TOPIC: Newest Newsletter and Video

Harlax wrote:

Kirk Bauer wrote: I thought unions were a big issue the last time TD was done in California?

www.absoluteiandd.com/union-rules/southern-california-trade-show-union-rules/

The Decorators Union claims jurisdiction over all set-up and dismantling of exhibits including signs and laying of carpet. This does not apply to the unpacking and placement of your merchandise. You may install and/or dismantle your exhibit display if one person, who is a full time employee of the exhibiting firm, can accomplish the task in an hour or less without the use of tools.

If your exhibit preparation, installation, or dismantling requires more than 1 hour, you must use union personnel supplied by either the general contractor, or your independent contractor of choice, such as Absolute I&D.


Exhibitors may hand-carry in what they can handle with one person in one trip. The use or rental of dollies, flat trucks and other mechanical equipment, however, is not permitted. Teamsters are responsible for all additional freight moving. The general contractor will control access to the loading docks and control the unloading and reloading of all vehicles at the loading docks. Only full time employees of the exhibiting company will be allowed to hand carry items.



Electricians are responsible for all electrical installations and connections. Exhibitor provided cords must be a minimum of 14 gauge 3 wire with ground and must be flat when used for floor work. All multi-outlet devices such as power strips must have circuit protection.

I have herd of similar issues in the northeast. Just imagine how high TD tickets would be if they had to pay for that every year.

Build-up and tear-down days would need a lot less volunters.

So if California is such a problem, the next logical location would be Phoenix. AZ. I personally would prefer Tucson but I could definitely get a lot of help. Actually much more in Tucson than Phoenix.

Bob Chasan wrote: So if California is such a problem, the next logical location would be Phoenix. AZ. I personally would prefer Tucson but I could definitely get a lot of help. Actually much more in Tucson than Phoenix.

My Sister lives in Scottsdale. Phoenix would be awesome for me.

How could I only be the 9th person to "thumbs up" the video???

Probably due to GenCon 2018 being in the past and the video titled "True Dungeon at Gen Con 2018".

Bob Chasan wrote: So if California is such a problem, the next logical location would be Phoenix. AZ. I personally would prefer Tucson but I could definitely get a lot of help. Actually much more in Tucson than Phoenix.

California isn't "such a problem." It's been done before, it could be done again.

bpsymington wrote:

Bob Chasan wrote: So if California is such a problem, the next logical location would be Phoenix. AZ. I personally would prefer Tucson but I could definitely get a lot of help. Actually much more in Tucson than Phoenix.

California isn't "such a problem." It's been done before, it could be done again.

Am I reading the rules incorrectly? Does not a rather substantial amount of set up work have to be done by union labor rather than our volunteers?

Harlax wrote:

bpsymington wrote:

Bob Chasan wrote: So if California is such a problem, the next logical location would be Phoenix. AZ. I personally would prefer Tucson but I could definitely get a lot of help. Actually much more in Tucson than Phoenix.

California isn't "such a problem." It's been done before, it could be done again.

Am I reading the rules incorrectly? Does not a rather substantial amount of set up work have to be done by union labor rather than our volunteers?

That’s what I meant by “such a problem”
Union labor could be upwards of $25/hour/person and from what I read it sounds like they have to do nearly everything. So it takes some 100 volunteers 24 hours set up and tear down. 2400 hours at $25/hour is $60,000 not an insignificant chunk of change. At $58 a ticket that’s 1035 tickets just to pay for set up and tear down. At $78/ticket it’s still 770 tickets.

Bob Chasan wrote:

Harlax wrote:

bpsymington wrote:

Bob Chasan wrote: So if California is such a problem, the next logical location would be Phoenix. AZ. I personally would prefer Tucson but I could definitely get a lot of help. Actually much more in Tucson than Phoenix.

California isn't "such a problem." It's been done before, it could be done again.

Am I reading the rules incorrectly? Does not a rather substantial amount of set up work have to be done by union labor rather than our volunteers?

That’s what I meant by “such a problem”
Union labor could be upwards of $25/hour/person and from what I read it sounds like they have to do nearly everything. So it takes some 100 volunteers 24 hours set up and tear down. 2400 hours at $25/hour is $60,000 not an insignificant chunk of change. At $58 a ticket that’s 1035 tickets just to pay for set up and tear down. At $78/ticket it’s still 770 tickets.

My guess is since it would be a company doing the work and not directly paying the union member it’s probably in the $50 to $75 per man hour range and I would not be surprised to see $100 a man hour.

Bob Chasan wrote:

Harlax wrote:

bpsymington wrote:

Bob Chasan wrote: So if California is such a problem, the next logical location would be Phoenix. AZ. I personally would prefer Tucson but I could definitely get a lot of help. Actually much more in Tucson than Phoenix.

California isn't "such a problem." It's been done before, it could be done again.

Am I reading the rules incorrectly? Does not a rather substantial amount of set up work have to be done by union labor rather than our volunteers?

That’s what I meant by “such a problem”
Union labor could be upwards of $25/hour/person and from what I read it sounds like they have to do nearly everything. So it takes some 100 volunteers 24 hours set up and tear down. 2400 hours at $25/hour is $60,000 not an insignificant chunk of change. At $58 a ticket that’s 1035 tickets just to pay for set up and tear down. At $78/ticket it’s still 770 tickets.

I’m pretty sure the union rules pertain to agreements with particular venues.

Not all venues will have agreements with unions.

Unions are more prevalent in the LA area then San Francisco.

There are multiple small start trek and comic cons that happen in large hotels in SF that I’m pretty sure are not having union setup and tear down.

If true Dungeon wanted to present in California, or Seattle, or even LA I’m confident they could find a venue that would allow them to set up and tear down with volunteers.

Of course, if they are presenting at another convention then they have to stick with the rules of that conventions venue.

It’s not particular to California - the big convention center in Houston Texas has the same sorts of union rules.