In the early morning hours on the day before the 2007 New York Auto Show opened for the first press day, a crew of 1200 was busy setting up “We work around the clock—every hour available to us—but it’s always a photo finish for press day,” says John O’Connell, Chief Operating Officer of Freeman Convention Services.
It’s no wonder. Planning for the NY Auto Show starts in December, but the actual setting up takes only five days. By contrast, the Detroit Auto Show (NAIAS) takes up to ten weeks to build. “It’s controlled chaos, “ says electrician John McMartin. “You need to bring your ‘A’ team and deal with things fast.” That includes 150 truckloads of freight, and 50 suppliers. “I have seventeen fifty-three foot trucks full of equipment,” says Adrian Basset Chief Electrician. “It’s a challenge, but we want it to be a success.”
The visitors to the show only see the finished product of the frantic work before the press days but that’s fine with the crew. “The people who build and drive these cars are my neighbors, my family,” Basset says. “For me, it’s like, anything I can do to help.”
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