Disclaimer: Trade show marketing is serious business involving a financial investment in the opportunity to gain new leads. You have to behave professionally when working on a show. However, if you are too serious (or bored), you may not be able to attract visitors, so it is also important to have fun even when you work that long. The following tips will help you stay entertained and have a good time. Who knows, you could get more leads in the process!
1. Visit competitive trade show booths and ask staff what they are not doing well. Watch them squirm.
2. When attendees visit your trade show booth, don’t treat them like a number on the sales chart … instead, treat them like they’re going to be your new best friend.
3. Go to lunch or dinner with the funniest vendor at your trade show booths; repeat daily.
4. Play a drinking game: Wander around the show with a bottle of water (unless you’re at a European show). Every time a staff member asks “Hi! How are you?” just answer “Good”, then have a drink and keep walking.
5. Count how many booths you can pass before a staff member tries to hire you.
6. Collect show gifts from other trade shows and then return them …
7. Organize a contest with co-workers to see who can include specific, obscure words in conversation with booth visitors. (Try words like ‘obtuse’, ‘tickle’ or ‘infiltrated’ as an example.)
8. Make a bet with a co-worker on who will find the most / best / worst (fill in the blank) of the day. The loser buys lunch for the team. (Example: worst dressed attendee, nastiest trade show displays, prettiest couple, etc.)
9. Thank everyone who has helped you with the trade show booths: including the staff, the show house, the manager, the show owner, the show workforce, and especially each individual visitor. . You will be surprised to find out how much fun this can be!
10. Try another bet with your co-workers before hitting the ground on the first day. See who can guess what the new trendy color will be at other trade shows. The loser has to buy drinks of the same color he chose.
11. Create a unique activity that will help you get your message across to your trade show booth visitors.
12. Count how many attendees trip over utility harnesses (despite caution tape or buffers in place to prevent tripping).
13. Smile at everyone, even if they are not smiling. You will be surprised how quickly it spreads.
14. Visit the Show Town visitor website to see what fun activities are nearby and challenge yourself to do something new and adventurous when you have free time. (Try indoor skydiving in Las Vegas!)
15. Compete with your co-workers to see who can get the most positive leads for that day … the loser buys drinks at the end of the night.
16. Stick a note on your back that says “Ask me about (insert your trade product / service here) and I’ll let you kick me” and wander around other trade show booths. Count how many attendees actually accept the offer.