Install crews sized to the actual scope
A small inline booth and a large custom island structure need very different crew sizes, and oversizing a crew for a simple build wastes labor cost while undersizing one for a complex build risks missing the move-in deadline.
We size the crew against the structure's real complexity — panel count, rigging needs, AV integration — rather than a flat rule of thumb.
For shows at the Raleigh Convention Center's downtown campus where install competes with several other move-ins the same day, we also factor in how much aisle and dock access the crew will realistically get on any given hour, not only the booth's own scope.
A punch list that gets checked, and rechecked
Every install runs against a punch list — graphics aligned, hardware tight, lighting functional, furniture placed — and each item gets a visual check before it is marked complete. A punch list that exists only on paper does not catch the problems that show up on the floor.
That final walk-through happens before the crew leaves the venue, well before the morning the show opens.
For a booth with AV or lighting components, the punch list includes a live functional test — screens powered on, audio confirmed, lighting scenes cycled — rather than a visual check of the equipment alone.
The punch list itself is kept in writing and shared with the client rather than held only in the crew lead's head, so there is a record of exactly what was checked before the crew signed off.
For a Raleigh Convention Center install where several crews are moving in on the same aisle at once, we time the final walk-through against a quieter stretch of the schedule when possible, so the check itself is not rushed by competing floor traffic.
Strike works backward from the move-out deadline
Move-out windows are often tighter than move-in windows, since the venue needs the hall turned over for the next event. We plan strike sequence — graphics off, structure broken down, crates labeled, materials staged for pickup — against that hard deadline, not against how long the previous install took.
A strike that runs past the venue's deadline can trigger additional labor charges from the general contractor, so the sequencing matters as much as the speed.
What happens to materials after strike
Crated materials get labeled and staged either for local storage, if the exhibitor is showing again soon, or for return freight if the structure is headed elsewhere. That labeling step is what keeps a multi-show structure organized between events instead of arriving at the next show as a mystery crate.
A short post-show report — what came back, any damage noted, what is in storage — closes out the cycle.
Frequently asked questions
How is crew size determined for install?
Against the structure's actual complexity — panel count, rigging, AV integration — rather than a flat rule based on booth square footage alone.
What happens if strike runs past the venue's move-out deadline?
It can trigger additional labor charges from the general contractor, which is why strike sequencing is planned backward from that deadline rather than estimated from how long install took.
Is a punch list actually checked, or just written down?
Each item gets a visual check before it is marked complete, with a final walk-through before the crew leaves the venue.
What happens to the booth materials after the show?
They are crated, labeled, and staged for either local storage or return freight depending on the exhibitor's next show, with a short post-show report closing out the cycle.
Does the punch list include a functional check for AV or lighting?
Yes — for booths with powered components, the punch list includes a live test of screens, audio, and lighting scenes rather than just a visual check that the equipment is in place.