How to Prepare for Your Exhibit Install

Thursday, March 28, 2019 1:00 PM by Taylor Studios in Other


TSI worker installing natural scenic element for a project.

Preparing for an installation can be stressful. Let’s face it; most people would prefer to do anything else. Whether it is your home or your organization, the endless items that you have to account for can make you feel overwhelmed. The reward, however, is worth all the fuss—especially when the reward is a brand-new exhibit.

When it comes to installing an exhibit, the hope is that the space is ready to receive all the new items. If the space is not ready, this could possibly affect how the install goes, even resulting in a delay. Since nobody likes to miss deadlines, here is a guide to help you prepare for your next install!

  1. Prepping/Cleaning the area

Possibly one of the most important things you can do is to make sure the space that the install will take place in is clean and prepped. In many situations, the successful installation of an exhibit piece depends on how clean something is or whether the proper methods have been used to prep a space.

It could be anything from sanding a wall so that the application of a liquid video screen (it’s a thing!) can be applied evenly, or making sure that the concrete floor is mopped a few days in advance to assure it is completely dry before paint is applied. In these situations, our specialists will always take the time to point out what needs to be done and what methods to use. By taking the time to properly prep and cleaning your space, it makes installing the exhibit go much more smoothly.

  • Following a Checklist

In order to help you as best as we can, Taylor Studios provides a checklist shortly before the install to gather as much information about the building as possible. This checklist is designed to help the client make notes of all the important elements to the building, such as:

Doorways/Hallways

  • What kind of doors does your facility use?

  • What are the measurements of the doors?

  • Are there any tricky hallways that we must navigate?

Site Access/Unloading area

  • Is the road to the job site complete?

  • Can the road or unloading area accommodate the delivery vehicle (van, box truck, semi-trailer)?

Working Hours

  • What are the working hours of the organization?

  • Will the TSI install team be given a site key?

  • Do the site personnel need to be present at all times?

  • What hours can TSI be on-site?

By providing this information, it gives us a chance to plan accordingly and to make our visit as efficient as possible!

  • Point of Contact

We like to know who we are working with! Usually there is a main point of contact that is established at the beginning of a project, but sometimes this person is not available at the time of the install, or there is a site manager who is responsible for handling outside workers and on-site deliveries.

Whoever the contact is, it is important for us to know who to talk to about the work space and any questions we may have. Having a direct line of communication is key in a successful install.

  • Job Site Conditions

This one is a biggie. Sometimes, the buildings that we are working in are still under construction, or not all of the building is operational. Taylor Studios is pretty flexible when it comes to working in spaces that have limitations, but we will need to know in advance what those limitations are. Are the bathrooms operational? Is the heat or air conditioning working?

Also, we need to know about what places we need to avoid or protect with additional measures. Are there any places that need to be masked off or covered up? Do the floors need protection? Are there any security clearance issues?

Knowing this information ahead of time will give everyone involved some piece of mind!

  • Photos!

Photos can pretty much help with all of the above points. They can illustrate difficult-to-navigate areas that require serious planning. Photos of the unloading area can help us determine what kind of delivery truck we will need to use. They can also show the job site conditions and give us a more accurate perception of the building’s state of being. When in doubt, send a photo of it!

While nothing can really remove all the stress of an install, if you follow these guidelines, it will absolutely make everything more enjoyable!

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