A-D
A/V (audio/visual) – works with both a sound and a visual component, the production or use of such works, or the equipment involved in presenting such works
A/V contractor – a supplier of audio/visual equipment and services. An AV Contractor often performs what is known as rental and staging services
Aisle – a walkway used for audience movement; minimum aisle widths are dictated by emergency egress laws
American Rental Association – the international trade association for owners of equipment rental businesses and manufacturers and suppliers of rental equipment
Apron – part of a the stage that protudes beyond the curtain line
Attendees -those who are present at an event or exhibit that are not connected with the function itself
Back-to-back booths – the standard exhibit configuration where booths are placed in rows, back-to-back
Backdrop – cloth, drape, or panels hung at the back of a stage set. Often made of canvas on which a scene is painted or now can also be digitally printed
Backstage – the area behind the set, screen, or drapes that is not seen by the audience
Banner – a decoration or sign that is often suspended from the ceiling and can be made of paper, vinyl, or fabric
Banquet – a formal meal, sometimes ceremonial in nature, for a large group of people
Bill of Lading (B/L) -the official document that establishes the terms for transport of goods between specific points for a pre-determined charge between a shipper and a transportation company.
Blueprint – a scale drawing of construction; also used to indicate booth space layout and other specifications
Booth carpet – carpet purchased or rented by the exhibitor, used to enhance the look and feel of the exhibit
Booth size – the dimensions of the floor space contracted by an exhibitor, usually sold in 10′ by 10′ increments (in the United States)
Border (also known as a valance) – a short drape that masks the top of the proscenium arch, projection screen, or fly ropes if there is not a ceiling to a set
Center Stage – literally, the center of the acting or presentation area of the stage
Certificate of Insurance – serves as evidence of the financial capability of an indemnitor who has executed an agreement in favor of an organization
Cheeseborough – a pipe coupling typically used to join 1 1/2″ lighting pipe at a 90 degree angle; also available in swivel models where the angle is adjustable
Chuppah (also spelled as huppah, chupah, or chuppa) – a canopy under which a Jewish bride and groom stand during their wedding ceremony, consisting a cloth or sheet, sometimes a tallit, stretched or supported over four poles, or sometimes manually held up by attendants to the ceremony; still considered a basic requirement for a Jewish wedding
Column – a pillar in an exposition facility that supports the roof or other structures, usually denoted on floor plan as a solid square or dot
Common Carrier – a transportation company that moves people or goods. The carrier usually only accepts crated materials for exhibit freight and, if there is more than one customer for the same exhibit, consolidates several customers’ properties into one shipment bound for the same destination
Convention center – a facility where expositions and/or conferences are held
Corner booth – an exhibit space with exposure on at least two aisles Corner booths can sometimes cost more than a inline booth.
Cross aisle – an aisle at a right angle to the main aisle
Decorator – an individual or company designing or providing installation and dismantling of exhibits and booth and hall dressing services for a trade show and/or its exhibitors
Dismantle (also known as a strike) – the process of tearing down, packing up and moving out exhibit materials after show closes
Double Backwall – a device that creates a double wall with a single upright
Duvetyn (Duvetyne) – a heavy black cloth used in the motion picture and film industry to block out unwanted light
Drayage – the movement of trade show materials from shipping dock to booth for show set-up, followed by being returned back to the dock for return shipment after the show
Dye-Sublimation Printer (also known as a dye-sub printer) – a computer printer which employs a printing process that uses heat to transfer dye onto a medium, such as a plastic card, paper, or fabric; the dye transitions between the solid and gas states without going through a liquid stage
E-I
Egress – direction of exiting; “the way out”
Exhibit hall – the area in the convention center where the exhibits are located
Exposition (also known as an exhibition, expo, trade show, or trade fair) – refers to a public trade show where many companies or organizations of the same type exhibit the latest products or services their company offers
Finish – the top and bottom of the drape
Fire exit – a door or window that is clear of obstructions, designated by local authorities for egress
Flame Retardant (FR) (also known as Flame proof) – fabric that has been topically trated with a flame retardant solution; FR-treated fabric needs to be retreated over time or during cleanings to remain flame retardant
Floor plan – a map showing the layout of exhibit spaces or production design
Front of House – the part of a theatre, auditorium, or venue where the audience is situated
Fullness – occurs when a drape is sewn or gathered with more fabric than the width of coverage
Grommet – a reinforced eyelet through which a fastener is passed
Hall – generic term for an Exposition Facility; may also refer to an individual area within a facility, such as Hall A or Halls A-C
Header (also known as a valance) – a window treatment that covers the top of the window and the drapery hardware; made of matching or contrasting fabric, often with a casing at the top, and gathered onto a curtain rod
Horizontal (also known as drape support, stretcher bar, or crossbar) – rod used in supporting drape with hooks on the end to attach to an upright pipe with slots made to accept the hooks
Hospitality – an event or gathering usually separate from the exhibit in which refreshments are served and exhibitor personnel and invited guests socialize
Hospitality suite – room or suite of rooms used to entertain guests
In-Line Booth – a booth that is in-line within a series of trade booths; has no side-aisle access
Inherently Flame Retardant (IFR) refers to fabric that is woven with flame resistant yarn or treated during the finishing process, thereby guaranteeing its safety for the life of the drape
International Communication Industry Association (also known as Infocomm) – the leading nonprofit association serving the professional AV communications industry worldwide
International Special Events Society – the premier society for Event Professionals
J-N
Jabot – a piece of fabric, long or short, which drape down on either side of a swag or valance, often pleated and tapered
Kabuki drop - a technique where a drape or other lightweight fabric is quickly dropped from the ceiling to reveal the stage/performers/product
Liability – legal term used to describe a point or amount of responsibility damages or injuries incurred or sustained
Limits of Liability – a term used in a shipping contract to specify the monetary limit that a carrier will pay with regard to damages incurred on freight during a shipment
Linear booth (also known as an inline booth) – any booth that shares a common backwall and abuts other exhibits on one or two sides
Masking Drape – fabric used to cover storage or other areas that should not be displayed
Mandap – a covered structure with pillars temporarily erected for the purpose of a Hindu or Jain wedding; is traditionally made of wood, although now modern materials are sometimes used
Move-in – date set for installation; process of setting up exhibits, productions and events.
Move-out – date set for dismantling; process of dismantling exhibits or productions
Nap – fabric with a texture or design that runs on one direction such as corduroy and velvet; will often look different when viewed from various directions
O-S
Overeasy (also known as a Throwover) – a method to create a double wall by throwing a single-colored drape over a horizontal
Overlap – the area where drapery panels lap over each other at the center of a two-way traverse rod
Peninsula booth – exhibit space with aisles on three sides
Perimeter booth – refers to a trades show booth where the exhibit space located on an outside wall
Pipe and Drape – refers to the metal framing and colored fabric used to create a sub wall, separation, or curtain at an event.
Pipe Pocket – A sleeve sown at the edges of a curtain or step and repeat for mounting
Projection screens – surfaces upon which images are projected; available in fixed and portable, fast-fold types; surfaces made for front, rear, or dual-side projection
Puddled curtains – curtains with long side panels allowed to drape and puddle onto the floor to create a soft, full look. Also a method to deal with the excess drape when the drapes are longer than the ceiling height available.
Quick Track – a traveler track system which is supported by adjustible drape uprights, offering a walk up to a 10′ wide opening for reveals or doorways
Rail – the divider between exhibit booths, usually 3 feet high
Railroading – refers to using fabric horizontally rather than vertically; fabric without a nap or a directional design can be railroaded easily
Rear projection – a video or film technique in which images are projected on a screen positioned between the projector and the audience
Resale Certificate – a written statement stating that the merchandise or taxable service purchased will be resold in a taxable sale, incorporated into tangible personal property, or used in a service that will be taxed when it is sold; some states have a specific form whereas others have no specific form for a resale certificate, but it must include a signed statement that the purchase is intended for resale, the purchaser’s name and address, and the purchaser’s state sales and tax license number
Return – the portion of the drapery extending from the corner of the rod to the wall, enclosing the brackets of the drapery hardware
Reveal – a curtain method (commonly seen in theatrical productions) used to display something behind the curtain at a later time
Screen Surround (also known as a dress kit) – 1.) a system of hardware and drape used to dress any surround fast-fold type projection screen; 2.) a standard screen surrounds (such as Da-Snap by Da-Lite) are specifically built for a single screen size by using an aluminum framing that is clipped on to the screen, followed by drape, which is snapped onto the aluminum framing
Selvage – the selvage edges of fabric are the finished sides of the lengthwise grain
Sheer – a drapery panel made of sheer or translucent fabric, sometimes used underneath an outer drapery
Silicone Edged Graphics (SEG) - Step & Repeat system with Dye Sublimation Printed Graphics mounted on structural Aluminum Extrusions
Skirting – fabric affixed around tables, stages and risers, often hiding cords and storage
Soft Goods – stage draperies, masking, fabrics, screens, and scrims kept in stock at the theatre for use in productions
Stage left/right – areas on the stage as seen from the actors or presenters perspective, as opposed to house left and right
Stanchions – posts that are sometimes attached with rope, used to guide traffic; posts can also display signs
Star Drape – (also known as Star Drop, Star Curtain, or Star Cloth) – a drape that has little lights built-in to create a night sky star effect; drape panels utilize LEDs and or Fiber-Optic Strands; LEDs are the most modern and robust option and are available white monochromatic or full color via RGB; Fiber-optic curtains work with an illuminator and strands of fiber optics sewn into the fabric background
Step & Repeat – banner with company and/or production logos repeated throughout the cloth. Background for celebrity interviews and photos.
Striking (strike) – the industry term for taking down an exhibit
Swag (also known as a festoon) – one or more pieces of fabric draped over a rod, typically used at the top of a window treatment with jabots
T-Z
Teaser – the horizontal drape at the top of a stage in prosceniim arch
Tech Rehearsal (also known as a run-through) – a rehearsal devoted to trying out the technical aspects of a production, including lighting and sound
Tech Surround – is a set of pipe and drape used to surround audio visual equipment and personnel location so the equipment, cables, and road cases are hidden from the audience
Telescopic pipe – tubing used to support drapes, in which one section slides inside another, making it an adjustable length
Tension rod – a curtain rod which stays in place inside the window frame through spring tension; often used instead of and standard telescopic pipe and drape in small doorway openings where the wall will accept the tension rod and the eliminaton of the base will offer a less hardware on the floor and a cleaner look
Tiebacks – fabric bands, cords, or other material that shapes the curtain or drape and holds them back from the window
Tormentor (also known as legs) – the vertical drape that masks the wings at each side of a traditional proscenium arch
Trade show – an exhibition held for members of a common or related industry; commonly divided by banjo pipe and drape
Traveler track – a form of reveal; created when two separate drapes pull apart from one another to display something behind the curtain
Trim – the decorative cording, braids, or fringes applied to the edges or hems of draperies, to match or contrast the panel fabric
Uprights – vertical pipes used in pipe and drape, uprights can be fixed heights or adjustable
Velcro – the trade name for a fabric closure with two components: hooks and loops; the two components adhere when pressed together and separate when pulled apart, allowing repeated use
Velcro Edged Graphics – Step & Repeat system; Depending on the use, this can be as effective as SEG Framing
Venue – a facility rented for concerts, conventions, conferences, seminars, social events, trade shows, and special events
Vinyl Printed Graphics – Step & Repeat system; The least expensive mounting solution traditionally in white with color printing
Walk-through – involves inspecting a facility and its set up; to review meeting itinerary and details
Warp and Weft – the direction threads in a fabric; warp threads run the length of the fabric; warp threads are crossed by the weft threads that run from selvage to selvage across the width of the fabric
Wings – off-stage of theatre stage, left or right of the acting area
