Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Tips for Hiring a Trade Show Presenter
Understanding how your business will broadcast its message to a trade show attendees establishes the basic requirements you will need in selecting a trade show presenter. Will your criteria's be scripting, podium presentation, using audiovisual technology, gimmicks, over the top performances, or the presenter's ability to disseminate information? Successful exhibitors understand that each trade show has its own budget constraints, booth size and marketing objectives, and not all trade show presenters are appropriate for every environment.
The fundamental goal of every trade booth is to generate leads and to inform the consumer about your businesses service or product. You can achieve this by utilizing the trade show presenter as a sideshow attraction or as a Broadway stage presentation.
The sideshow attraction works best in small exhibits and allows education, entertaining, and lead generation to occur when the trade show presenter interacts with the audience and skillfully seek out vital information to assess their need level. The higher the need level, the faster the trade show presenter turns the customer over to knowledgeable sales person.
Hollywood presentations inform attendees on product, services, and requirements using attention-getting tactics and mainly use larger booth space. High tech screens and performance are there to dazzle the crowd into staying and watching the presentation with trade show lingo, sales presentation, and information all rolled up into a 10-minute show. These frequently occur 3-4 times an hour. Lead generation occurs when the trade show presenter asks the attendees to enter into a raffle to qualify them for an instant discount for participating in the presentation of the show.
The return on investment is what a company looks for when hiring a trade show presenter. Accomplishing this is by knowing the companies specific requirements and knowing what the presenter can offer. Once the issues are addressed, the selection of a qualified trade show presenter is easy.
Dale Obrochta is a professional trade show presenter who uses promotional balloon entertainment to build tradeshow booth traffic. He is a leading entertainer in the balloon entertainment industry who consistently works trade shows and corporate events. Magical Balloon-dude Dale is balloon entertainment at its best!
Friday, November 6, 2009
Survival Tips for Working a Trade Show Exhibit
Consider the physical stress of standing for long periods in one place. This is not normal for most sales staff. Long hours of dealing with people, the trade show environment, and the change in daily actives wear at an individual. Here are some ideas to help make your trade show booth day more enjoyable and successful.
- Shoes – Don’t wear new shoes for a trade show. Purchase a good pair of shoes that have reliable arch support and are comfortable. Purchase shoe weeks in advance and break them in before the show. Tired feet are a major problem on a trade show floor. The wrong shoes will lead to leg and back soreness, which will lead to a grumpy disposition. This is not the image to display to new clients.
- Clothing – Choose sensible and conferable clothing that you have worn previously. New clothes can be scratchy or make you feel uncomfortable. Dress in layers if possible. Usually, the trade show floor is cold in the morning and by late afternoon excessively warm.
- Low Energy – Most employees take a lunch break, but a trade show booth requires staffing the entire day. Arrange for lunch breaks. Don’t bring food to your exhibit. Most trade show managers have a no eating in booth clause, which is outlined in your registration agreement. Leave the booth and get food. The break, along with the snack, will revitalize and give you the energy to finish the day off strong.
- Bring Water – Make sure you bring water to keep yourself hydrated. Convention facilities are not like an office, they don’t have a humidifier to help keep the air clean and moist. The dry air, along with continuous explaining your company’s products and services, can weaken your voice.
- Partying the Night Before – If you are visiting a city like Las Vegas, it is very tempting to stay out all night and play. What you do the night before will come back and haunt you the very next day. Plan your event before the trade show. Reducing impromptu partying, will minimize hangovers and prepare you both mentally and physically for the next day.
- Booth Survival Kit – Aspirin, Eye Drops, Band-Aids, and Tums can keep the employees functioning at 100-percent. Trade show lights, noise, and physical stress can cause headaches. Some people complain of eye irritation from the dirt in the air, carpeting fibers, and allergies. Eye drops can refresh and soothe weary eyes and give the added relief to both contact and no-contact wears. It never fails; somebody will require a Band-Aid or safety pin, so it is best to have them on-hand. Choose your favorite anti-acid because trade show lunchrooms are not fine dining cuisine.
- Take a Break – Breaks are leaving the booth to visit other vendors. The change in scenery, along with physical activity, will increase blood flow to the body and bring the energy level up.
- Breathe Mints – Hours of talking, drinking water, and trade show food can cause bad breath. Bring enough for the entire sales staff. The minty flavor, along with the sugar, will increase your energy level.
- Boredom/Slowdowns – Every trade show traffic pattern has ups and downs. When booth traffic decreases, socializing with other exhibitors should become a priority. At this time, other vendors are looking to do something and are vulnerable to a sales pitch. Be respectful and listen to their sales presentation as intensively as they listen to yours.
About the Author:
Magical Balloon-dude Dale is a professional trade show entertainer who uses promotional balloon entertainment to create trade show booth traffic. He is a leading entertainer in the balloon entertainment industry who consistently works trade shows and corporate events. Magical Balloon-dude Dale is balloon entertainment at its best!
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Cost Saving Trade Show Travel Tips – Tips to Help Reduce Business Traveling Expenses
Trade shows are expensive to begin with, but adding in the unseen extras and you can easily spend 100-200 dollars more than expected. Things that are not in the trade show budget will come out of your personal expenses. So here are some friendly tips to help you reduce those hidden trade show expenses.
1. Meals - If you ask the attendant at the front desk where's a good place to eat they normally will recommend the hotel restaurant. Get ready for sticker shock! You can easily spend $75 dollars just on hotel food. Rephrase your dinning question to: I'm looking for a quick bit to eat, where do you (the clerks) go for lunch. Any good fast food restaurants? Asking the question in this manner you get an unrehearsed answer and hopeful a local restaurant that has good food for a reasonable price.
2. Water - Hotels now offer bottled water in the room. This is not free a bottle of water! Expect to pay $5.00 or more for bottled water. When checking in, ask the attendant if there is a pharmacy within walking distance. If there is, buy your water and snack there and save money.
3. Car Rentals - Unless you plan on doing extensive driving go for the lowest price, sub-compact car the dealer offers. Typically car rentals have a limited number of these sub-compact vehicles in stock and when they run out will upgrade you to a larger vehicle at the sub-compact price.
4. Insurance - Check with your insurance company or major credit card provider to see if your present car insurance covers car rentals or if charging the car rental on your credit card, automatically provided insurance. If so, then skip the car rentals insurance offer.
5. Fuel Charges - When ordering your car from the rental agency, request a full tank of gas and make sure the car returns with a full tank of gas. I've made the mistake of returning a car not fully refilled and paid a premium price for gas. When I questioned the bill they stated that they had a fuel service charge included in the gas price. Save yourself some money; return the car with a full tank of gas.
6. Save a day on Airport Car Rental - If your event is at a convention center, not located near the airport, than you have to rent a car at the airport -- here is a trick to save a one day rental charge.
Many times people try to leave the last day of the trade show, but events not close to an airport may require an overnight stay with an early morning departure. To save on the car rental charge, book a hotel close to the airport the very last night. After the show, checkout of your hotel by the convention center and return the car back to the airport car rental. Take the free shuttle at the airport to the hotel you booked adjacent to the airport. Use the free shuttle to get back to the airport in the morning. This way you save a one day rental charge and your proximity to the airport eliminates morning rush hour traffic.
7. Hotel - If possible stay at the hotel that the conference is located. Yes, the price of the room will be more expensive than staying at the budget hotel down the street. However, socializing with potential customers is more important than saving a couple bucks. The time wasted traveling back and forth along with the price of cab rides is money that should be designated to wine and dine potential customers. Don't let frugal budget saving tactics impend your sales force from doing their job.
8. Shipping - When exhibiting in a larger trade show city you quickly learn about union labor cost. Check with show management or convention business office on having small packages shipped to the facility. Many times you will find a handling fee charged when receiving an item. Most hotels will accept packages without a handling charge
I hope these tips save you money on your next trade show.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Trade Show Presenter & Traffic Builder
presentation, or hospitality suite a success.
Magical Balloon-dude Dale is trade show traffic building at its best!
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Trade Show Booth Boredom
Why not? Draws crowds, disseminate information, entertain, and create a unique giveaway all rolled up into one... Provided by one professional and energetic entertainer – Magical Balloon-dude Dale.
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Magical Balloon-dude Dale’s salesmanship and balloon entertainment skills will keep people glued to your area, thus giving your sales force time to interact with the attendees, qualified leads, create trade show booth envy with your trade show competitors.
Dale will work with your trade show marketing team to develop a traffic building program that will make your trade show booth the talk of the trade show.
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Friday, July 25, 2008
Trade Show Entertainer
Magical Balloon-dude Dale is not your normal dog-making, heart-giving, sword-handing, balloon animal-making entertainer. His balloons are the coolest, eye-popping, oh my gosh - look at that balloon, you will ever see.
Dale is a polished performer with heart, presenting good, clean fun suited for corporate functions, performing arts centers, festivals … anywhere top quality entertainment is demanded!