I Saw The Signs

Sometimes my curiosity is overwhelming.

Take yesterday, for example. I was watching the roll call at the Democratic National Convention (DNC), sobbing my eyes out when Hillary Clinton was officially nominated as the Democratic candidate for President of the United States and then sobbing my eyes out again when Bernie Sanders moved that Hillary be nominated by acclimation, trying to unify the party.

(I’m just setting the stage for you.)

While all of this history was being made, convention attendees were holding up signs. And more signs. And more signs. There was no sign shortage at the Republican National Convention (RNC) either, which I watched last week. Signs are commonplace at every political convention.

ALL THE SIGNS.

But where, I wonder, do they come from? Printers, of course. I know that. That’s not my real question.

My question is WHERE do they come from, within the venue? And that’s not all.

How do they get into the hands of the attendees and where the heck are they stowing those signs when it’s not time to hold one up? How do they know if it’s time to hold up the one that says “Change Maker” or the one that says “I’m With Her”? What happens to the signs after the DNC and RNC? Do they fit in a Chevy for the ride home? Do they end up on eBay? These questions, even in the midst of a crazed BlogHer conference season and a crazed home life at the moment, have been bugging me for a week.

I decided to take my curiosity to Twitter, and I wasn’t disappointed. This is the best extended tweet exchange I’ve had in a while:

Now that I have a glimmer of an answer, I feel better but feel the need to know more. Is there a documentary out there about the people who run these signs over when the cameras are pointed toward the stage? A book? SOMETHING?

I tried to do research this earlier today but didn’t get anywhere, which is totally frustrating for a Type A, curious, control freak whose work title includes the word “RESEARCHER”. I need to know things.

I did find out that the items on the following list are not allowed inside the DNC:

-Aerosols
-Ammunition
-Animals other than service/guide animals
-Backpacks
-Bags exceeding size restriction 18″ x 13″ x 7″
-Banners, Signs, or Placards of any type or size (WAIT. Oh okay, nothing from home. Got it.)
-Bicycles
-Balloons
-Coolers
-Drones and other unmanned aircraft systems
-E-Cigarettes
-Explosives
-Firearms
-Glass, thermal, or metal containers
-Laser pointers
-Mace / Pepper spray
-Noisemakers, such as air horns and bull horns (Pennsylvania Convention Center only)
-Packages
-Pocket knives
-Selfie Sticks
-Structures
-Supports for signs and placards
-Toy guns
-Weapons of any kind
-Any other items determined to be potential safety hazards

I also learned that if you are a delegate using the “home away from home” lounge at the venue, you have certain exceptions and MAY bring:

-Backpacks
-Bags exceeding size restriction 18″ x 13″ x 7″
-Glass containers
-Unopened packages

So I learned some good stuff today. I’m still hungry for more details on those blasted signs, though. Know anything about them? Have your own theories? Lay them on me. Thanks.