It Takes a Village, Part 2
Congratulations. You’ve just been promoted from exhibit graphics to Event Coordinator for XYZ Company, a manufacturer of brooms and brushes for the restaurant industry. That means you’ll be attending the National Restaurant Show. How will you make XYZ’s product stand out from the competition?
At a show attracting thousands of attendees eating free food to boot, it’s not going to be easy. But, you’ve been in graphics, so you know that the first impression on a date or a job interview is made in the first 30 seconds . At a trade show, we can cut that down to the first 3 seconds; so, given the budget, you’ll create a wowie-zowie back board for your 10’ x 20’ broom and brush display. Now you need to pack it, ship it, set it up, light it, tweak it, photograph it, stand in it for three days, break it down, and return it to the shop.
Arriving at the show, you’ll join the small town making the entire event, including your 10’ x 20‘ display, a smashing success. Once you collect your exhibit from freight, and because you filled out the services forms back home, you’ll be visited by a string of people to help you. So, here’s the most important part: events like the National Restaurant Show usually rotate between the three largest convention halls in the nation. Make friends with the people in this small town, because if you stay in your position, it’s highly likely you’ll be seeing them again.
