It was such an amazing experience to be able to share my passion for hybrid events at TS² Show.  14 years of broadcast/video experience and 12 years of trade show/event experience have led me to the conclusion that a truly interactive and engaging experiential event consists of a combination of the two.

The evolution of streaming video has been so interesting…from the 1st satellite broadcast I moderated in 2001, to the 1st time I anchored a newscast that was streamed over the internet from a convention center in 2006, to the 1st time I hosted a webcast live from a conference in 2008, to now…the 1st time I hosted a hybrid event that truly united the onsite and the online audience into one cohesive group. 

Technology has allowed us to communicate in ways that we were never able to do so before…and provides the opportunity to connect with a global audience instantaneously.  Think of how cost-effective and time-efficient it is to get your message out to two audiences from one location at one time.  And then imagine how long you can continue your messaging through conversations, social media platforms, online communities, and re-purposing of video footage.  Your audience continues to grow and grow, and your messaging reaches people and places that you never could have imagined!

Continuing the Conversation…Live from the TS² Show Floor at the IN Zone was a collaborative project between myself, Dana Freker Doody of The Expo Group, and Jim Parker of Digitell, Inc.  We took a risk…and are so proud of what we accomplished!! 

With only 6 days of promotion, Continuing the Conversation had a 76% conversion rate of pre-event registrants to participants for the virtual event hosted on Digitell’s ProLibraries Live platform.  And participate they did…87% of the virtual audience tweeted using the #inzone hashtag, and 22% engaged in conversation through the platform’s chat feature.  But perhaps the biggest proof that the virtual audience liked what they saw was the fact that the Continuing the Conversation virtual audience grew by 106% as we were broadcasting live from TS² Show due to word of mouth and word of tweet!

Hybrid events are a great example of how uniting the onsite and online audiences into one collective conversation can benefit the industry as a whole.  We have received many emails and tweets asking how people can see the conversations that they missed because they found them to be valuable sources of information, provided not only by the industry thought leaders, but also by their peers.  This ‘collective knowledge’ way of learning and sharing stories is a prime example of how hybrid events can benefit an organization. 

TS² Show is more than an event…it is a community.  “We are extremely excited to add this level of interactivity to the show floor,” said Chris Harar, TS2 show director. “The virtual and viral nature of today’s world means that TS²  will be able to impact a much larger audience this year than ever before.” And that is exactly what Continuing the Conversation did by welcoming the online community of event professionals and uniting them with the onsite community of event professionals to create a larger and more powerful event community as a whole! 

Here is some additional reading by both onsite and online TS² Show community members about Continuing the Conversation…Live from the TS² Show Floor at the IN Zone:

Social Media Smackdown: TS2 is in the Zone and on the Net by Michelle Bruno for TSNN

Virtual Event Continues the Conversation with 8 Industry Thought Leaders press release by Dana Freker Doody of The Expo Group

Continuing the Conversation: a Hybrid Event Hit at TS² Show by virtual audience member Michael McCurry of Experient Inc.

Blending of Virtual and Face-to-Face: Continuing the Conversation at TS² by Continuing the Conversation industry thought leader Joyce McKee of Let’s Talk Trade Shows

The Dynamics of a Virtual Event from the Show Floor by Joyce McKee for CEIR

TS² – When a Live Event Becomes Social by Brent Skinner for TSNN

TS² 2010 Success provides Launching Pad for the Future press release by Shauna Peters of National Trade Productions

Were you an onsite or an online Continuing the Conversation audience member?  If so, I would love to hear your thoughts on the power of hybrid events!

Copyright 2010. This article may be shared or referenced as long as the source is cited and linked. No portion of this article may be copied or reproduced without express written permission by the author.

I recently participated in a tweetchat sponsored by TS2 Show and hosted by Danalynne Wheeler of Sybase.  The purpose was to chat about virtual events, but started off by speculating if face-to-face events will be replaced by virtual events.  My answer is NO…but we live in an instant access and constantly connected society that allows them to exist together.

In reviewing my tweets after the tweetchat, I realized that they composed a short guidebook to virtual events.

We started off by introducing ourselves:
Hi everyone! I’m Emilie Barta…host/emcee for live, virtual, & hybrid events. Looking forward to tweetchatting with you! #ts2show

The first question asked why virtual events are important:
Virtual #events allow you to expand your audience as well as reach an audience you didn’t even know existed. #ts2show
So will never replace…but are a wonderful compliment. #ts2show

Then TS2Show asked me a question about the benefit of combining a virtual event with a face-to-face event, i.e. a hybrid event:
ts2show : @EmilieBarta You host virtual events…how do you see them as fitting in with F2F? #ts2show
ts2show : How do you keep virtual events from turning would be attendees into virtual participants? #ts2show

My reply:
Virtual attendees are people who are not able to attend F2F, so you are not losing them…you are gaining them. #ts2show
F2F events will never go away because of the touch/feel aspect. #ts2show
But virtual in conjunction with F2F gives more attendees an opportunity to experience something, rather than nothing. #ts2show
Exhibitors who do ANYTHING virtual in addition to their exhibit on the show floor reach a greater audience. #ts2show

The conversation then turned to the best ways to promote virtual events:
apfick :What I would like to know is the different ways people attract new attendees to their Virtual Seminars (VS)? #ts2show
By using your existing database to invite peeps u know & social media to invite those u don’t. #ts2show
ts2show :@EmilieBarta Great idea to leverage social media to take your virtual opportunity viral #ts2show
Thanks @ts2show! #ts2show
apfick :@EmilieBarta What social media do you find most effective and for which industries? #ts2show
Twitter, Facbook, & LinkedIn are the 3 I recommend…work for all industries in my opinion. #ts2show
apfick :@EmilieBarta I am working on selling the idea to my supervisor. Do you find it hard to have people follow you on Twitter? #ts2show
Not if you have a “clear, concise, & consistent message” & tweet about your topic…tweeps will find you. #ts2show
And don’t forget to take advantage of hashtags! #ts2show

And it is always nice when a real world real-time example occurs:
RT @ts2show: @VisionExpo Agreed! Position yourself as a key player and knowledge source in the industry! ME: And then they will come! #ts2show
dwheeler11 : @EmilieBarta is an excellent example of how to best use social media to educate, interact and gain followers (I follow her!) #ts2show
@dwheeler11 Aw…thanks!! ;o) #ts2show

Of course we always want to avoid a disastrous virtual event:
VisionExpo : Seen a virtual event not do well & why? What are lessons learned? #ts2show
Virtual events that aren’t successful…why? Because they did not ENGAGE the virtual audience!!!!!!! #ts2show
dwheeler11 It all goes back to the ‘know your audience’ and ‘keep your content focused & relevant’. Plus, don’t overwhelm ppl with technology #ts2show
Always remember to keep it short, sweet, & simple! ;o) #ts2show
And never forget to educate your attendees on how to participate in the virtual events…quick demo video or virtual event emcee. #ts2show
If the attendees don’t know how to participate in the virtual event, they will get frustrated & walk away. #ts2show
“Some great leads, just shy!” No matter if virtual or F2F, u must have “staffers” who welcome attendees/make them feel comfortable. #ts2show

I love the way Danalynne wrapped up the chat:
ts2show : As we move to end this chat @dwheeler11: what is the key takeaway when planning virtual events? #ts2show
dwheeler11 :@ts2show – Know your audience and tailor content to them. Be engaging and informative. Promote in multiple channels including SM #ts2show
dwheeler11 :And remember people have short attention spans! #ts2show

So what do you think? Will face-to-face events be replaced by virtual events?  If you were a part of the TS2 Show tweetchat, what were your takeaways?

Copyright 2010. This article may be shared or referenced as long as the source is cited and linked. No portion of this article may be copied or reproduced without express written permission by the author.

I recently received an email from a trade show exhibitor who stumbled across my article entitled A Smiling Staff Equals a Successful Trade Show. She agreed with the article, but unfortunately has to work with a booth staffer who is the exact opposite of the Safelite Auto Glass company employees I highlighted.  So she ended her email by asking ”How do I rein him in without being like a mother hen and nag.  We have no reporting structure between us.  And other than ‘telling on him’ to our ‘boss’, do you have any suggestions?”

I presented her with three ideas on how to handle a staffer who gets bored easily and behaves unprofessional when the “boss” is not looking:

1. See if there is any other person in the organization who could staff the booth in lieu of this bad booth staffer who would appreciate the opportunity to meet with potential customers face-to-face, behave appropriately, and recognize the value of trade shows.
2. Have a conversation with the President or Vice President and have them put together a list of goals and expectations for the show…including manners, etiquette, behavior expectations, as well as qualified lead goals and appointment setting goals (if applicable)…as a subtle way to get the point across as to what is acceptable and unacceptable booth behavior.
3. Tell him to leave the booth when he starts mis-behaving.  Turn the negative into a positive by harnessing his energy and using it for good by giving him a task list to accomplish away from the booth…checking out the competition, schmoozing with attendees that he knows that are just walking around, sending a pre-written email as an on-site follow-up to the leads already collected.  That way he will not take away from the professionalism that has been established at the booth, and he will take advantage of the slow time to get something productive accomplished for the trade show team.

So what do you think?  What advice would you offer as to how to handle a bad booth staffer?

Copyright 2010. This article may be shared or referenced as long as the source is cited and linked. No portion of this article may be copied or reproduced without express written permission by the author.

There are many methods exhibitors use to get attendees to stop by their booth.  No matter what method you use, you should always start by thinking of how you can stimulate the 5 senses of the attendees.  According to the Free Dictionary by Farlex, the definition of sense is a “faculty by which external or internal stimuli are conveyed to the brain centers, where they are registered as sensations.”  Since the 5 senses are conveyed to the brain, it only makes sense for an exhibitor to utilize these senses to gain the attention of the attendees who are walking down the aisles of the trade show floor.

Let’s start with SIGHT.

Think about the old saying “I’ve got to see it to believe it!”  Attendees don’t want to hear about how great a product is, they want to see it in action as proof that it really works.  Show the attendees how quick, easy, efficient, cost-effective your product is to use in order to pique their curiosity, then engage them in conversation to find out how your product can benefit them.  Voila…you now have a hot lead!

If your company provides a service as opposed to a physical product, show the attendees case studies and results that your customers have achieved as a result of using your service.  Services are more difficult to showcase than products on the trade show floor, so you must show how well your service works, how much success your service brings to your customers, and how easy it is to work with your company, i.e. the provider of the service.

Seeing is believing so be sure to show the attendees why they need to start doing business with you!

Here is an example of how an exhibitor evoked the sense of sight while showcasing a PRODUCT at a trade show:

My client, MAQUET, offers a high-end surgical table called MAGNUS which is relatively new to the US market and costs more than the average surgical table due to all of its features and benefits.  If an attendee is coming down the aisle and spots it, they may think to themselves “oh look, another surgical table” and keep on walking.  So what do I do as MAQUET’s Presenter?  I not only tell them about the features and benefits unique to MAGNUS…I have a Project Manager on stage with me to operate the surgical table and show the attendees how it will make their surgeries quicker and more comfortable for both them and their patient.

It is so much fun to see the attendees’ faces light up when I tell them that MAGNUS can articulate to 80 degrees in trendelenburg and reverse trendelenburg…but even more fun to see their mouths drop open when we show them the table in those extreme articulations.  When I tell the attendees that MAGNUS has fast knee-chest positioning, they may think to themselves “yeah right…that’s what they all say.”  But when we physically show them how quick and easy it is to make the adjustments to the table, they believe what I say.  In fact, I have had attendees time us and be amazed at the results…because we are showing them the proof that they request, on site, in the spur of the moment.  You can not fake that…and the attendees appreciate the fact that we showed them what they asked to see.

On top of that, we invite attendees to challenge us with a surgery and then we put the table in the appropriate position for that surgery.  Many attendees have taken pictures of the table in their requested position back to their hospitals to show the person with the checkbook why MAGNUS is worth the money, rather than just telling them about it.

And here is an example of how an exhibitor evoked the sense of sight while showcasing a SERVICE at a trade show:

I worked with LasermaxRoll Systems, the undisputed leader in automated paper handling, monitoring, and processing equipment for the digital printing industry, at Graph Expo.  Rather than do a presentation on their equipment like many of the other exhibitors on the show floor, I talked about the services that they offer their customers in order to differentiate them from their competition.  The entire presentation consisted of case studies about their customers and how working with LasermaxRoll Systems made their production process quicker, easier, and/or cheaper…this showed the attendees proof of the claims that LasermaxRoll Systems was making.

I also introduced the attendees to LasermaxRoll Systems’ partners and showed how working with these partners also provided beneficial solutions to the customers.  This presentation showed the attendees that LasermaxRoll Systems is a solution provider as opposed to merely an equipment manufacturer.

Oftentimes attendees knew of the customers that were profiled, which showed them even more proof that LasermaxRoll Systems’ solutions work.  And every once in a while, a customer that I profiled in the presentation was actually standing in the booth!  This showed the attendees just how strongly the customers believed in using LasermaxRoll Systems as their digital printing solution provider.

So let the attendees SEE for themselves just how your product or service will make their life better by enticing them into your booth through the sense of SIGHT!

Copyright 2010. This article may be shared or referenced as long as the source is cited and linked. No portion of this article may be copied or reproduced without express written permission by the author.

I just returned from NAFA Institute & Expo in Detroit, and was once again pleased to see a trade show with increased attendance numbers from 2009.  While walking along the show floor, I noticed three different types of exhibitors: those that “got it” and made their presence known to the attendees; those that did not seem to care at all, did nothing to attract attendees, and consequently complained about the show; and those that knew the value of exhibiting, did a good job, and received enough leads to satisfy the checkbook, but did not do anything to stand out from the crowd.  This last group was by far the largest type of exhibitor at the show, and although I felt they made a good effort, they could really learn a thing or two.

And the company that they could learn from is Safelite Auto Glass.  Safelite brought 5 company employees to the show, which seems like a lot for a 10×10 booth.  But all 5 had their individual roles to play, and there were never more than 3 in the booth at a time.  As you can see from the picture, they all wore the same booth “uniform” and came dressed with the best accessory of all…a big smile!  They acted as if they were excited to be at the show and were constantly engaging the attendees.  In fact, very few attendees made it past their booth without getting at least a “hello” from a Safelite booth staffer.  They were running a contest which not only allowed them to interact with the attendees, but the attendees to interact with other attendees.  Basically, they liked being at the trade show…and attendees liked being in their booth!

In fact, in speaking to the Safelite booth staff, they told me that they come to the show to have fun…with their current customers to continue the relationship building process and with potential customers to show them just how easy it is to work with Safelite.  Did  you notice what the 1st thing out of their mouth was?  “We come here to have fun!”

There is no better way to ruin a trade show experience than to have the wrong staffers in your booth.  They are the people who “make it or break it!”  All the money in the world cannot make up for a lack of excitement, dedication, knowledge, or desire to succeed within the people who are standing in your booth and promoting your company.  If your booth staffers are not welcoming and ready to engage the attendees of a show, the attendees (i.e. potential customers) will just walk on by the booth.  Talk about a missed opportunity!

So take a lesson from Safelite…and remember to have fun at your next trade show!!  

 Copyright 2010. This article may be shared or referenced as long as the source is cited and linked. No portion of this article may be copied or reproduced without express written permission by the author.

I am very happy to see the perception of hybrid events shifting from “what are they” to “why do I need them?”  I feel like we are getting the word out on what they are, but we still need to work on why they are valuable.  Let’s face it, hybrid events are a new concept, most associations and conference organizers find them intimidating, and some technology glitches need to be worked out.  But I believe that attendees will forgive the hiccups in the learning process AS LONG AS their needs are met and their concerns are addressed. 

In that respect, here are 10 reasons why associations and conference organizers should add a virtual component to their conference, conclave, congress, meeting, event, trade show, etc. and create a hybrid event:

• hybrid events increase the size of your audience since you now have both a face-to-face audience and a virtual audience…in this case 2 is better than 1
• adding a virtual component extends the reach of your conference to a global community since you are now broadcasting information over the internet…so not only do you pick up attendees from far away who would never consider attending your event, but you also pick up attendees you never even knew existed who just “happened upon” your virtual component
• a virtual component gives those unable to attend the ability to still participate in your conference…we all know that “stuff happens” and people are not able to attend an event in person, so why not give them a virtual event since “something is better than nothing” and show them that you appreciate their interest and still want to give them information and education
• adding a virtual component creates new sponsorship opportunities and more publicity for your sponsors, advertisers, vendors, supporters, etc…especially since there is a much wider audience and a much longer time frame
• after the event is complete, the virtual event footage can be archived and used for further education and promotion…websites and video do not have an expiration date so why not use what you recorded indefinitely and in many different ways; and think of the great good-will you will generate if you pass out the content to others for their own personal and professional use; and then think of even how much more exposure you will get as a result
• hybrid events show that your association/organization is forward thinking and on the cutting edge of technology…you want to constantly service your members, so what better way to do it than showing them that you are always looking for ways to advance your organization into the future and take advantage of developing trends and strategies?
• hybrid events enable year-round, never-ending conversations and interactions…since you are building a new web-based community, this community can continue to interact well after your event physically ends, yet everyone will remember that they met as a result of your hybrid event
• more people involved in your conference means more idea-sharing and brain-storming…think of how much more can be learned and accomplished by widening your audience since this one of the biggest advantages to having a conference
• virtual events tend to convert virtual attendees into face-to-face attendees at your next event…we all know that there is nothing better than meeting someone face-to-face, shaking their hand, reading their body language, and sharing information and stories right next to each other, so use your virtual component to generate excitement for your next event and increase your face-to-face audience size
• insert your reason here… 

OK, I just gave you 9 reasons to get started…so what do you think reason #10 should be?  Let me know in the comment section below! 

Copyright 2010. This article may be shared or referenced as long as the source is cited and linked. No portion of this article may be copied or reproduced without express written permission by the author.

The place that birthed my trade show career has taken a lot of abuse lately due to political, union, and cost concerns.  I have a “glass half full” personality, so I believe that everyone can work together to get everything worked out to benefit all parties involved. 

In the meantime, I want to show McCormick Place some love:

• McCormick Place is located just outside the heart of downtown Chicago, so it is easier to get into and out of than some other convention centers
• McCormick Place has the most square footage of convention space contained under one roof (2.6 million square feet precisely), therefore it is the largest convention center in the US
• McCormick Place is an architecturally lovely building full of expansive spaces
• there are windows in all 4 halls of McCormick Place so it has a light, bright, and airy feel and I never feel like I am trapped in a tomb
• the ceilings are extremely high (40-50+ feet) which allows for double-decker booths and does not give McCormick Place a cave-like feeling
• the 4 halls are named North, South, East, and West which allows for easy distinction when a trade show fills more than one of them
• all 4 halls are attached so it is convenient to get from one to another and you never have to be exposed to bad weather
• the Grand Concourse Lobby is light-filled (so excellent for photography) and has 35,836 square feet of space which can be used for registration
• the West building has attained LEED Certification and McCormick Place has taken part in many green initiatives designed to help the environment
• there are a great amount of bathrooms, they are easily located, and they are always clean
• in fact, I consider McCormick Place to be one of the cleanest convention centers I have ever visited
• there are many options for meeting rooms (173 to be exact), and they are easy to locate
• McCormick Place is attached to the Hyatt Regency, which allows for even more meeting room, coffee, and dining options…and the best commute if you are lucky enough to score one of the 800 sleeping rooms there during a trade show
• as a Presenter, I have never had a problem with interference on my microphone
• McCormick Place has received many awards for excellence in convention business
• there are many out-of-the-way locations if you need a quiet place to make a phone call, conduct business, or take a rest
• there are many places to host a tweet-up

And why I think Chicago is a great city to host a trade show:

• Chicago has 2 airports so it is very easy to get a direct flight into the city
• Chicago is centrally located in the middle of the country, so it is not too far or too expensive to get to it, and trade shows have the ability to attract attendees from all across the US
• Chicago has tons of hotel and restaurant choices which are all centrally located
• Chicago is a “walking” city and very easy to navigate by foot
• there are lots of “tourist” and shopping options if you want to extend your stay or bring along your family…but you don’t have to fight with the tourists for reservations or space
• I have always found the shuttle busses to run quickly and conveniently…and they have a secret route that no one else can use to ensure more timely pick-ups and drop offs
• taxis, shuttle busses, and cars can get into and out of it quickly
• the Metro stops at McCormick Place…and oftentimes trade shows even offer free passes
• Chicago has such a rich history of trade shows, so the hospitality industry knows how to service the conventioneers
• the taxi cab companies provide their drivers with a list of the trade shows and the drivers make the conventioneers their priority when trade shows are in town

So what do you think?  Help me show some love for McCormick Place and Chicago to give the powers-that-be the incentive to figure out how to keep existing shows in Chicago and attract new ones!

And special thanks to Eric Lukazewski, a Chicago native, for being my sounding board on this article!! 

Copyright 2010. This article may be shared or referenced as long as the source is cited and linked. No portion of this article may be copied or reproduced without express written permission by the author.

I have been in the event industry for 12 years, yet never realized that having to plan a funeral would be the most important event in which I have participated.  My grandpa passed away unexpectedly last week, and my grandma, parents, and I were blessed to work with a funeral director who really cared about ensuring that Papa (as I nicknamed him as a child) had a ceremony that reflected him and his life.  I am usually in the planner role as opposed to the planee role, and I have to say it was a very interesting experience to be on the other side of the table.  While there, several traits of Scott Humes at Bopp Chapel became the reason why I trusted him so much and put confidence in his ability. 

HAVE COMPASSION AND PATIENCE Gang-Gang (what I named my grandma as a child), my parents, and I were at a very fragile state of mind while planning Papa’s funeral…we were in shock, we were heartbroken, we felt lost and confused, we were exhausted, and we felt like we were in a fog.  Scott recognized our grief, and took the time to figure out how we needed him to “handle us” with all of the decisions we had to make during the funeral preparations.  He knew when we were able to proceed with the next decision; he knew when he needed to give us space to discuss and come to a conclusion; and he knew when we just needed to take a moment to ourselves.  He did not get exasperated if we took a longer than usual amount of time, nor did he act uncomfortable if we had tears in our eyes.  He recognized our emotions and allowed us to feel them, and he never made us feel rushed or as if we were wasting his time.

READ THE PERSONALITY OF YOUR CLIENT  Gang-Gang, my parents, and I all have different personalities and different experiences with death, but we were working as a unified group to plan Papa’s funeral.  Because we were all in such shock, we all had different moments of strength and weakness and Scott recognized who was most appropriate in any given moment to be able to understand what he was saying.  He instinctively knew how to address us individually and what he could or could not say to each of us.  And because of this, we were able to make decisions very calmly and plan a day that would make Papa proud.

USE EASY-TO-UNDERSTAND WORDS  Although all 4 of us are intelligent people, we were working in a medium that was brand new to us.  Scott was working with something that he does every day.  However, he recognized that we were unfamiliar with some terminology and consequently used words that were easy for us to understand.  He took the time to explain anything that we did not understand, and he never once made us feel stupid for asking a question or for needing additional clarification.

EXPLAIN THE CONTRACT LINE BY LINE  Little did I realize how many options one has while planning a funeral, and a contract was the last thing I expected to see.  But it makes perfect sense as a funeral is an event with a contractor (the funeral parlor) and several sub-contractors (the church, coffin manufacturer, cemetery, organist, soloist, guest book manufacturer, prayer card printer, etc.).  Bopp Chapel’s contract was a sort of check-list, and Scott took us through it line by line.  He explained each and every one of our options, and never pressured us into something that we did not want or need.  If we did not have a decision right away about a particular line item, he helped us weigh the pros and cons to come to the best decision.  And he always told us the price of a line item before we agreed to it.  When we got to the bottom line, he made sure that we understood what we had “ordered” and the total price we would be billed.  We never felt taken advantage of and we confident that Papa would be so proud of the decisions we made for him.

OFFER TO BE THERE FOR QUESTIONS / CONCERNS  Scott recognized how overwhelmed we were and that this was a new experience for each of us.  He made sure that we felt comfortable calling him at any time with any questions or concerns, no matter how trivial they seemed.  When we did call, he did not become exasperated with us no matter how ridiculous our question sounded to him, nor did he mock us if we asked for clarification on something multiple times.  Our #1 priority was planning an event that would pay tribute to Papa and be representative of him…Scott had never met Papa, yet his priority was the same as ours and he made sure that all of our requests were satisfied.  In turn, we counted on his expertise to guide us through decisions that were unfamiliar to us.

ANTICIPATE YOUR CLIENT’S REQUESTS  There were many times that I thought of something “after the fact,” approached Scott, and was so happy to hear that he had already taken care of it.  This took pressure off of me and allowed me to concentrate my efforts on my family and on the celebration of Papa’s life.  Scott got to know each of us very quickly in a condensed amount of time and found things he could do for us that were representative of our personalities and our wishes for Papa’s funeral.  And the best thing was that he did them before we even thought about them, or he did them for us with the knowledge that we would never have thought of them in the first place since this was such an unfamiliar situation for us.

TAKE CARE OF DETAILS WITHOUT BEING ASKED  My #1 priority on the day of Papa’s funeral was taking care of Gang-Gang and my mom, so the last thing I wanted to do was worry about the details of the day.  Scott “ran the show” and allowed me to focus my time and attention on my family…not worrying about the details put my mind at ease and gave me confidence in his ability to do what we wanted and needed to be done.  

Even though many of these traits seem like common sense, I was surprised at how much of an impression they made on me, especially during such a difficult time.  We put together Papa’s funeral in 2 days yet a trade show, meeting, or event takes months to plan.  If it made such an impression on me that Scott was able to do all of this for us in such a condensed amount of time, imagine the impression we can make on our clients while working together for months, if not years!! 

Copyright 2010. This article may be shared or referenced as long as the source is cited and linked. No portion of this article may be copied or reproduced without express written permission by the author.

I recently participated in the PCMA sponsored webinar entitled “Engaging Attendees Today: How to Combine Virtual with Face-to-Face.”  Moderator Michael McCurry and speakers Jeff Hurt and Christina Costner profiled EventCamp NYC 2010, which was a BarCamp-style gathering for event professionals to share best practices and learn new strategies to create a successful event held on February 6 at the Roger Smith Hotel. 

Mike, Jeff, and Christina had many great points and the following were the ones I felt strongest about, therefore I tweeted them:

• Consider the “Long Tail” in using #hybrid #events to extend attendance and reach says @JeffHurt at #EC10w.
• Meeting face-to-face was the best thing they could have done says @mizcity at #EC10w!!
• Local audience and remote audience are more friendly terms for the 2 audiences according to @JeffHurt. #EC10w

Since I was at EventCamp, I added my own thoughts to the conversation happening on Twitter:

• It’s all about audience engagement…whether virtual or face-to-face. #EC10w
• Social media was used to connect the remote and face-to-face attendees of #EC10. #ec10w
• Back channel at #EC10 is how @klrichardson and I met…now sharing lots of great info with each other! #ec10w
• It is amazing how well #EC10 was streamed to virtual audience based on all of the technical difficulties/challenges at the venue. #EC10w
• Break the 4th wall & talk directly to remote audience…both with speakers & a host for the remote audience. http://www.bit.ly/cTurs3  #EC10w

While at EventCamp, I was asked to do journalistic style interviews with the speakers to keep the virtual audience company during the breaks.  This success of this “virtual audience engagement” was mentioned during the webinar and the following tweets ensued (thanks everyone ):

• Mizcity: Hey! @mikemcallen is speaking about @emiliebarta who was our professional speaker and interviewer! Emilie was so gr8, highly recommend!
• rayhansen: RT @tracibrowne: RT @klrichardson: @EmilieBarta provided “moments of intimacy” for remote audience #ec10w
• VelChain: Breaking the 4th wall and engaging virtual audience is key. Done well at Event camp by @emiliebarta! #ec10w
• ericlukazewski:  Emilie Barta was a fantastic virtual host @EmilieBarta #ec10w

During the Q&A portion of the webinar, a question was asked about the types of industries that would find success with hybrid events and what made EventCamp so successful:

• #Hybrid #events work for any industry that wants to engage with their audience no matter where they are located IMO. #Ec10w
• IMO #EC10 was successful because it brought together generous tweeps with a common goal of finding out how to make #hybrid work! #EC10w

And a funny thing happened at the conclusion of the webinar:

• OMG…I just said “thank you” and “bye” to the computer after #EC10w!! Hee, hee, hee… ;o)
• Jeffhurt: @EmilieBarta Your computer and phone line thanks you! #ec10w
• I much prefer speaking to someone in person rather that talking to my computer!  #EC10w
• camelendes: VERY FUNNY! RT @EmilieBarta: OMG…I just said “thank you” and “bye” to the computer after #EC10w!! Hee, hee, hee… ;o) 

Are you one of the 162 people who attended this webinar?  What information did you learn about hybrid events and engaging the virtual and the face-to-face audience?  And if you did not attend, what questions do you have about hybrid events?

Copyright 2010. This article may be shared or referenced as long as the source is cited and linked. No portion of this article may be copied or reproduced without express written permission by the author.

Now that you have decided that a Professional Trade Show Presenter will do a better job of drawing positive attention and potential customers to your booth than Mark from Marketing and Sally from Sales, how do you go about finding one?  After all, many people call themselves Trade Show Presenters, but how do you know if they are reputable and good at what they do?  It is not as hard as you think, as long as you are willing to take some time to research.  After all, this individual is the first impression of your company, so you want to ensure that you make a perfect match!

Your Trusted Exhibit House

The first place to turn to is your exhibit house.  Most exhibit houses have relationships with trade show presenters and/or trade show talent agencies.  After all, you trust your exhibit house to design and build your booth, so why not trust them to help you find your presenter?  They can contact the agency or presenter on your behalf and get the selection process started based on your wants and needs.  They can also facilitate the interviewing and negotiating for you.  Or they can just do everything and surprise you with their selection if you prefer. 

A Trade Show Talent Agency

If you do not work with an exhibit house, you could turn to a trade show talent agency.  If you do an internet search, you will find many types of agencies that say they have experience in booking talent on trade shows.  Therefore you will have to do some research to ensure that you find the type of third party vendor that best suits your needs.  Make sure that the agency you choose has been in business for awhile and represents presenters who have trade show experience.  Take an in-depth look at the agency’s website and see if you like the image that they are portraying.  Do an internet search to see about the reputation of the agency and if you feel comfortable with the way that they are portrayed online.  Once you contact them, do they provide you the level of service that you expect, and do you like the way you connect over the phone?  Finally do they listen to your description of your perfect presenter and help you narrow down the field, or do they send you everybody they represent because they do not care who you select as long as you select someone from them? 

Your Personal and Professional Networks

If you do not want to work with a third party, ask for referrals from your network.  Look to your network of colleagues, friends, and professional associates and ask them if they can recommend someone for you.  Chances are they have run into a presenter in their trade show history and have their contact information on file.  If not, they might know of another colleague who could recommend a presenter.  Just as important is a recommendation of a presenter who you should NOT hire.  Unfortunately there are more mediocre presenters out there than results-oriented presenters, so knowing who to avoid is a valuable piece of information as well. 

An Internet Search

If you want to go at it alone, try an internet search.  Search phrases like Trade Show Presenter, Corporate Spokesperson, and Trade Show Narrator to see who you find.  After you weed out the trade show agencies and articles about trade shows, you will have a manageable amount of websites to view.  When you look at their website, do you like the image of the materials they use to promote themselves?  Do you like their look, their client list, and their demo?  Does their image match the image of your company?  Do you feel comfortable with the presentation style they portray in their demo?  Do you like what their clients have to say about them?  Do they have a long list of repeat clients, or are they never asked back for a repeat performance?  Once you have decided this presenter is a possibility, do an internet search of their name in quotes and see what you find.  Are you impressed with the amount and type of coverage they have on the internet, or are you finding things that tarnish their reputation?  If you do not like what you see online, you will not like what you see in person. 

Social Networking

And the newest way to find a Presenter?  Social Networking!  Many presenters have a presence on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Plaxo, YouTube, and other social networking sites. So again, search for terms like Trade Show Presenter, Corporate Spokesperson, and Trade Show Narrator to see who you find.  You can also take a look at who your connections are connected to and ask for an introduction.  Or you can post a message stating that you are looking for a presenter, and see what response you receive.  Social networking is a great way to access people you otherwise may never have met, and a wonderful way to get into a conversation with a presenter to see if you like their personality.  Since social networking is somewhat less formal and more conversational than other online resources, you can get to know a presenter by how they conduct themselves on the site.  If they are pushy, unprofessional, rude, or not interactive online, imagine how they will be in person! 

So with just a little bit of research in a variety of different methods, you can feel confident that you will find the right Professional Trade Show Presenter for your company.  Good luck!!

Copyright 2010. This article may be shared or referenced as long as the source is cited and linked. No portion of this article may be copied or reproduced without express written permission by the author.