This document provides 8 tips for surviving a major trade show: 1. Plan your time well by making a list of who you need to see and booking important meetings in advance. 2. Look after yourself by eating protein-filled breakfasts, staying hydrated by drinking 4 liters of water, and wearing comfortable shoes. 3. Bring at least two pairs of shoes since trade show floors are hard on feet. 4. Wear a blazer or jacket with pockets to carry notes, business cards, mints, and cash. 5. Stop every hour to take notes on meetings and conversations to avoid confusion later.

1. ...FOR SURVIVING A
MAJOR TRADESHOW
8 TOP TIPS...
THE GUIDE TO
EVENTS

2. PLAN YOUR TIME WELL
Make a list of who you
need to see.
Book in all important
meetings before you
get there.
When you arrive, take
five minutes to get your
bearings and work out
where you need to go.
1

3. LOOK AFTER YOURSELF:
GO TO WORK ON AN EGG
On average, you will walk one
mile every 40 minutes when
visiting a tradeshow.
Stock up on slow-burn protein
in the morning and keep the
engine running all day!
2

4. LOOK AFTER YOURSELF:
STAY HYDRATED
Walking and talking all day
takes its toll on the body.
Recommended water
intake is at least 4 litres of
water for eight hours on
your feet.
Bottled water isn’t cheap
in an expo hall. But keep
on buying it anyway.
3

5. TAKE AT LEAST
TWO PAIRS OF SHOES
Concrete exhibition hall floors
are brutal.
Only taking one pair of shoes
for a multi-day expo is:
• Painful
• Unhygienic
• Bad for your feet
4

6. WEAR A BLAZER OR SMART JACKET
WITH LOTS OF POCKETS
Regardless of the dress code, you
need to be able to carry:
• Cash (to buy water)
• Mints (for your breath)
• Pen (to take notes)
• Business cards (those you hand
out and those you are given)
5

7. STOP ONCE AN HOUR
TO TAKE STOCK
Make notes of meetings
and conversations you had.
Those chats seem so easy
to remember at the time,
but by the time you return
to the office, it may
become very confusing as
to who said what.
6

8. ALLOW PLENTY OF TIME
BETWEEN APPOINTMENTS
If the person you have come to
see is running behind schedule,
don't let that make you late for
your next meeting.
7

9. BUY IN PRIMETIME,
SELL IN DOWNTIME
If you know you are a valid
customer, take as long as you
need, whenever suits you.
But if you are prospecting, selling
or gathering information for your
company, have the courtesy to do
so during quieter periods.
8

10. THE GUIDE TO
EVENTS
For more information, visit
www.guideto.events
Photography credits:
Ian Pollen
futureancient
Tim Stubbings
Antoine Walter
Janet Ramsden
Mike Maguire
Francisco Aragão
Vasenka Photography
Tim Sackton
Habrda