Tradeshow Budgetary Tips
In this section, we’ve prepared a great guide for helping you determine a ballpark budget for your RFP. You’ll find it broken into two main sections – Your physical event needs, and your event services.
As you review these figures, keep in mind that costs for your exhibit will vary greatly from Producer to Producer, from state to state, city to city, and show to show. Whatever you determine your budget to be, it’s always best practice to review it with the Producers you select to participate in your RFP prior to them beginning work to determine if this budget will work for your specific needs based on their pricing structure.
As well, our budgetary tips below reflect average U.S. pricing trends. If your project is in another country, these tips may not be as accurate, depending on where your booth is built and what the prevailing costs are in the country in which the event is taking place. If you are submitting an RFP for a show outside of the U.S., be sure to discuss your specific budgetary needs with your selected Producer(s) bidding on the project before they begin work so that you can ensure a successful RFP process.
Budgeting for physical exhibit elements
Budgeting for physical exhibit elements
Your physical exhibit elements represent things such as:- Walls
- Floor covering
- Furniture
- Graphics and signage
- Banners
- Overhead elements
- Product displays
- Storage/Credenzas
- Audio visual
- Crates/skids
Budget of $50/sq.ft. or less
Expect all elements to be rental.
Metal extrusion wall systems with solid color inserts or stock white/black
hardwall panels. It will be unlikely to receive any tall walls over the standard
8’H.
Furniture provided will be generic.
Anything other than the most generic and small-sized overhead banner may be possible.
Carpet or vinyl floor covering would be provided, as hardwood floors would be too costly.
Graphics would be simple wraps or boards.
It may be possible to include a very small number of generic rental monitors.
Don’t expect mass quantities or any other elaborate A/V needs.
Anything but the most basic of product displays needs will be difficult to
include with this budget.
Budget of $50 – $100/sqft.
A non-elaborate custom or custom/rental hybrid solution may be possible
within this budget range.
Custom hard-walls or custom metal framed walls may be possible, depending
on the rest of your needs. More than likely, you’ll still wind up needing to utilize
rental walls.
Renting furniture is probably still the best bet in this budget range, although more elaborate rental options may be possible.
Mid-range fabric banners would most likely fall within this budget. Rental and purchase options may work.
Various rental A/V options could be included, but it is unlikely anything
elaborate will be possible.
Carpet or vinyl floor covering would still be the way to go, with hardwood
flooring being possible at only the higher end of budgets.
More elaborate graphics, including stock lightboxes, may be possible.
Custom product displays are more likely to work within this budget, except for elaborate implementation such as custom showcases, which are typically very
expensive.
For the custom pieces purchased, you may find that custom crates are not
financially feasible within this budget. Skids may be a more cost-effective
means by which to ship and store your properties. Keep in mind though that
skids have drawbacks. They may be cost-effective, but they cost more to ship,
to store, and your exhibit components are more likely to be damaged during shipping or by weather due to the lack of protection.
Budget of $100 – $150/sqft.
Mostly custom production should be possible for most exhibits, with structureheavy
exhibits possibly needing to rely on hybrid implementations, mixing in
some rental options to help save on cost.
You should expect that custom hard walls will be achievable in this budget, with elaborate exhibits possibly still needing to include some rental options or costeffective
metal system walls.
Depending on your specific needs, purchasing furniture may be possible.
However, renting furniture may still be the best choice, especially if you require
many items.
Expect to be able to afford mid-range banner purchases within this budget range.
Purchasing A/V may become an option at this stage, and if you’re going to
multiple shows, this may be a better financial decision in the long run compared
to renting.
Carpet or vinyl flooring is still your best bet.
Elaborate graphics, including dimensional logos, should be possible.
Various custom product display options are possible, with more elaborate needs possibly still being out of reach.
Custom crates should be used, especially for high value components. It may
still be financially prudent to skid elements such as wall panels, furniture, and
other durable items.
Budget of $150-$200/sqft.
This budget range should allow most exhibits to go fully custom.
In addition to custom hard walls, it may be prudent to consider mixing in some
custom lightweight walls, combining metal and fabric systems to help ensure a
lower structural cost.
Large and more elaborate overhead banners should be possible with this budget.
Don’t expect this budget to allow you to do any large overhead lighting rigs.
You may be able to get away with a short run of truss with some standard PAR
lights if needed. However, this cost varies greatly from show to show, state to
state, Producer to Producer, so if you require this, our recommendation is to
ensure you discuss budgets with your potential Producers before providing this
budget.
Multiple purchase or rentals of high-end monitors would be covered in this budget.
High-end AV requirements, such as large LED walls and mass quantities of
PCs/Laptops may still be out of reach.
All but the most complex product displays should be possible within this budget.
Mass quantities of highly custom product displays, such as jewelry showcases, will push the limits of this budget.
All graphic options are on the table.
Custom crates should be possibly within this budget. It may still be financially
prudent to skid elements such as wall panels, furniture, and other durable items.
Budget of $200-$250/sqft.
This budget range should allow all but the most complex of exhibits to go fully custom, complete with custom crates.
Going with all hard walls should not be an issue with this budget.
Large and elaborate overhead banners should not be an issue with this budget.
More elaborate lighting rigs should be possible with this budget, but again, we strongly recommend you have a conversation with the Producers bidding on
your project before deciding on a budget, if you require an overhead lighting
rig.
In addition to high-end and multiple monitors being possible, elaborate AV
requirements, such as large LED walls and PCs/Laptops may also be possible,
depending on quantities.
All graphic options are on the table.
All but the most intricate of product displays (such as jewelry showcases) at
large quantities should be possible within this budget range.
With this budget, you’re probably looking for a high-end exhibit, and you’re certainly spending a great deal of money on it! Not only can you afford crates,
but to protect your investment, you should be crating everything you own.
Budget of $250+/sqft
Now you’re talking! With a budget like this, you should expect Producers to knock
your design out of the park! This budget should easily be able to provide a WOW
factor, elaborate AV, an overhead lighting rig, and plenty of other elements to make
your project a show stopper.
General notes
- Putting together a real budget for your event services is incredibly tricky, but also incredibly important. It’s here where budgets can spiral wildly out of control if not carefully examined prior to beginning your project. Due to the nature of events, there can be great uncertainty, which is the primary cause of budgets spiraling out of control.
- In this section, we’ll discuss as many elements as we can, and attempt to provide you with guides for each that will help you land on a great ballpark to provide in your RFP.
- One thing we HIGHLY recommend is getting a copy of your show manual prior to proceeding with this section. Many of the costs for show provided services, such as drayage, electrical, rigging, etc. will be outlined here. As these vary tremendously from
show to show and state to state, you’ll want to ensure you are aware of what your
show is charging. Protip – If your show manual is not available when you’re putting your RFP together, as many do not get published until only a few months before the show, ask your show account rep to provide you with the prior year’s manual. Although costs will increase year to year, this will at least give you a good base to work with, assuming the venue is the same. If the venue is moving, this may not work as well due to labor rate differences from state-to-state. - Your core Event Services represent such things as:
o Freight and Handling/Forklift load out/in services
o Installation and dismantle
o Supervision
o Drayage
o Electrical
o Internet
o Rigging/Hanging Banner - Other miscellaneous items you may require are:o Catering
o Security
o Floral
o Talent
o Note that we will not dive into those items here, as they vary greatly based on your needs and the event venue. We recommend that if you have these needs, you find the order forms in your show manual and budget accordingly.
Freight and Handling/Forklift load out/in services
Any Producer that builds your exhibit will need to ship your exhibit to the Advance Warehouse or directly to show site once the exhibit is complete. This service represents your Freight cost.
Before your exhibit can ship, it must be loaded out onto the truck with a forklift/pallet jack,
and when it comes back after the show, it must be offloaded and moved to storage. This
represents your Handling/Forklift load out/in services.
Calculating a freight budget is relatively simple, as it mostly has to do with where your booth
is built vs. where your show is taking place. The further away, the more costly the freight.
Below we have a chart outlining some freight/handling cost ranges based on distance from
Producer to show venue. Note that depending on the method in which you ship (dedicated or LTL) accounts for the ranges. A full 52’ high cube trailer going direct will cost significantly more than sending a couple of crates LTL.
Estimates below are per round trip, per truck.
- Under 50 miles – $1,500 -$4,000 (Local show)
- 50 – 500 miles – $2,500 – $6,000 (Same region)
- 500 – 1,000 miles – $3,500 – $8,500 (1/4 of the way across the country)
- 1,000 – 1,500 miles – $4,500 – $10,000 (Halfway across the country)
- 1,500 – 3,000 miles – $5,500 – $14,000 (Across the country)
We want to stress that these are of course ballparks, and many things can affect this cost.
Here are the primary factors that can swing these numbers:
- Gas pricing
- Time to ship (more time = less cost)
- Shipping to Advance Warehouse or Direct to show (Advance Warehouse means less waiting time for truck when delivering)
- Driver waiting time (Especially when taking an exhibit out of a show)
- Amount of freight (Shipping one crate is usually vastly cheaper than an dedicated
trailer full of freight) - Size of freight (Standard trailers for smaller crates and skids are cheaper than highcube
trailers for large exhibit freight)
Although these factors may alter pricing, they won’t alter anything too dramatically.
The best thing you can do to determine your freight budget is to consider the distance your booth will need to travel upon completion, and then factor in a lower or higher budget based on how large your exhibit will be.
Installation and Dismantle
Determining your I&D budget is by far the most difficult of any of the event service elements. This is mainly due to the massive amount of variation in rates throughout the US.
In this section, we’ll do our best to help guide you in the right direction.
First, and most importantly, you’ll need to consider the city and state that your show is being held in. Labor rates in certain cities are significantly more than others. You’ll find the highest rates in New York, San Francisco, Boston, Chicago, and Los Angeles. You’ll find the lowest rates in Atlanta, Orlando, Denver, and New Orleans.
Next to factor in is the available straight time you have to install and dismantle your exhibit. In your show manual, there should be dates and times listed for exhibitor move-ins and moveouts, or a targeted map with various dates and times based on your exhibit’s location. If you find your move-in times to be on weekends, holidays, or after normal business hours, then unfortunately you are in a mandatory overtime situation, and you will find your I&D cost running anywhere from 40%-100% more than straight time costs.
Last to factor in would be the complexity of your exhibit. Are you simply setting up a 10’ x 20’ exhibit with a back wall over show provided carpet? Or are you installing a 100’ x 50’ exhibit with a double deck? Obviously, the larger and more complex the exhibit, the more hours it will take to assemble.
Taking these all into consideration, we’ve put together some ballpark costs to factor in for
your I&D budget, based on average industry labor rates.
IMPORTANTLY TO NOTE – Although we’ve done our best to give you rough guides, it is important to understand that labor prices vary greatly based on your specific project needs.
Your Producer may very well disagree with our figures. We do strongly recommend that you discuss the budget you came to with the Producers bidding on your work to determine whether or not the range you’ve decided on works with your needs. This is especially true if your exhibit is very elaborate and large.
Expensive Cities
- All ST range: $3,000 – $5,000
- ST/OT mix range: $4,000 – $6,000
- All OT/DT range: $5,000 – $7,000
- All ST range: $7,000 – $11,000
- ST/OT mix range: $9,000 – $13,000
- All OT/DT range: $11,000 – $16,000
- All ST range: $17,000 – $23,000
- ST/OT mix range: $20,000 – $28,000
- All OT/DT range: $25,000 – $35,000
- All ST range: $27,000 – $38,000
- ST/OT mix range: $32,000 – $45,000
- All OT/DT range: $38,000 – $55,000
- Note that if your exhibit is extremely elaborate, these estimates may need to be even higher. If you feel that your exhibit falls into this category, it is best to speak directly with the Producers bidding on your work to determine what they believe is an accurate budget estimate for your project.
Moderately Priced Cities
- All ST range: $1,500 – $4,000
- ST/OT mix range: $2,000 – $4,500
- All OT/DT range: $3,000 – $5,500
- All ST range: $4,500 – $7,500
- ST/OT mix range: $6,000 – $10,000
- All OT/DT range: $7,000 – $12,500
- All ST range: $9,500 – $14,000
- ST/OT mix range: $12,500 – $18,000
- All OT/DT range: $14,500 – $21,000
- All ST range: $15,000 – $23,000
- ST/OT mix range: $19,000 – $28,000
- All OT/DT range: $23,000 – $35,000
- Note that if your exhibit is extremely elaborate, these estimates may need to be even higher. If you feel that your exhibit falls into this category, it is best to speak directly with the Producers bidding on your work to determine what they believe is an accurate budget estimate for your project.
Inexpensive Cities
- All ST range: $1,200 – $3,500
- ST/OT mix range: $2,000 – $4,000
- All OT/DT range: $2,500 – $4,500
- All ST range: $3,500 – $5,500
- ST/OT mix range: $5,000 – $8,000
- All OT/DT range: $6,000 – $9,500
- All ST range: $7,500 – $11,500
- ST/OT mix range: $10,000 – $15,000
- All OT/DT range: $12,000 – $17,500
- All ST range: $12,500 – $18,000
- ST/OT mix range: $16,500 – $22,500
- All OT/DT range: $19,000 – $27,500
- Note that if your exhibit is extremely elaborate, these estimates may need to be even higher. If you feel that your exhibit falls into this category, it is best to speak directly with the Producers bidding on your work to determine what they believe is an accurate budget estimate for your project.
Supervision
Supervision is one of the most critical elements of any successful event. Supervision can make the difference between a complete failure of a show with a massive budget overrun and a show that ends up with great ROI and minimal labor costs.
Supervision may include all of some of the following services:
- Preparation of show forms from exhibitor’s manual
- Submission of show orders
- On-site supervisor of exhibit labor during installation and dismantle
- On-site supervision prior to show to spot freight, supervise electrical work, supervise
rigging, etc. - On-site supervision during show hours
- Auditing of show invoices
- 24/7 On-call team for any last-minute needs
Although there are many different methods by which Producers will calculate supervision fees, the most traditional is by charging a percentage of the cost of your I&D labor.
Industry-wide, this percentage varies from 25% – 45%, depending on the level of service provided.
After determining your I&D labor estimate, multiply it by a percentage you feel comfortable with between 25% and 45% to determine this figure.
Drayage
Ah, drayage. Everyone hates you! If you’re not familiar with what drayage is, it is the cost that the exhibitor is charged by the show GC to do the following:
- Remove your freight from the truck that delivered your booth to the show
- Bring your freight from the loading dock to your exhibit space (Or from the Advance
Warehouse to your exhibit space) - Remove your empty freight from the exhibit space once your booth is set up
- Store your empty freight during the show
- Bring your empty freight back to your booth so that it can be loaded up at dismantle
- Load your packed freight onto the truck that is removing your exhibit from the show once dismantle is complete.
As you can imagine, drayage rates vary greatly show-to-show.
Some shows, such as the NAB show, have even done away with drayage costs, charging exhibitors flat fees as part of their show attendance fee to cover this service.
You can find your show’s prevailing drayage rates in your show manual. These rates are
typically charged by “cwt” (pronounced “cee-weight”) which means “per one-hundred pounds”. For example, if your booth weighed 1,000lbs and the drayage rate was $75/cwt, you would do the following math to determine the charge:
- 1,000/100 = 10cwt x $75 = $750.00
Note – Many Producers offer services to pay your GC fees directly to the show for you, which can be very convenient. However, note that you will be charged a mark-up on these rates. Be sure to check with your Producer to see what their policies and rates are when it comes to these prices, should you elect to make use of this service.
Below we have a list showing rough weight estimates for different sized exhibits:
- Very small, simple exhibits – Portables, 10’ x 10’s, etc. – 1,000lbs and under
- Small exhibits – 10’ x 20’s, 10’ x 30’s, etc. – 3,000lbs and under
- Medium exhibits – 20’ x 20’s – 30’ x 30’s – 3,000lbs – 15,000lbs
- Large exhibits – 30’ x 30’s – 30’ x 50’s – 15,000lbs – 30,000lbs
- Very large exhibits – 30,000lbs+
Obviously, weights also correspond to how complex an exhibit it. If your exhibit space is 30’ x 30’, but all you have in it are some tables and a back wall, it’s unlikely to weigh 15,000lbs. Use your best judgement, or consult with a Producer if you are having trouble determining which range is best for your exhibit.
Once you’ve settled on a weight range, locate your drayage rate in your show manual and perform the math equation above to see what the cost may be. You’ll then have to add your Producer’s fee for paying these fees to the show for you, if applicable.
Electrical
Your electrical requirements as provided by the show are elements beyond those that are part of your booth structure such as lighting, lightboxes, etc. These show-provided requirements consist of electrical power and labor to run power and install electrical components. Almost universally, electrical power and labor are provided directly from the show GC or event venue.
Calculating these requirements exactly can be tricky, but there are some rough guidelines we can provide to help you determine a good ballpark. As usual, you’ll want to refer to your exhibitor service manual to see prevailing labor and power rates.
One important thing to consider – Most shows offer an Advance Rate for placing your order prior to a deadline. When it comes to electrical, these rates can be significantly less if you are able to meet this order deadline. We encourage you to keep this in mind when calculating your budget here, and of course once you begin you project, be sure to work with your Producer to ensure these deadlines are met for the best possible savings.
- 500W is usually sufficient to cover:
- One (1) large LCD/LED monitor with content driver
- Approximately ten (10) to fifteen (15) LED lights
- Five (5) non-LED lights (Which you should not be using!)
- One (1) to three (3) laptops
- Power strips for charging cell phones
- One (1) fridge – NOTE – You will need 24-hr power for fridges so they don’t get turned off at the end of the day. 24-hr power is usually double the cost.
- 1000W is usually sufficient to cover:
- Up to three (3) large LCD/LED monitors with content drivers
- Approximately fifteen (15) to thirty (30) LED lights
- Approximate ten (10) non-LED lights (Again, you should be using LED lights!)
- Three (3) to six (6) laptops
- Up to two (2) fridges – NOTE – You will need 24-hr power for fridges so they don’t get turned off at the end of the day. 24-hr power is usually double the cost.
- 1500W is usually sufficient to cover:
- Up to five (5) large LCD/LED monitors with content drivers
- Thirty (30) – forty-five (45) LED lights
- Approximate fifteen (15) non-LED lights (Again, you should be using LED lights!)
- Six (6) – nine (9) laptops
- Up to three (3) fridges – NOTE – You will need 24-hr power for fridges so they don’t get turned off at the end of the day. 24-hr power is usually double the cost.
- 2000W is usually sufficient to cover:
- Up to seven (7) large LCD/LED monitors with content drivers
- Forty-five (45)+ LED lights
- Approximate twenty (20) non-LED lights (Again, you should be using LED lights!)
- Nine (9) – twelve (12) laptops
- Up to four (4) fridges – NOTE – You will need 24-hr power for fridges so they don’t get turned off at the end of the day. 24-hr power is usually double the cost.
- One (1) steamer
- One (1) coffee or espresso maker
- $125/500W
- $175/1000W
- $225/1500W
- $275/2000W
The next major expensive when it comes to your electrical budget will be the labor for
electricians to run your power lines from the main power drop under your carpet to the points needed, which is typically called “distribution”, and then labor to come back to your booth to mount lights, hang monitors, and install any other elements that are required to be installed by electricians.
Again, you’ll need your trusty exhibitor service manual to find two important things. First is the labor rate for ST and OT/DT. Next is a description of exactly what electricians must install. Different convention centers, even in the same city, have different requirements. For example, in Las Vegas, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, electricians must be hired to hang monitors. But at the Sands Convention Center? Your install team must do that. These can lead to significant budgetary differences, so it’s important to know.
Once you have that figured out, use the guidelines below to determine you budget.
- To determine ST/OT, take a look at your move-in schedule. Distribution labor will usually occur the day before your target move-in date. If your target move-in is a
Monday, you can assume your distribution labor will occur on Sunday or Saturday, on OT. - Typically, an electrician can run a line every five minutes or so. It’s safe to figure that if you have ten (10) or less points, that it should not take more than an hour or two to run these. For 10-20 points, figure two hours, and so on.
- Many shows simply charge you 50% of the install labor cost, regardless of how long dismantle actually takes. Refer to your exhibitor service manual for your show’s policy here.
- If that is not the case, actual dismantle time required is usually much faster, and you can safely budget 25% – 50% of the installation time you’ve estimated for this ballpark.
If you’d like to use some very rough labor rates, and again these vary GREATLY all over the country, we recommend you use the following, which we’d consider advance rates:
- ST – $100 per electrician, per hour
- OT – $200 per electrician, per hour
Again, these vary greatly, with more expensive states most likely running higher, and less expensive states running lower. As well, standard rates will run higher than this. Lastly, these figures are show rates and do not factor in any Producer fees.
Internet
Like most show provided services, internet service again varies greatly from show-to-show. Some shows provide directly, and some shows provide through an outside contractor. Regardless of who is providing, you can be assured that the forms will be confusing, and that service will be expensive.
All that said, there are of course ways in which we can ballpark based on your needs.
Most shows offer a shared wireless internet, often times for free. This may be an option for general browsing, but even with general browsing, you may experience slow speeds due to the amount of traffic connected to this network as many attendees and exhibitors will all be using it. This is not recommended for use if you require internet service to be steady and quick.
Some shows offer a dedicated wireless access, so that each device that requires it can connect to a separate wireless network dedicated for exhibitors. Typically speeds of up to 5mbps are available. If your team requires a decent internet connection for emails and browsing, this service is usually sufficient. If you’re looking to stream video, need a 100% reliable quick connection for placing orders, or need to download large files, this service may not be for you. Costs for these access points typically range from $150 – $500 per device.
If you require internet speed and reliability that is similar to what you may have in your home or office, this is the level of service you’ll need. This service tends to be on the more expensive side, with costs for your main line coming in anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000. From there, you’ll need to connect a rental hub, which most internet companies will provide, and which typically runs around $250. Then, for each access point/IP address, you’ll be charged about $150 plus the labor to run ethernet cables and the cost for the ethernet cables, which are typically around $50 per run.
Using the show manual, you should be able to see exactly what each level of service will cost you, or you can use our ballpark costs. Determine the level that best suits your needs, along with the number of access points you’ll require, and multiply by the corresponding costs. Don’t forget to add your Producer’s fee on top of that, if required.
Rigging/Hanging Banner
Rigging/Hanging Banner fees are some of the most expensive hourly fees you will pay at a
show. These fees will cover the costs to assemble and rig banners, or rig truss over your
exhibit. As truss rigging is very complex depending on your specific needs, we won’t be getting into them here. If your exhibit requires a lighting rig, we strongly suggest you speak
with your potential Producers to determine the best budget to allocate based on your needs.
For hanging banners, things are a bit easier to ballpark. As usual, be sure to have your exhibitor service manual handy, as you’ll need it to check on labor rates and regulations. Once you have that, follow the steps below to determine your budget.
- Determine how complex your overhead banner frame may be to assemble based on the type of banner you are looking for (Pillowcase or SEG).
a. Pillowcase banners tend to be the easiest, and usually consist of a skeleton framing system similar to a tent that snaps into place. Even the largest of shapes shouldn’t take a couple of assembly laborers more than a couple of hours to put together.
b. SEG Banners can be more complex, and their skeletons are usually heavier and require more tools to assemble. Simple shapes may take about twice as long as a similar pillowcase banner, with elaborate shapes possibly taking many hours to assemble. If you plan on doing something very elaborate, estimate two laborers working six hours each to assemble.
- Next, determine the labor required to assemble the fabric portion of your graphic. Keep in mind that for white or other light-colored banners, ensuring your team wears gloves and lays down plastic to avoid staining the fabric is CRITICAL. This takes more time than a dark colored fabric that would not be as vulnerable to easy dirt staining.
a. For pillowcase banners, typically mounting the fabric over the frame is quick, usually taking less than an hour. But after the fabric is on, your banner may require steaming to remove wrinkles. This steaming process can take some time. For larger banners, two laborers may need upwards of an hour or two each to get all wrinkles out.
b. For SEG banner fabric, it’s a bit opposite of pillowcase banners. Assembling the fabric typically takes longer, as working with SEG can get tricky and tight. A medium sizes square banner may take 1-2 hours to install all SEG fabric, depending on how many sides require the SEG. However, SEG graphics rarely need steaming, as their method of construction works very well for pulling out wrinkles.
- Once the banner is assembled, you’ll need a crew to use a condor (also called a “cherry picker” or “snorkel”) to hang your banner. The amount of time required directly correlates to the amount of hanging points your banner requires.
a. If you’re going with a lightweight, small to medium sized simple shape, most likely you can get away with bridling your banner at the center and hanging from one point, possible with a tie-off to prevent the banner from spinning. If this is the case, you should be able to hang your banner at the minimum rate, which is usually 1 hour.
b. If your banner is larger and requires multiple hang points, expect to require
more time with your rigging crew. Typically, each hang point requires around
30 minutes to fasten to the convention center ceiling, and then bringing the
banner up and leveling off can take another 30 – 60 minutes, depending on the complexity and how easy it is for your condor to navigate your environment. - Dismantle
a. For small to medium banners, figure the minimum times for dismantle costs. This means the minimum rate for laborers for dismantling your actual sign, and the minimum rate for your condor crew, which will be outlined in your show manual.
b. For larger setups, costs could run 50% of your install time, but typically even with elaborate banners, dismantle services are much quicker than installation.
If you’d like to use some very rough ballparks, and again these vary GREATLY all over the
country, we recommend you use the following overall cost guidelines, which we’d consider advance and ST rates:
- Small – Medium banners, pillowcase – $2,500
- Small – Medium banners, SEG – $3,500
- Large banners, pillowcase – $5,500
- Large banners, SEG – $7,500
- Large, elaborate banners – $7,500+
Consider that mandatory OT rates can be anywhere from 50% to 100% higher. Consult your exhibitor service manual for specific info regarding your show.
And once again, these vary greatly, with more expensive states most likely running higher, and less expensive states running lower. As well, standard/OT rates will run higher than this. Lastly, these figures are show rates and do not factor in any Producer fees.
