“Realville” Tips for Trade Shows

Although trade show attendees spend a lot time and effort focusing on preparations for the booth and activities in the hall, the fact of the matter is most savvy trade show veterans will spend as little time in the hall as possible, save for checking in to see that the booth has been put together properly and the booth staff are at their assigned stations.

It’s also a good idea to do a walk around of the floor to buttonhole old acquaintances and check out the new competition in town. However, after that, many trade show attendees will consider the city their trade show.

So, in addition to knowing everything about the state if the industry and what’s happening on the floor, it’s also imperative to know the client’s favorite watering hole and how much to tip the cabbies.

If our “away team” is headed to New York or Chicago, it’s helpful to have someone on board who is familiar with these cities. This was brought home to me once upon a Consumer Electronics Trade Show in Chicago. I was the editor of a national magazine located in a remote area of the country and on this trip we sent along new employees to greet visitors to our booth.

Know the Landscape

While we raised out hands at the cab stand, one of our group grew impatient and simply walked out into the middle of a freeway. We were all sure she was going to be run over, but much to our surprise a cab stopped right in front of her and we all tumbled in as if nothing happened.

If you’re a workout person, do the workout as soon as you wake up. There will never be a “good time” the rest of the day.

It’s great there are tom-toms and GPS guides and city maps for your tablet, but there’s nothing like someone who knows the lay of the land and will not land you in the county pen or a “Bonfire of the Vanities” situation.

BrandMe - Welcome To Las VegasIf you need to keep to your own schedule, make sure you have your own transportation. While it may be true that the client has a shuttle bus to take you to the “off site” event at a bar somewhere in the wilds of the outback, it is also true that you will be there until the bus leaves, unless you can bribe the driver to take you back, which has been known to happen.

A final word about Las Vegas, USA. Despite the advertised atmosphere of licentiousness, Nevada is a human speed trap. Activities that are frequently misdemeanors in other jurisdictions are felonies in Nevada. The gambling floors are under 24/7 surveillance, and some of the entertainment personnel are police officers. And there is no “conventioner’s immunity” because you’re spending in their town.

It’s worth noting that although O.J. Simpson was tried for murder in California, he wound up doing time in Nevada and was arrested on a simple weapons charge during a sports memorabilia trade show.

Sometimes, what happens in Vegas not only stays in Vegas but is not allowed to leave Vegas.


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