With a live station, the merch table becomes part of the show. People choose a design, watch it get printed and leave with it on, usually within two minutes. This is what that looks like at a Twin Cities event.
The weeks leading up
We get your logo or artwork and send a proof. Roughly seven days out, the design is frozen so we can burn screens, print transfers and pack patches. We settle on garments and a size run, the truck leaves Fullerton, and the printers fly up a day before the event.
The day itself
- Moving in: presses, ink, blanks and tables come through whatever access the building allows. Downtown at the Convention Center it's a dock appointment; at a hotel on the skyway it's the service elevator.
- Choosing: guests pick a size, a garment, a design or a patch, and having picked it, they care about it.
- Printing: one press handles up to 60 pieces an hour and our two-press station passes 100 at full speed.
- Wearing it: the shirt is still warm from the platen, which people appreciate in a Minnesota January.
Your venue's part
Roughly 10×10 ft for each station, two 120V circuits, a flat floor, and space for a queue that leaves exits clear. A summer tent near the lakes is fine with a canopy and a plan for wind. Our venue checklist has details.
Which method
Large volume suits screen printing, full color and small runs suit DTF, and a hat bar or live embroidery makes a more premium keepsake. Read our overview of live printing or describe your Twin Cities event.
Minneapolis planning notes
Getting in the door in Minneapolis
Our shipment arrives first and the printers meet it. We assemble, test and print a few samples before guests arrive, then pack out when you're done. For a winter event, cases come off a cold truck, so we leave extra time for the gear to reach room temperature.