Shedding some light on the auto show
Date Posted: January 24 2003
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| LIGHTS FOR A DISPLAY case at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit are installed by Nick Murray and Dave Odell of IBEW Local 58 and Trade Show Electric. They were working on the second level of the two-story GM Court. Both were working the auto show for the first time. "We love it here," Murray said. "It's totally different from what we normally do. You can take your coat off, and the toilets are inside. It's great." According to auto show organizers, in the ten weeks it takes to prepare the NAIAS for the media and public, more than 1,500 carpenters, iron workers, electricians, stagehands, teamsters and riggers are employed full time (12-14 hour days; some double shifts) until the job is done. Times have changed, so has the show - 16 years ago the "Detroit Auto Show" could be built in four days. The total value of the exhibits in the NAIAS is in excess of $200 million, not including the vehicles. |