Key Points from Every Trade Show Exhibit Manual
Who really has time to read a 500-page exhibitor’s manual? You really should make the time, if you want to make sure you know all the rules for the space where the trade show is going to be, but between getting your trade show booth ordered, your graphics printed, your staff clothed and primed, and your giveaways ordered, you might find yourself pressed for time. Here are some key points that are applicable to almost every trade show exhibiting situation.
Your booth is not protected by the security guards. The security guards are hired to protect the hall itself, not the individual booths. That does not mean that they won’t stop someone if they catch them trying to steal something out of your booth, but it’s not technically their job to do so. They are told to stay around the edges, watching for people who aren’t supposed to be there. Protect your booth and its contents by keeping an eye on it all the time. If you can’t do that, try to position your booth next to an industry colleague so that the two of you can help each other out with security. If the show is more than a day long, make sure you pack up any valuables and secure them.
The hall cleans the exhibition space every night, so that means they will vacuum your booth area. Make sure all random things are picked up and, best of all, don’t bother crawling around trying to pick up random specks and pieces of paper before you leave for the night.
Your company name and booth location usually won’t automatically be printed in the directory. You usually have to fill out a form to be listed. Make sure you do this. Additionally, most shows will provide a certain amount of invitations with your logo on them for you to send to some of your customers, and they will usually provide five badges for every one hundred square feet of space that you rent.
Most show manuals will tell you how large your booth is allowed to be. Make sure you know these dimensions before you order your booth. Also, make sure adhesive items like bumper stickers are not part of your promotional giveaway. Most exhibit halls and show companies prohibit them, because they end up stuck places they aren’t supposed to be.
Make sure you call the company if you have any questions. It’s always better to be overeducated as to the rules, rather than to show up and not know what is going on.