Back when I was in high school, there were various cliques and groups. Whether you were a Jock, a Band Geek, a Nerd, a Freak or a Preppie, your group influenced where you sat at lunch and who you hung out with on the weekends.
Last week’s Shared Knowledge University held at Classic’s facility in Portland reminded me of those high school groups. In a positive way. See if you can spot your trade show industry clique.
The Rookies
Bright-eyed, bushy-tailed and new to the industry. You are a sponge, trying to absorb every fact from every presentation. You hand your freshly minted business cards to everyone and collect as many as you can.
On breaks, you introduce yourself to other Attendees (good for you!) and try not to sound like a four day rookie. SKU is your coming out party… and you’re killing it!
The Well-Seasoned Vets
You’ve been in the industry so long you can remember when 10’ pop-up displays commanded a price tag north of $7500. You know every SKU presenter and quietly add (in your head) a few “Yes, but…” And then there are the stories. You love to tell the story about how you fixed that broken light with Velcro, a Sharpie and three paper clips.
You’re confident… until you overhear one of the Rookies say they got their very first Client by posting a trade show marketing tip on their five social media accounts. Yeah OK, you admit reluctantly. You might learn something from these whippersnappers.
The Presenters
You are a Classic Vendor Partner. This isn’t your first rodeo having presented at SKU many times before. You take a small bow when Classic announces that your company sponsored that morning’s breakfast and take pride in making the presentation that you’ve given more than 50 times sound fresh and new. Of course, your sales instincts are on high alert. You’re always on the hunt for Attendees who are not yet utilizing your services.
While your body is in Portland, your mind is already in Albuquerque or St. Louis or wherever your next presentation will take place. You are the embodiment of a Road Warrior and you rock.
The New Classics
Classic recently found you. You might have trade show experience, or you could be industry fresh. New Classics arrive to class early to impress their managers and other Attendees. You try not to act too disappointed when you’re politely asked to find a seat at the back of the room to allow the Visiting Attendees access to the prime seating.
You do your best to straddle the thin red line between attending and hosting. Soon, you will become every Distributor’s strongest ally. Welcome to the Classic Family.
The Teachers
You know all there is to know about your department at Classic, and you’ve been challenged to download a week’s worth of information in under 30 minutes. Although you may struggle with unruly microphones, it’s all worthwhile when someone asks a question that you’ve never been asked before.
Finally, when an Attendee approaches you after the presentation to request your slide show, you know all the effort and nervousness was worth it. Most of all, you’re delighted to finally connect a voice with the name and share stories at social events.
The Hosts
You are SKU’s camp counselors who arrive early and stay late. You setup rooms and check mics and speakers. You try to keep lollygagging presenters on time and on schedule. You drive vans long enough to transport three entire basketball teams. You pressure hotel staff to keep the morning coffee urns fresh and pour bottomless glasses of wine in the evenings.
You are in constant motion spending time with each Attendee and Vendor Partner. You are the face of Classic, and you love your job.
The Kevins and Mels
You are where the company starts and the buck stops. You can answer any question regardless of which department it relates. You’ve been Classic-ing for decades and know everyone – from the “this is my first week” to the “I’m retiring in April.” You are just as comfortable leading conversations in large groups as you are with intimate one-on-one conversations.
You send emails at o-dark-thirty and tell your spouse, “I’ll be right up. Just one more quick email.” You are parents to 100 Classic employees, constantly praising, teaching, learning, and growing. You are an important reason why Classic’s SKU is SKU.
Are You Next?
Our most recent SKU had all the characters you’d expect… Class Clowns, a few Teacher’s Pets, we even had our own Detention Crew. We were missing just one critical student… YOU! We’re just about ready to take roll for our next SKU. Interested? The mimeographed sign-up sheet is ready. I bet you can smell it. Ahhhh!
About Classic Exhibits
Classic Exhibits has been designing and building trade show exhibit solutions since 1993. We’ve been honored as an Exhibitor Magazine Find-It Top 40 Exhibit Producers and an Event Marketer Fab 50 Exhibit Builders multiple times. Along with numerous Portable Modular Awards. With over 250 Distributor Partners throughout North America, there’s a Classic representative near you.
Contact us today whether you need a durable hand sanitizer stand built to last, a rental display guaranteed to attract trade show attendees, or a custom 30 x 40 exhibit with all the bells and whistles. We’re not just different. We’re better.