3 or more 
shows.  We have bought our own carpet for years. It costs less than the 
rental and we use it for 3 years or more before we toss it, usually because 
of cuts for bringing electrical through. Even with the freight and there is 
still significant savings.

 If you are an exhibitor you see more and more of your fellow exhibitors 
owning their own carpet, chairs etc.. The stuff pays for itsef the first 
time you use it then you are in a profit mode saving hundreds or thousands a 
show Vs rentals.

> In a message dated 07/26/2005 12:50:03 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
> khcs at juno.com writes:
>
>> Yes, I had read that it takes 3 electricians and a supervisor to plug in 
>> a
>> lamp at McCormick.  So, they just priced themselves out of a lot of 
>> money.
>> Duh!