Nth Degree Trade Show and Event Marketing Blog

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Panels are a mainstay in any conference agenda. They give your audience the opportunity to hear a variety of perspectives in one session. They are also a great way to get influential speakers involved that might not have the bandwidth (or the desire) to prepare a solo presentation. A panel discussion can provide a wealth of information - but if not prepared well, it can become a major waste of time for your audience.

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Let’s face it, millennials sometimes get a bad rap - you and your peers get branded as entitled and narcissistic (ouch). Is it only okay if a fellow millennial mentions this? Sorry!

Okay, so to sway my narrative in a positive direction, let’s think of ourselves collectively as young professionals – better? Us young professionals (YPs for short) are contemporaries, cohorts even. Yes, I used the word “contemporaries”, which does age me, but stick with me on this one and I will prove to you how when it comes to trade shows, your generation may have a distinct advantage. I will show you how you can leverage your generation’s characteristics to be a great trade show or event manager and help your company succeed. I will even prove why you shouldn’t be afraid to post that selfie at your next trade show or event.

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Looking at our Chicago trade show planning calendar, the months ahead look quite busy with shows like #ASCO and #NRAShow coming to the city. Chicago is no stranger to trade shows and events, and it has also seen many changes in recent years when it comes to working conditions and exhibitor rights. Many of the changes benefit the exhibitor, but talk about confusing!

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You know who you are, and because of this you may not even be reading this post as you have a “To Do” list to attack before the weekend. But, in the off-chance you are scanning my prose with the promise that I may actually help make your life just a touch easier – welcome, fellow purists!

If you’re an event marketer, trade show manager, event planner or anything in between, you are probably Type A and you can move on to the next section.

 

1. Clarify your objectives. How many times are events created just because we need to ‘make some noise’? Firstly, carefully craft your message, identify the intended target and ensure this will help achieve your ROI. Once these simple steps have been taken you can get your team behind the project and start planning for success. Many manufacturers are happy to just achieve some brand or model recognition for a new model, but many need to accurately measure a real translation to dealer footfall, test drives and ultimately sales to show genuine ROI. 

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Perhaps it is the impending “winter storm” here in Atlanta (otherwise known as an inch of snow), but this week I’ve been thinking about sunny Florida, specifically, Orlando. To many, Orlando is a place for magic, memories, thrills and well, sunburns. For us #eventprofs Orlando is one of the industry's busiest trade show and event markets. Translation – no roller coaster rides when we’re in Orlando.To that end, and because we love our friends, we asked our Orlando team to choose their favorite dining spots and watering holes so you have a few local spots to escape to after your trade show or event. We even included a couple resources we thought you might find useful too.

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The New Year speaks to fresh starts and you and your colleagues resolving to work smarter, spend more time with your family and generally better yourselves to achieve that elusive work/life balance your HR Department keeps talking about. In light of this, we’ve chosen to highlight the trade show union rules and regulations in one of the biggest trade show and event markets in the country – Vegas baby!

It’s January, so with mega shows like #CES2016 and #SHOTShow you are likely to be thrown into this mix of revolving trade shows, tourists and festivities. The information below should help you cut through the chaos and get the details you need for a great show and a good start to your new balanced lifestyle.