subject: Ways To Survive A Trade Show Weekend [print this page] Because a trade show involves a lot of hard work, unforeseen problems and often elevated stress levels, it can cause many people to panic. However, avoiding those stressors and surviving a trade show can be easy if you are well prepared. Take the time to prepare and plan and you'll be rewarded by a fantastic weekend. Regardless of why you attend a trade show, here are some simple tips to help you make your trade show experience more pleasurable:
First, be realistic. You wont be able to conquer everything in just a few days. Make a list of the realistic goals you have and then work to attain them. You may need to scale back the number of meetings or activities you do during the weekend. The more realistic you make your list, the more likelihood you'll have of succeeding.
Make sure to consume plenty of water. The weekend will probably require that you do a lot of walking to see all of the booths in the hall. Even if you are just presenting, consistently talking to prospective clients can leave you quite thirsty. To solve this problem, make sure to keep enough water at your booth for both you and visitors. They will appreciate this gesture and be more likely to remember your booth.
Try setting up a food exchange. If booths nearby are willing to exchange food it'll help relieve the need to get everything yourself. For example, if your booth is willing to bring sandwiches, look for another booth that will provide the drinks and so on. This way, you get to know those around you and eliminate the stress of providing everything yourself.
Make sure you are prepared to do a lot of walking during the show. This means you should avoid walking in uncomfortable shoes. Avoid walking in high heels unless you are making a formal presentation. Make sure to bring an extra pair of shoes that are comfortable.
