The Pros and Cons of Rigging

Wanting that final design element to tie your entire exhibition booth together? Rigging may just be the answer you are looking for. There are many pros and cons that you should consider with rigging, there can be a lot involved, as well as the cost. However, the overall look can really enhance your brand and draw attention from visitors on the other side of the exhibition hall. In this blog we discuss what the benefits of rigging, as well as any issues to consider.
 

Pros

There are so many benefits with rigging and it can be worth every cent. So let’s discuss what are the benefits of having a rigged item on your stand.

Standard height within an exhibition is 2.4m. This can generally be extended up to 3-4m for stands who are space only or island booth, providing that the organisers allow this and the ceiling height of the venue will support higher walls on a stand.
If you wanted to maximise height on your exhibition stand, the first option would be to take the exhibition stand walls to the maximum height allowed and use that to its fullest potential for branding. In doing this, it will still give you height so that your brand will be seen above others and will come at a lower cost. However it is really important to keep in mind the rules on heightened walls; the walls must be finished in a plain colour and have no visual branding from the other side if you are backing onto another stand. So while you will have a higher exhibition stand than your competitors, you won’t be able to have graphics that highlight your branding.

If visual prominence from all angles is part of your exhibiting strategy to maximise of visitor presence, then rigging is the best option for you. If your goal is to attract visitors from the other side of the exhibition hall, from other aisles as they are walking around, then rigging is definitely an option to consider.
Rigging comes in all shapes and sizes. Suspended structures can range from angular or circular displays and come in a range of materials and finishes. Lighting can be added to the rigged structure to enhance banners, branding and to enhance the lighting on your stand.

When organising an exhibition space, it is common that floor space is generally where all the thought and money goes into first.
Exhibition floor space isn’t cheap. So, you want to take complete advantage of your entire space and use it to its highest potential. Using the entire cubic meterage of your space is something that often becomes an afterthought. The entire cubic metre of space is yours and a lot of clients seem to forget this. Incorporating rigging allows you to take your stand to the next level and really use every ounce of space, especially when you have paid so much for it.   

Cons

What potential issues can come from rigging?  Well there are a few, mainly cost. Cost can be impacted by where your exhibition space is as well, however it is our experience that often exhibitors notice other brands rigging and banners or lighting and want to incorporate that into their own stand next time they exhibit. They just don’t know how expensive it is to have rigging on their stand. So let’s go through what the issues of rigging could be.

Location, Location, Location! Your stand location is a crucial factor when it comes to rigging. This will dictate not only what rigging points your stand sits under, it will also dictate the price. The position of your stand ultimately will decide whether the cost of your rigging will be on the lower end of price or the higher end. Keep in mind that although it isn’t very common there will also be certain venues where certain stand locations will not actually allow rigging above the booth – so ensure to ask all these questions or your exhibition stand builder can definitely find all this information out for you.

You may have heard the term ‘rigging points’ spoken at an exhibition, these are points that are pre-existing within ceiling that allows a structure to easily and safely be rigged. Generally, if your booth is  sitting underneath these points the structure will be able to be rigged easily, it also means the costs will be substantially lower as the points are already there.
If on the other hand your stand isn’t sitting under these points, there are more issues in being able to provide rigging and the costs will start to accumulate quite rapidly. Without these points the rigging company need to create points by using extra truss and running truss to multiple locations to create enough points for your structure to be suspended.

There are many rules and regulations when it comes to rigging. Upon deciding on your rigging structure, the structure needs to be quoted and approved by either the venue or the venue’s contracted rigging company. Venues generally have one company contracted to do all their rigging within a show to help create a much smoother and stress-free process.
The rigging company will also assess your structure that you would like rigged and ensure it is constructed from not only appropriate materials but also an appropriate and safe weight.
Remember to also check with the show organisers as any structures with enclosed ceilings will have additional requirements too.

Investing in rigging can be a big decision, as a rough guide it can take 20 – 30% of your overall allocated budget.  
There are numerous benefits to rigging as it can create a great return on your overall stand design and give you positive exposure and recognition throughout the venue.
Ensure you are correctly educated on how rigging works and why costs may be what they are. Transparency is key and your stand builder should be able to answer any questions or concerns you may have.

 At Events720 we can talk through the entire process with you and ultimately give you our recommendations on which way we believe is best for you and your booth. Contact us at letschat@events720.com