HeliExpo 2010 ideas: video

This past weekend I was in Houston for the annual HeliExpo trade show. Over the next few posts I'll feature a few trends and ideas I saw there.

Video presentations.

The biggest and most prominent use of video was at the Eurocopter exhibit. These flat-panel, touchscreen units were intriguing and informative. At first glance, they appear to be flat and self contained. However, upon closer examination, there is a projector hidden near the tailcone of the helicopter staged near the plex station.

In the same booth, the overhead screens worked well and used both live and created content. There were at least three large 9-foot by 12-foot panels accepting projected images. During live events in the booth, the images were broadcast on the screen. A superior audio system supported these screens. At other times the content varied but were generally overview-type images of products, people and their helicopters at work, music-video style.

BF Goodrich was a bit more traditional, but used video in clean package. The images seemed to alternate from video to doubling as computer workstations. The green plex surrounds made the image space fit into the theme and look of the rest of the booth.

Over at Universal Avionics, this 2x4 set of monitors had some great transitions. John Hamby, the marketing manager from their Tucson, AZ, headquarters, told me he originated the content. Still images alternated with video and major areas of interest and content were separated by animated transitions of a jet flying across the multi-screen field.

Good ideas to emulate or build upon.

TTSG

Walking a show in one day--HAI

It's a proven formula: targeting and evaluating/prospecting a show in one long day. The latest example is the Heli-Expo Show in Houston.

This annual show moves between cities (including Dallas, Houston and several others). It takes up most of a multi-hall convention center, so Houston's George Brown and the Dallas Convention Center fill up nicely. The hall is laid out clearly and fairly with the major anchor exhibitors (Bell Helicopter, Eurocopter and Sikorsky) evenly spaced at the right, left and center of the hall, with smaller exhibitors evenly patched in between them all. In other words, just because you bought a 10x10 in-line booth doesn't mean you are relegated to the back and far corners of the hall.

So, the strategy was to see the show in one day: catch a flight first thing in the morning from Love Field to Hobby, take a cab to the hall, get a badge, walk the floor, and do the reverse at the end of the day. It took from 7am to 9pm, gave us an understanding of our client's place in and use of the show and of the show itself (exhibit designs, locations, tone and character) and all cost less than $200. Hey, one could even pick up a few new business leads along the way for a reasonable cost-per-lead.

The highlight of the show was Sikorsky's exhibit: large scrims above the booth showed projected video, the carpet held all of the partners and subdivisions of the parent company, and a stage showed repeated dramatic videos hosted by professional talent. Eurocopter served champagne at the introduction of a new model. Promotions in booths included a maintenance company with a campaign centered around the theme of "think of it as Sky-agra." Some have no shame--but are memorable.

Further evaluation to follow tomorrow.

TTSG