DAT — 1.Dangerous Articles Tariff. 2. Digital Audio Tape.

D/B/A — Doing Business As.

DOT — Department of Transportation.

DVD (Digital Video Disc) — A CD-size storage device with two layers of data used to store video, images, sound, and presentation software.

Dado — Term in carpentry referring to incised recess in face of lumber.

Dais — A raised platform on which the head table is placed (pronounced "day-iss").

Damage Report — A report submitted by an exhibitor to a freight company or drayage contractor itemizing damage to shipped goods.

Dangerous Goods –– Articles or substances capable of posing a significant risk to health, safety or property when transported and which are classified according to the most current editions of ICAO Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods and IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations.

Dark Day — A day on which a facility or hall has no events booked.

Date Protection — A guarantee that the dates a show organizer has selected for an event in a specific facility are reserved for that organizer.

Day Glo™ — Trademarked name for iridescent paints or inks that glow.

Dead Man — Temporary post used during installation to help support the weight of an overhead structure.

Dead Time — Time when a worker is unable to work because of factors beyond his or her control and during which he or she is paid. Also called ALLOWED TIME, DOWN TIME, IDLE TIME, or WAITING TIME.

Declared Value — Shipper's stated value of entire shipment in terms of dollars, or the purpose of determining charges or establishing the limit of carrier’s liability for loss, damage or delay.

Decorating — Dressing up a facility or exhibit with carpet, draping, plants, etc.

Decorator —1.The skilled craftsperson that provides installation and dismantle and booth and hall dressing services for a trade show and/or its exhibitors. SEE INSTALLER. 2. The union that represents decorators, ALSO KNOWN AS INTERNATIONAL UNION OF PAINTERS AND ALLIED TRADES (IUPAT). 3. The official service contractor for an exhibition. ALSO KNOWN AS GENERAL SERVICE CONTRACTOR.

Deferred Air Freight — Long haul air freight that waits for available cargo space, usually one to two days, at a reduced rate.

Deferred Rebate — A deferred rebate is the return of a portion of the freight charges by a carrier or a conference to a shipper, in exchange for the shipper giving all or most of his shipment to the carrier or conference over a specified period of time (usually 6 months). Payment of the rebate is deferred for a further similar period, during which the shipper must continue to give all or most of his shipments to the rebating carrier or conference. The shipper thus earns a further rebate that will not, however, be paid without an additional period of exclusive or almost exclusive patronage with the carrier or conference. In this way, the shipper becomes tied to the rebating carrier or conference.

Demographics — Characteristics that help create a profile of exhibitors and attendees. May include company location, job function, purchase budget, or purchase intentions.

Demonstrators — Persons hired to illustrate, demonstrate, or explain products.

Demurrage — Excess time taken for loading or unloading a vessel. Demurrage refers only to situations in which the charterer or shipper, rather than the vessel's operator, is at fault.

Density — Pounds per cubic foot. The cubic footage of loose articles or pieces, or packaged articles of a rectangular, elliptical or square shape on one plane shall be determined by multiplying the greatest straight line dimensions of length, width and depth in inches, including all projections, and dividing the total by 1728 (to obtain cubic feet). The density is the weight of the article divided by the cubic feet thus obtained.

Deposit — Money required in advance of the use of space or prior to provision of services.

Design — Graphic and pictorial representation of an idea.

Destination Control Statement — Any of various statements that the U.S. Government requires to be displayed on export shipments and that specify the destinations for which export of the shipment has been authorized.

Detail — Construction drawing for fabrication (or specific construction feature).

Devaluation — The official lowering of the value of one country's currency in terms of one or more foreign currencies. Thus, if the U.S. dollar is devalued in relation to the French franc, one dollar will "buy" fewer francs than before devaluation.

Die Cut — Method of producing repetitive cutout shapes in quantity.

Diffuser — An open grid or a solid translucent plastic to soften or conceal light sources.

Dim Weight — Length x width x height divided by 194 for domestic shipment, or divided by 166 for international shipments.

Dimmer — A device to control light intensity.

Diorama — Dimensional representation in forced perspective.

Directory — A catalog of basic information about the show, including exhibitors, floor plan, and schedule of events. Also called program.

Disconnect — Device to permit easy and rapid separation of electrical components.

Dismantle — 1. To take to pieces or apart. 2. Teardown of exhibit.

Dispatcher — Person responsible for scheduling and routing freight, labor, etc.

Display Builder — 1. Company that fabricates displays. SEE EXHIBIT HOUSE 2. Craftsperson that builds displays.

Display Case — Showcase for displaying products.

Display Rules and Regulations — A set of specifications for exhibit construction endorsed by major exhibit industry associations. Also the set of rules for an exposition that are used by management.

Dispute — A conflict or difference of opinion between an employer and a union or between an employer and employees over some phase of their relationship. Usually refers to a serious controversy that threatens or causes a work stoppage or that is submitted to an arbitrator or government agency for settlement.

Dissolve — See FADE.

Distributor Show — A show produced by a distributor at which exhibitors are the manufacturers of products sold by the distributor and attendees are the distributor’s customers.

Dock — A place where freight is loaded onto and taken from vessels or vehicles.

Dock Receipt — A receipt issued by an ocean carrier to acknowledge receipt of a shipment at the carrier's dock or warehouse facilities. When delivery of a foreign shipment is completed, the dock receipt is surrendered to the vessel operator or his agent and serves as the basis for the preparation of the Ocean Bill of Lading. Also see WAREHOUSE RECEIPT.

Dolly — Any of several kinds of low, flat, wheeled frames for transporting heavy objects.

Donkey Dick – A metal pole placed on the front of a forklift for carrying rolls of carpet.

Double-Decker — A two-storied exhibit. Also called MULTIPLE STORY EXHIBIT.

Double-Faced Panel — Finished on both sides.

Double-Faced Tape — Tape used to adhere carpet to floor, signs, or panels.

Doubletime — Premium pay, which is double the base rate of hourly wage.

Draper — Person who installs drapes, pleats, and special decor.

Draping — Decorating with drapes.

Drawback — A refund of duties paid on imported goods that is provided at the time of their re-exportation.

Drayage Delivery of exhibit materials from the dock to assigned space, removing empty crates, returning crates at end of show for re-crating, and delivering materials back to dock for carrier loading. NOW KNOWN AS MATERIAL HANDLING.

Drayage Contractor –– SEE OFFICIAL SERVICE CONTRACTOR.

Dressed Lumber — Term referring to lumber that has been sanded or smoothed down to less than its rough dimensions.

Dressing the Exhibits — Placing graphics, plants, literature, and applying any finishing touches to the display.

Drop Slot — Opening in countertop to receive cards.

DT Labor — Work performed on overtime and charged at twice the published rate.

Duct Tape –– Fabric tape that comes in various colors to match carpet and drape.

Dummy — Mock-up, non-operative.

Dump — See BONEYARD.

Duplex Outlet — Double electrical outlet., otherwise a common household outlet.

Duty — A tax imposed on imports by the customs authority of a country to discourage imports. . Duties are generally based on the value of the goods (ad valorem duties), some other factor such as weight or quantity (specific duties), or a combination of value and other factors (compound duties).

Duventyne — An inexpensive felt-like fabric commonly used for one-time decorative applications.

Dye Transfer — Technique of producing full color, accurate color prints.