Booth Activities

The prohibited practices below apply to exhibitors and non-exhibitors:

• Distributing giveaway items that do not comply with stated policy


• Distributing or using stick-on decals and/or similar adhesive-backed promotional items in the Walter E. Washington Convention Center


• Suitcasing - canvassing or distributing any materials or product samples outside the exhibitor’s own space, the convention center and any SfN contracted hotel unless approved through an official SfN support or advertising opportunity


• Advertisements including, but not limited to; billboards, displays of signs, promotional items, or any form of technology outside the exhibit space, convention center and any SfN contracted hotel unless approved through an official SfN support or advertising opportunity


• Publicizing and/or maintaining any extracurricular activities, inducements, demonstrations, or displays away from the exhibit area


• Hanging signs or banners from the ceiling (island booths only are permitted)


• Entering another exhibitor’s space without permission


• Photographing or examining another exhibitor’s equipment without permission (see SfN's policy for photography and recording). This policy also applies to any scientific session.


• Wearing buttons, unofficial badges, company name plates, etc., in lieu of the official SfN exhibitor badge


• Altering badges in anyway (i.e., ribbons or buttons)


• Operating X-ray equipment


• Use of minors as models


• Noisy electrical or mechanical apparatus interfering with other exhibitors


• Use of the Society’s name is forbidden on signs inside or outside the exhibit area and on descriptive product literature


• No subletting or sharing of exhibit space


• Using helium balloons or glitter products


• Selling and/or otherwise distributing demographic information obtained by scanning attendees name badges that visit their booth with lead retrieval devices


• Exhibitors or their agents may not negotiate blocks of hotel rooms directly with contracted SfN participating hotels


• Tipping contracted labor

Except for the limited use of live marine animals, Walter E. Washington Convention Center and the Society strictly prohibit the use of live or dead animals in the Center’s exhibit halls and meeting rooms. Approval for exhibits that include the use of live marine animals to further the educational intent of the display must be requested upon submission of application for exhibit space. Upon approval by the Society, exhibitors must obtain further approval from the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

Paula Hagan

Senior Event Manager

Walter E. Washington Convention Center

Email: phagan@eventsdc.com

The request should set forth the specific purpose, scope, and use of the display. The convention center will respond to each exhibitor’s request. If the exhibitor’s request is approved and during the event the convention center or the Society determines that the use of the live marine animals is in any way improper or distasteful, the use shall be immediately discontinued by the exhibitor or meeting room instructor.

Do not store anything of value in crates going into storage. Professional security guard service will be provided for the perimeter of the exposition (not booths) on an around-the-clock basis beginning with the first day of move-in and continuing through move-out. The Society for Neuroscience, Walter E. Washington Convention Center and The Expo Group are not responsible for loss or damage to exhibitor property. Exhibitors wanting to stay past the published times for move-in will need to hire security for their booth.

Security Tips

• Have a booth representative available when your freight is taken off the truck to verify the condition of freight and receipt of complete shipment.


• When your freight arrives at your booth, do not unwrap expensive items and giveaways and leave for lunch/dinner. Secure these items.


• Do not set up your booth, with your giveaways and laptop computers before the first day of the show. If you are concerned about corporate espionage, do not leave a one of a kind prototype in your booth overnight.
  


• If you must leave during show hours and are the only person manning your booth, ask a neighboring exhibitor to watch your booth until you return.
  


• The second highest number of thefts occur during move-out. When the show closes, secure your items. Label your boxes correctly.
  


• If you have several boxes, shrink wrap them.
  


• Stay with your freight until it is loaded.
  


• If you have it, odds are, someone else wants it. Theft is a crime of opportunity.

Photographs

Taking of photographs in the exhibition hall is strictly prohibited except for booth photography contracted through the official show photographer. An exhibitor may not photograph or videotape the exhibits or product of other exhibitors.

By attending/exhibiting at Neuroscience 2020 or its associated events, you hereby authorize SfN to use any such photographs, videotapes or other recordings of yourself and your guests for any promotional purposes and to license other relevant people/organizations to use them. You hereby indemnify and hold the Society harmless for any such licensed or unlicensed use.

Each exhibiting company is asked to select a maximum of eight product categories from the SfN Product Category List that best describes their products being offered to annual meeting attendees. Please refer to the online application for submission of product categories. To ensure inclusion in the Exhibit Guide, exhibitors must submit product category lists by July 22.

Note: Only company products and company contact information are published in the Exhibit Guide.

Giveaways will be limited to those items relevant to the professional interests of the registrants and must have a value of $25.00 or less per item. Exhibitors may conduct contests, lotteries and raffles onsite. Value of prize may not exceed $1,000. The winner must be announced after the meeting has concluded to avoid congestion in the aisle. All giveaways and handouts, with the exception of literature, must be on the Society pre-approved Gift and Promotional form. Giveaway items not on the list must receive written approval from the Society prior to the meeting. Such requests must be submitted to Exhibit Management by September 21. Requests received after September 21 will not be approved.

SfN reserves the right to restrict exhibits that become objectionable due to sound, method of operation, materials, content, or any other reason, and prohibit or evict any exhibit that, in the opinion of Exhibit Management, may detract from the general character of the exhibits as a whole. This reservation includes persons, things, conduct, printed matter, food and beverages, or anything of a character Exhibit Management determines is objectionable to the exhibit. In the event of such restriction or eviction, the Society is not liable for any refunds or rentals of other exhibit expenses.