Recently someone sharing our table at McCormick Place’s Connie’s Pizza said, “You know, if it weren’t for the superheroes, Hollywood would be having a really bad year.” At Access, we know that we work with REAL SUPER HEROES, our clients, the people who make trade show exhibits happen, the people who:
- Miss their 25th wedding anniversaries but have enough points to fly their partners in for the weekend after the show.
- Quiz their kids on spelling words via Facetime.
- Cry at the same kids’ Christmas concerts because this year is the first time they have been able to attend. (Other adults cry at the concert, but for different reasons.)
- Unpack to find two totally unrelated shoes.
- Explain to the CEO that “booth babes” is a term no longer considered politically correct.
- Find someone to fix the booth internet on a regular, hourly basis.
- Smile at the reps who hate their hotel rooms, all the while knowing there isn’t another single bleeping room left in all of Orlando.
- Go to Plan B when half the booth staff comes down with food poisoning.
- Are courteous to the director who brings a “special friend” instead of a spouse.
- Explain to the female staffer why sequined pantsuits aren’t corporate attire. Also to the males.
- Arrange break schedules that no one ever likes.
- Show relatively intelligent adults how to use lead gathering devices. Then show them again. And again.
- Tell product and/or brand managers why [fill in the blank] won’t really work in the exhibit. Not by a long shot.
- Try to fix demos.
- Try to find packages (No, we shipped them to the hotel!)
- Try to get lunch—particularly during set-up when nothing in the hall is open.
- Wait (and wait) for freight/carpet/scanners/technology/lighting people to get around to their booths.
- Explain to the presenters what they are supposed to be doing when not presenting—and what they are not supposed to be doing.
- Repeat: No, don’t drink your coffee in the booth on the light carpet…oh no…
- Show tough love to the two sniping scientists who used to be a couple but no longer are.
- Snarl at suitcasers. Right: go ahead, snarl. They deserve it. You’ll feel better.
- Watch a forklift back into the tower in their exhibits—and show no sign of this having happened when the show opens except dark circles under their eyes.
- Celebrate at dinner with the “road family,” the people who always have one another’s backs.
- Get to the airport for their flights home, only to learn their flight is three hours late.
- Can’t imagine life without trade shows.
You are OUR SUPER HEROES—See you on the road!
