Badges

While it may seem like a pain, getting, managing and controlling badges for a show is really a critical and important task (duh!).

All of your staffers need credentials. You need to remember things from this list as you prepare for and hit the show floor:

• Know the allotment given you by the promoter of the show. At the NACStech show, it's 2 badges per 10x10; so our 20x30 yields 12 badges. Beyond that, there is a charge.
• Know how to get the badges assigned. On line? By fax to the organizer? And have a complete, correct list.
• Make sure you are the one who can make changes and are the assigned administrator. That is, if you are the one going to the show. Otherwise, you need to designate someone who is at the show to do this.
• Get your badges to your staffers in advance, if at all possible.
• Treat your exec's badges like gold. Hand them to them in person, if at all possible.
• Take all of your allotment. Assign names to every badge, even if you won't use them all.
• Keep track of all badges. If someone leaves the show early, snag their badge and use it to get in a late comer or guest.
• Be sure and not forget your media and other support vendors.

TTSG

Choosing space, Part II

Here's an additional note on choosing space: today the organizer called us in to choose our space for next year's show. Our time to meet the sales person was set on our seniority in the show (a combination of how many years we had consecutively exhibited at the show, sizes we had purchased, position on the board, how much advertising space we had purchased in the association magazines). At the meeting, we were shown a floor plan with the spaces that already been sold in front of us marked out. We reviewed the plan and chose a space that maximized our place on the floor, took into consideration where we were in relation to competitors and partners and the size we could afford. We'll get an invoice and pay 50% within 90 days.

This is a civilized way of choosing space. Some organizers put all of the exhibitors in the same room at the same time and call you in order, ala the NBA Draft. You wait your turn and watch as the prime spaces are picked off by the highest seniority exhibitors.

I have no preference as to how to choose, but you need to be prepared with your choices in order and with your plan of where you want to be.