Load-in schedule

Move-in is a physics problem — more freight than doors, more builds than hours — and the load-in schedule is the solution, or the illusion of one. Sensible sequencing runs big and deep first: rigging and aisle carpet protection, then large island builds at the back of the hall, then progressively smaller booths, with shell-scheme exhibitors arriving last since their structures are already up. Slots get assigned by the operations team or general service contractor and published in the exhibitor manual, with dock access tied to the marshalling process. Commercially, the schedule is what lets you compress move-in days — each day of build time is venue rent, labour, and security you're paying for, so throughput planning is direct cost control. For exhibitors, the slot determines when their build crew and freight must actually arrive, and custom builders need enough hours or the overtime bill lands somewhere. The common mistake is sequencing by exhibitor seniority or sales-team promises rather than build logic — letting a big sponsor's small booth in early while the island build behind it waits, blocking the route for everyone. One honest nuance: the published schedule survives about half a day; what matters is having a floor team empowered to re-sequence in real time when a truck doesn't show.