Home Sponsorship: A Key to Powerful Marketing 1 2007 Education Report 2008 Education Schedule 2008 Operating Council 3 Airlines Shut Down in One Week 3.15.06 Thoughts 3.15.06 TSEA Tips 5.1.07 News 4.15.08, Bits From Bob Become a Speaker at TS2 2008 – THE Industry Event for Exhibit & Event Professionals FREEMAN LAUNCHES CUSTOMER TRAINING PROGRAM FOR PART-TIME SHOW SITE STAFF Krisam Group Announces Ecomomic Stimulus Plan for Meeting Planners TSEA MEMBERS ONLY Aaron Bludworth Joins GES as Vice President of Corporate Events After The Show: Self-Analysis, A Critical Component to Improve Performance April 1 Bits From Bob April 1 Industry News April 1 New Members April 1 Thoughts from the Corner Office April 1 TSEA Tips April 2: TSEA Open House Are You Throwing Money Away? Begin at The Beginning: Three Secrets for Tradeshow Success Best Booth at Expo! Expo!: ARI Bits From Bob 5.1.07 Bits from Bob, Aug. 1, 2007 Bits from Bob, December 17, 2008 Bits from Bob, Feb. 1, 2008 Bits from Bob, Jan. 4, 2008 Bits From Bob, July 1, 2007 Bits From Bob, June 1, 2007 Bits from Bob, Mar. 3, 2008 Bits From Bob, November, 2007 Bits From Bob, October 1, 2007 Bits from Bob, September 1, 2007 Bits from Bob: May 1, 2008 Boothsmanship is Dead: "Preparedness" Reigns Supreme Canon Communications Acquires Pharmapack Carnival Refunds $40 Million Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau Unveils Online Video Marketing Tool for Customers Cleveland’s I-X Center Expansion Completed in Record Time; Fed Ex Kinko’s Opens Three Gigs in Vegas Creating Customer Evangelists Eight Effortless Exercises to Improve Trade show Performance Elaine Cohen Named Finalist in Stevie Awards for Women in Business Emap To Sell Events Division for $1.97 Billion ENK International to Acquire WSA Global Holdings LLC Exhibiting the Easy Way Exhibition Industry Revenue Grows 11.3 Percent in Second Quarter of 2007 Fairmont and WWF Join Forces to Address Climate Change Four Generations In the Marketplace: What This Means For You Freeman Announces Management Changes Freeman Recycles 25 Million Square Feet of Used Carpet Gaining Corporate Support GES® Acquires Ethnometrics Business Good Shows in Bad Times: Exhibiting When Your Industry is in Crisis Great Connection Weekend: The Master's Retreat Greenhill SAVP Completes Investment in BDMetrics, Inc. Help Wanted! Hey, You - Exhibitor Manners at a Trade Show Hortec 2008 Postponed; Food Tec Middle East and Food + Hospitality Middle East Rescheduled Hot Button Exhibiting How to Avoid Eating Your Words: 10 Essentials for Networking at Tradeshows and Events How to Avoid Eating Your Words: Ten Essentials for Networking at Tradeshows and Events How to Stand Out on the Job and in the Booth Hyatt Meetings Take Two Offer Ian Twentey Named Experient Eastern Region Senior Vice President iBAHN and IAEE Services, Inc. Launch World-Class Converged Network Industry Expert Harris Schanhaut is Available for Hire Industry News, August 15, 2007 Industry News, July 7, 2007 Industry News, June 15, 2007 Industry News, Mar. 3, 2007 It's Not What You Say, It's How You Say It: Body Language at Tradeshows ITN International Scores Judy Fairbanks as Vice President of Marketing JetBlue Now Offering Refundable Fares Jones Joins 3D Exhibits as Sr. VP, Client Results Strategist Las Vegas Sands Completes Initial Funding for Singapore's Marina Bay Sands Learn More About Your TSEAConnect Mack Brooks Exhibitions Announces the Acquisition of the International Converting Exhibition (ICE) Series Meeting Planners Rate Toronto Top Canadian City Member-of-the-Month, Bob Dallmeyer National Capitol Area Chapter Launched New Washington D.C. Chapter to Hold First Meeting January 28 News, April 16, 2007 News, May 15, 2007 Nick’s Cove & Cottages Announces Events Space October's Webinar: Your Booth Staff and the Four Levels Of Proficiency Open Skies: Deal is Sealed Between United States and EU PCMA Names Mark Holmes New Chief Financial Officer Penton Media Reorganizes Reed Exhibitions in the News Remaining Relevant: Tracking Trends for More Effective Exhibiting Revenues Projected to Rise Sandra Pizzarusso Joins Impact Unlimited as Director of Meetings and Events Secrets to Increasing Off-Site Meeting Productivity Sheraton and Four Points by Sheraton Hotels Go Smoke-Free Strategic Acquisition in Fast-growing Dubai Market The Six "P"s of Marketing?! The A-Zs of Exhibiting Overseas The Nielsen Company Names Greg Farrar President of Nielsen Business Media The Power of Asking Questions: 7 Strategies to Discovering what Your Prospects Really Want The Tradeshow Curse The Virtual Trade Show: The Top Four Things You Need To Know The Wearing of the Green: Exhibiting for the Environmentally-Conscious Audience Thoughts From the Corner Office Thoughts from the Corner Office 5.1.07 Thoughts From the Corner Office, April 1, 2008 Thoughts from the Corner Office, April 15, 2008 Thoughts from the Corner Office, April 16, 2007 Thoughts from the Corner Office, Aug. 1, 2007 Thoughts From the Corner Office, August 15, 2007 Thoughts From the Corner Office, Dec. 3, 2007 Thoughts from the Corner Office, December 18, 2007 Thoughts from the Corner Office, Feb. 1, 2008 Thoughts From the Corner Office, Feb. 20, 2008 Thoughts from the Corner Office, Jan. 16, 2008 Thoughts from the Corner Office, Jan. 4, 2007 Thoughts From the Corner Office, July 16, 2007 Thoughts From the Corner Office, June 1, 2006 Thoughts From the Corner Office, June 15, 2007 Thoughts from the Corner Office, Mar. 3, 2008 Thoughts From the Corner Office, May 1, 2008 Thoughts From the Corner Office, May 15, 2007 Thoughts From the Corner Office, Nov. 1, 2007 Thoughts from the Corner Office, Nov. 16, 2007 Torch Passed to Next Generation at Hargrove, Inc. Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago Debuted January 30 TSEA at Expo! Expo! Dec. 10-12 TSEA Connect Book Club: Stimulating Conversation Underway! TSEA Members: New Discount Affiliation with FCm Travel Solutions TSEA New Members, Aug.1, 2007 TSEA Tips 5.1.07 TSEA Tips, April 16, 2007 TSEA Tips: The Scent of a Show TSEA to Exhibit at Exhibitor 2008 TSEA's Career Center TSEAConnect: the ONLY Online Community of Its Kind TSNN.com Reports Dramatic Increase in Event Interest in 2008's First Quarter Turn Your Team Around: Seven Strategies to Transform Trade Show Performance Valera Global Joins Chicago Climate Exchange, Commits to Offset 100 Percent of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Windy City Chapter Events for 2008 Windy City Logo Contest Windy City News How to Stand Out on the Job and in the Booth by Susan Brauer, Brauer Consulting Group As professionals in the exhibition industry, we all know that a successful trade show program involves both tactical and strategic skill sets. To be effective on the strategic side of the equation, you have to first get the tactical side of the job under control. Keeping the different aspects of the show in order, having answers at your fingertips, and being able to keep the team updated on what needs to be done to stay on top of the details, will help you stand out and be seen as the exhibit professional that you are. In the Office Tip #1: Get Organized How many of you have an office that looks like an explosion: heaps of files, papers and show books on your desk and floor? Your first thought may be, It’s ok, I know just where everything is. However, if your office is a mess, you project an image of chaos, and people (co-workers as well as managers) may have an opinion of you that isn’t as favorable as you’d like. Keeping your files and papers in order will help you manage your time and be more efficient, which in turn will help you be more effective and display confidence and professionalism. If you’re not an organized person by nature, take some classes, read a book on it, or take a look at some of the tips below to help you get started. And, incorporate a few new tactics of your own! You’ll be surprised what a difference it makes in how you get your work done and in how other people perceive you. - Keep your office as orderly as possible. Find a filing system that works for you. - Make sure you’re seeing the big picture. People are truly in awe of organizational skills but they don’t admire nitpicking. You want to be seen as professional and in control of yourself and your job; not unfocused, annoying and dictatorial to others. Tip #2: Make Your Action Plan Without an action plan, you become reactive rather than proactive in the events leading up to the show. - Meet with your team as early as possible and be sure you get information on all of the aspects that they would like incorporated into the show (i.e. ads, speaker ops, new graphics, mailings). - Set up a chart that outlines the necessary steps for completing each of the aspects, and include budget and timelines/deadlines for each. - Check the chart at the beginning of each week so you can do what needs to be done, such as set up meetings, send out reminders, get paperwork in and call vendors. Tip #3: Don’t Be Busy Just for “Being Busy’s” Sake Sometimes, exhibit managers make the mistake in thinking that being perceived as someone who is “always busy” is a positive thing. However, if you’re running around like a crazy person, upper management may never see you as anything more than a worker bee instead of as a part of her/his strategic team. - If there is an administrative person on your team, or if you have an assistant, determine what tasks are appropriate to delegate to them and do so. - Set a schedule to check in (i.e. once a week, every two weeks) to make sure tasks are being completed. - Do help out when it’s absolutely necessary to make sure everything gets done. - If you don’t have someone to help you, try to incorporate some of your organizational skills to help you remain calm and collected. You don’t want to appear to be out of control. In the Booth Again, preparation and organization rules the day! Have all the information you need at your fingertips. Create a “go-to” book with all of the information you’ll need on site, including the following information: - Staffing, media and educational session schedules - The show book that lists where competitors and/or partners are located - Back-up phone and cell numbers for emergency communication needs (i.e. someone back at the office to Fed-X out any last minute items, I&D company if you use a EAC for those services) - Shipping manifests with tracking numbers and phone numbers of a contact at the shipping company There are many ways to improve your professional image, both in the office and on the show floor. Displaying great planning and organizational skills is the first step in obtaining the well-deserved recognition for your contribution to the success of the show. Susan Brauer, CME, founder of Brauer Consulting Group, specializes in cultivating effective trade show and event marketing opportunities by helping organizations obtain measurable objectives to continuously improve results over time. Brauer has been continuously involved over the years in the professional associations and organizations that make up the face-to-face marketing industry, serving as an industry task force leader, mentor, speaker and consultant, as well as sitting on several boards. She graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Art in Communication Studies.