Comments on: Your next trade show – You’re going to make mistakes and why that’s a good thing

By: tracibrowne

tracibrowne — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 11:39:06 +0000

Thank you for the kind words Michael. Some days I’m more on my game than others…

How often have you seen people wasting valuable fix-it time blaming or berating others right? So sorry I didn’t make it up to Boston this year to see and meet everyone. I’m going to be up there in a couple weeks for SISO.

By: Michael Thimmesch

Michael Thimmesch — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 21:42:33 +0000

Traci,

Again, you nailed it. Trade shows are so complex, with so many moving parts, that something will go wrong…so accept that and be prepared to fix it, not blame it. I just talked about this exact thing with my session at TS2 about things I wished I knew before I started exhibiting.

And I’m with Eric — “little microcosms of chaos” — your writing, with its blend of clarity and style, is getting so good!

By: tracibrowne

tracibrowne — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 14:34:44 +0000

Great tip Paul – I never thought of that one. Even if you have the cab drop you at the Convention Center doors, in places like San Diego and Orlando you might still have a two mile trek to your hall/space. From now on I’m having the cab drop me at the hall loading dock.

By: Paul Cook

Paul Cook — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 14:26:49 +0000

Great post Traci. When I was working at a previous company I was tasked with exhibiting. I wasn’t given any real idea of what was expected and my mistake was not to have asked enough questions. The biggest learn for me is always now to park the car as close as possible to the loading bay area and not in the visitors car park which was just too far to carry all the exhibition kit.

As you say we learn from our mistakes which is just as well. I’m looking forward to making some more so I can continue to learn.

By: tracibrowne

tracibrowne — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 21:28:48 +0000

Thanks Eric…I’m still looking up the proper origin and use of microcosms…not sure it’s used correctly…etymology believe it or not is one of my interests…although you’d never know it from my writing or speaking…

By: Eric Lukazewski

Eric Lukazewski — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 21:15:02 +0000

Wonderful post Traci! So true in all aspects of life or business. Failure is a negative word, and while easier said than executed, it should be viewed more positively as an opportunity to learn and grow from.

BTW, I love this quote, “Trade shows are these little microcosms of chaos.”

Great stuff!

By: tracibrowne

tracibrowne — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 20:47:46 +0000

Thanks for the comment Dana (say hi to Emile for me). Thanks for emphasizing ‘surrounding yourself with amazing partners’ that’s not only a help when you need answers but it also really helps when you need a shoulder to cry or laugh on.

Great point about getting your hands dirty too. There’s no such thing as “it’s not my job” when something goes wrong. Well, there should never be any such thing as “it’s not my job” but especially then.

By: Dana Freker Doody

Dana Freker Doody — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 19:53:42 +0000

This is so true! @EmileBarta and I were discussing this very thing a mere four hours ago. You could go to a show with Plans A through Z and somehow a new letter will be invented. It is so important to be open to being flexible and able to find work-arounds quickly. I think it helps tremendously if you surround yourself with amazing partners and if you are not afraid to get your own hands dirty.