Exhibition Venues

[James S]

Hello,

 

I'm doing a bit of research into exhibition venues, looking at spec'ing one that would better service its users and visitors. I'd be interested in the opinions of anyone who works in such venues or even if you have been at them as a visitor.

 

In terms of the size of the halls, think Earls Court 1 / EC2 / Excel / NEC.

 

The types of issues I'm primarily looking at are:

- annoyances of the venue - in terms of installing the booths/ equipment and removing

- good points of the venue - things that you have found make your work easier or more efficient

- accommodation and facilities when working/ after work

- transport links, crew parking

- visitor flow around hall

- physical factors which limit what can be achieved.

- power or other service provision

- other rooms for crew, seminars, artists etc and access to them

- internet and phone access

- crew access to venue during show

 

and as a visitor:

- access to halls

- ticket collection or purchase

- onsite facilities (range of, access to, etc. Not: price of refreshments)

- accommodation

- nearby entertainment

- parking / transport

- conference or seminar facilities

- internet access

 

 

Any thoughts from your experiences would be welcomed, thanks.

[JDP]

I have been loading into these venues for some 20 years, so I feel myself more than qualified to comment...

 

- annoyances of the venue - in terms of installing the booths/ equipment and removing

The major one being that many of these venues have curfews. I think Earls Court is ok, bit you can't roll trucks in Olympia or Excel after certain times. The second problem being you are forced to use their specialist rigging companies. Whilst I understand, totally, that rigging in Earls Court and Olympia is very specialist, way more specialist than most riggers are capable of doing - I feel that the Excel centre is not like this.. Usually, times for rigging turnarounds can cause us to wait, and because we are forced to sue specific rigging companies, we are forced to pay their prices, often higher than 'standard'.

 

- good points of the venue - things that you have found make your work easier or more efficient

The main one being that you can drive trucks straight into these venues. Its great, speeds loading up a LOT. But there is a down size, see the curfews above... All venues have plenty of rigging capacity in a huge range of places, so theres no limits really to what you can hang and where...

 

- accommodation and facilities when working/ after work

Nothing but praise. Plenty of hotels near by... I have experienced catering in all the venues you named, and whilst its not as good as Eat to the Beat or someone like that, its perfectly edible. Hotels are very close and near by for all venues, or at least in walking distance... Perhaps not in the case of the NEC, as its usually a short car journey to the local Premier Travel Inn/affordable hotels. Plenty of hotels near Earls Court and Excel though...

 

- transport links, crew parking

Usually very good. As they are exhibition venues, most have parking available... You may end up paying perhaps £30 for parking in Olympia or Earls Court, but normally you can claim that back. Public Transport is an issue, though. Earls Court/Olympia Tube Trains seem to come every 20 minutes, as its the District Line, although the station is very near by. Station is near by in Excel, but again a problem to get to on the DLR from Central London... NEC, this IS a problem, as I don't think theres a station anywhere near it?

 

- physical factors which limit what can be achieved.

See comments regarding rigging. Good, as very few limits, but you are tied to in house rigging companies.

 

- power or other service provision

Usually fine. We have had issues with people in these venues turning round and refusing to tail Lugs in at they are on 95mm, and the venue state that should be on 120's. But after a discussion about what we have upstream, usually it works itself out as fine.... Main issue, usually we have to wait a long time for power to be switched on, and sparkies have a habit of disappearing, but once tailed in and working - all fine. That said, I have had some phases go down in these venues, but this is always quickly sorted... Quite like the fact all venues mentioned run 'fuses' as opposed to timed breakers, which means we can time our breakers up and not have to worry about the house supply.... There again, the venue may refuse to let you tail in, unless you have a Type 14 or 'big' breaker to cover the mains supply.

 

- internet and phone access

Never internet connections, real pain in the arse. But I expect production get that, and I get Internet from my Vodafone gadget anyway.

 

- crew access to venue during show

Passes (as long as you get them in time) are usually fine. No issues.

 

 

Can I ask what all this is for?

[son of lx dad]

Whilst not a person who works in the "exhibition" field as such, I do work in your listed venues doing shows other than exhibitions and this is where I find these venues fall down big stylee. The problem comes when venues, who are used to taking large corporate companies for massive sums of money for relatively simple services, deal with people who actually do gigs and know how much the going rate is. The massively over inflated prices just creates an air of unrest over productions.

 

For example in a certain London venue, the cost per point in the roof which has to be installed by the in house rigging company can be over £200 per point just for top rigging off a beam no motor included - this may be fine for a company paying for a banner over a stand but when you need 60 points for one show, not so viable. Just for the provision of a 63/3 can be £1200. Internet access for a single access point £160 per day? No crew facilities at all. No provision of emergency lighting systems or exit signs that are usable for a production that doesn't use the in-house hi-bays. More fundamental than that, a lack of understanding of H&S on anything other than an exhibition stand. With unreasonable threats to shut down a production for problems such as "our in house policy requires emergency fittings to be charged on site at least 3 hours before doors" (told to us 2 1/2 hours before doors, with offsite pre-charged lights). Or on another show, "your treads are 8mm higher than our recommended limits - they must be replaced" on a set of treads to a stage that was performer access only, and had 4 other exits including 2 ramps. "Compulsory before all work begins" venue H&S briefing given by Venue Health and Safety Officer when he arrived at 9:20am (load in started at 5:00am).

 

Whilst the above may sound like my petty moaning, the basic attitudes to the types of production that a venue wants to put on, must fit the type of production.

[adamh]

I've been fortunate enough as a student to acquire work in both the NEC and Excel exhibition centers over the past year and from my experiences I would rate the NEC as my personal favorite.

 

Access:

 

For load ins/outs I find that the NEC staff/security are much more helpful and give much clearer directions which cannot be said about the Excel staff/security. Also the layout

at the Excel takes a minute to get your head around and takes up precious minutes trying to find somebody to ask! Last time I visited there was construction work in progress on the airport side of the building so it was understandble that there might be disruption, however, most of the roads in and out of the venue seemed to be fairly unaffected.

 

Security:

 

Excel: While setting up at the Excel there wasn't security in sight... All the hall doors were open and anybody could have walked in.

 

NEC: Always security personnel manning the load doors on get in and out. Nobody gets in unless you have a wrist band or your names on the list. Have been very impressed by them over the past 2 years.

 

Power:

 

Wherever you go, your gonna have to pay big time for anything more than a single 13amp socket.

 

Food/Drink:

 

Excel: Very expensive in the cafe looking over the docks. I know its London... but still :D

 

NEC: I like how they've brought in high street retailers like subway etc. I find it makes the day a little less expensive.

 

Haven't had much time to write this but I hope it helps.

 

Adam.

[JDP]

Son of an LX Dad;

 

I would be interested to know which venue you have had this rigging issue with? Perhaps via PM...? Unlike you clearly do, I don't get involved with the pricing of things, however, I find it interesting what you have to say with regards to the rigging...

 

Usually, our riggers will go into a venue (ie Earls Court) and the Mother Grid will be down, they will do their thing and it goes up... Same applies in Wembley Arena etc. I don't know how this works with the rigging companies - but I had imagined (price wise) that there is a charge for the mother grid coming down, and then only extra charges for 'awkward' points, requiring people in the roof etc?

[James S]

Quick note to thank everyone for your replies - all the info is much appreciated.

[Modge]

And having read JDP's post if it helps anyone the NEC isn't too far from Birmingham International station (the one for the airport). Wouldn't fancy carrying a tool kit that far though, but for just you it would be OK.