The first thing to do when your stand falls down is …
To get out of the way.
Jump into the aisle and get clear.
Wait before going back to your stand.
The show’s management team will need to ensure it’s safe for you to do so.
It’s extremely rare for stands to fall, but it does happen.
Exhibitors trying to move poles on shell schemes triggered the collapse of a run of stands on two shows I’ve organised.
As you might imagine, their neighbours were just a little peeved once they discovered the cause.
Lorries and forklift trucks colliding with stands in busy halls during build periods has been another culprit.
The biggest demolition I witnessed from a distance occurred when a double-decker bus (which was to be a display) got its tyres caught on the carpet for a whole run of shell scheme stands.
Its spinning wheels acted like a corkscrew pulling up the carpet, which dislodged the shell support poles taking out a run of fifteen stands.
Happily, no one was injured in any of the above.
Stands were rebuilt.
Exhibits were salvaged, and the shows opened on time as planned.
These are event misadventures we can all do without.
As are;
- Exhibits or graphics not arriving due to customs or shipping delays or getting lost.
- Losing team members at the last minute due to illness.
- Forgetting to bring display items to the show.
As the old scout motto says, “be prepared.”
Keep checking your show list and stick to deadlines.
Don’t overload walls with displays, especially on shell stands (if in doubt get advice from your supplier).
Oh, and never tinker with the supports of your stand.
Very best,
David
PS. If you need a fresh design for your stand, graphics or both, we can help. Drop me a line via david@theexhibitionagency.com and provide details like the size of your stand, the date (and name) of the show, or the area of walling you need graphics to cover.