PURPOSE

The purpose of these rules & regulations is to provide convention personnel handling vendor booths, a set of general procedures and suggestions. It also gives vendors setting up at the National Square Dance Convention an established set of rules to follow in the operation of their booth. Although some items may not be applicable because of unique facilities or other special considerations, the guidelines cover most situations which are likely to occur with regard to vendors. These Rules and Regulations are not intended to replace the Guidelines which are provided by the National Executive Committee but to supplement and clarify NASRDS position on some items. These Rules and Regulations do not replace the Booth Contract or any items stipulated by the contract at the National Convention.

A. BOOTH VICE-CHAIRMAN

The Vendor Booth Vice-Chairman should attend the two prior National Conventions and develop a working relationship with the Booth Vice-Chairman of the prior conventions and with NASRDS Executive Committee. A layout sheet of the booth area should be prepared by the Booth Chairman. It should show booth locations, adjacent dancing areas, traffic flows, exhibit, loading and unloading areas. The layout should note different levels, lighting, etc. This information will be very helpful to the vendor in preparing for selecting, loading, unloading, set-up and operation of the booth. The finalized booth layout must be reviewed and signed-off by the local Fire Marshall. Once booth selection has started, the layout of the vendor area and its location must remain the same and become part of the booth contract unless changed by the Fire Marshall or convention center requirements.

B. NUMBER OF BOOTHS

The vendor booth area for a National Convention should allow space for 200 to 300, ten by ten, booth spaces (depending upon the expected attendance of the convention) with about 10 to 15 spaces reserved for dressing rooms, and one booth space forNASRDS representatives. The number of booths can be no more than 15% above or below the prior years convention unless approved by the NEC Vendor Booth Advisor.

C. VENDOR BOOTH SELECTION

National Convention booth selection is based upon the seniority list maintained by NASRDS. Booth selection is made at the previous convention beginning as early as Wednesday prior to the start of the convention. A maximum of four (4) booth spaces per vendor is allowed. The spaces must be adjacent (end booths on back-to back rows are considered adjacent). If there are booth spaces remaining after sign-up at the convention, the Booth Vice-Chairman contacts the other suppliers on the seniority list in seniority sequence until all spaces are taken.

D. BOOTH CANCELLATION

Cancellation of a booth by a vendor or refusing a booth space when offered prior to March 1 st will remove the supplier from the seniority list. Only by reapplying to NASRDS can the supplier be returned to the bottom of the seniority list.

E. VENDOR HOTEL

A vendor hotel for the National Convention should be designated as early as possible. The hotel should be within easy walking distance of the convention facility. Vendor packets (including ribbons, badges, etc.) should be available at the door during early move-in on Tuesday. Packets not picked up on Tuesday should be available at the unloading door on Wednesday morning.

F. SET-UP OF BOOTHS

Early move-in and unloading may be scheduled on Tuesday. Set-up is completed by 4:00 PM on Wednesday. Only vendors and convention booth personnel will be allowed in the vendor area after move-in is underway. No one will be allowed in the booth area on set-up days except during the official set-up hours, other than security.

G. HOSPITALITY ROOM

A vendor hospitality room and an area for sign-up for the next convention should be provided adjacent to the booth area. The hospitality room should be named and be for vendor booth personnel and the booth committee workers.

H. CONVENTION BANK

A convention "bank" for change should be available two times daily (once in themorning at opening time and once in the evening hours). Thursday morning before opening of the convention is an important time for change.

I. OPERATION OF BOOTHS

Booths must be manned during open hours. Hours of operation are 10:00 A.M. to 10:00 P.M. Booths will not be closed before the designated closing time. Booths closed during operating hours will result in automatic removal from the NASRDS seniority list and automatic forfeiture of space contracted for at the next convention. No vehicles or large movements of merchandise in or out of the booth area will be allowed during open hours. Restocking of booths should take place in the hour prior to the opening of the booths.

J. RESTRICTIONS

1. No advertising outside the designated booth space will be allowed except for ads in convention program book or donated door prizes. No flashing lights or amplifiers/loud speakers (except for calling/cueing equipment which must kept at a reasonable volume) are allowed.

2. The booth operation must be maintained within the designated booth dimensions. Vendors must not place signs, mannequins, other products or equipment outside the specified area. A maximum height of ten feet must be maintained. No activity should take place in the aisles (no fashion shows, exhibitions, handout of literature in the aisles, etc.). Business is to be conducted within the booth in a professional manner.

3. Although the pricing of items is the responsibility of the vendor, whatever prices are established at the start of the convention, they are to be maintained throughout the convention. Cutting prices during the event is not fair to those who purchased items earlier. All items "for sale" must be "priced" at the start of the convention.

4. It is the responsibility of the vendor to determine what items will be offered for sale in his/her booth. However, sub-standard, shoddy, poor quality or misrepresented items will not be tolerated.

5. Sharing or subleasing booth space by two or more separate businesses will not be allowed. This is unfair to other vendors who are on the established waiting lists for booth spaces. All merchandise must be sold by the vendor wbo contracted for the booth space.

6. Violation to the above restrictions will result in:

(a) First (1 st ) documented offense -- warning by NASRDS Official or NEC Booth Advisor

(b) Second documented offense -- probation for two years

(c) Third documented offense -- automatic removal from the NASRDS Seniority list and forfeit of booth space contracted for at the next convention.

K. DIRECTORY

Signs directing dancers to the vendor areas will be provided by the convention. Announcements in the dance areas telling dancers how to get to the vendor area are helpful to both the dancers and the vendors. The Vendor Booth Chairman should coordinate these services.

L. TEAR-DOWN

Time should be allowed for booth tear down and load-out on Saturday night after the closing of the booths. Additional time will be allowed on Sunday for vendors to load-out. No early tear-down will be allowed. The Booth Chairman should be on hand during tear down and load-out.

M. MAP

The Booth Chairman should provide vendors with a map of the area near the facility in advance of the event. The map should show the location of facility, its relationship to major streets and highways, and an indication of expressway exits. One way streets near the facility should be clearly marked. Appropriate parking areas and areas for RV's should be indicated.

N. NASRDS MEETING

A room, accommodating about 200 people for the annual NASRDS meeting, is needed for the Wednesday prior to the convention, close to the booth area. This meeting is held at 4:00 P.M. and sign-up for the following year should end in conjunction with this meeting to allow all booth personnel to attend.

O. SERVICES PROVIDED

Each vendor booth must include, at no extra charge, two chairs, two convention registrations, exhibitor (vendor) ribbons (or other identification) and a sign with the name of the exhibitor (vendor) and the booth number. Electricity should be provided or made available at a reasonable charge, if required. When booth spaces are adjacent to each other at the rear, some type of curtain or other divider will be installed. Free parking should be provided as close to the booth area as possible. Overnight RV parking (not necessarily hook-ups) for vendors will be provided in the immediate area. These arrangements will be made in advance by the Booth Chairman with the facility management.

Violations of these established NASRDS Rules and Regulations or the National Convention Guidelines or other unethical practices by vendors will be reported to NASRDS by the Vendor Booth Vice-Chairman. Such violations will lead to loss of seniority or other disciplinary actions. NASRDS and the National Executive Committee will work together to assure that such action is fair, appropriate and effective.

These NASRDS Rules and Regulations are not to replace or to be confused with the National Convention Guidelines.