The document provides guidelines for creating a successful table top show from scratch with a limited budget. It recommends starting by asking basic questions about why one wants to hold a show, potential locations, dates, target audiences, and budget. It also outlines many logistical components that must be arranged such as facility contracts, permits, layout, catering, printing, speakers, and ongoing promotion. The overall message is that a table top show can be done successfully with planning and hard work.

1. DEVELOPING A
TABLE TOP SHOW
FROM SCRATCH
GUIDELINE TO CREATE YOUR
OWN AND LESSONS LEARNED
Standards
Certification
Education & Training
Publishing
Conferences & Exhibits JOINT DLC – LAS VEGAS JUNE 11, 2010

2. SO…YOU WANT TO HOLD A
TABLE
?? TOP $$
? SHOW $
BUT YOU DON’T KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN…
AND YOU DON’T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY?

3. SO…YOU WANT TO HOLD A
WELL TAKE HEART,
IT CAN BE DONE
TABLE
? $$
TOP
??
SUCCESSFULLY SHOW$
WITH A LITTLE
HARD WORK!
BUT YOU DON’T KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN…
AND YOU DON’T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY?

4. LETS START BY ASKING A
FEW BASIC QUESTIONS
MONEY
Y?
NETWORKING
W H TABLE
MEMBER TRAINING
NON-MEMBER TRAINING
TOP
T?
GAIN NEW MEMBERS
SHOW
REGIONAL EXPOSURE
W HA VENDOR RELATIONS
SPONSOR RELATIONS
WHY DO YOU EVEN WANT TO HOLD A SHOW?
THEY ARE A LOT OF WORK, AND CAN TAKE A LOT OF
TIME!
WHAT BENEFIT DO YOU EXPECT TO GAIN FROM A SHOW?

5. LETS START BY ASKING A
FEW BASIC QUESTIONS
E?
THINGS TO CONSIDER:
R SHOULD IT BE MORE
W HE TABLE
CONVENIENTLY
LOCATED FOR
TOP EXHIBITORS OR FOR
YOUR ATTENDEES?
SHOW
IS THERE EASY
ACCESS? CLOSE TO
HIGHWAYS? MASS
TRANSIT? AIRPORT?
DO YOU HAVE A LOCATION IN MIND?
IS THE FACILITY CONVENIENT TO GET TO?
GOOD ATTENDANCE WILL DEPEND ON IT!

6. LETS START BY ASKING A
FEW BASIC QUESTIONS
THINGS TO CONSIDER:
E N? RESEARCH LOCAL AND
WH
REGIONAL SHOWS &
TABLE EVENTS THAT MIGHT
TOP COMPETE FOR YOUR
ATTENDANCE AND
SHOW YOUR EXHIBITORS.
HOW LONG WILL IT
REALISTICALLY TAKE
TO PREP FOR YOUR
SHOW?
WHEN WILL YOU HOLD YOUR SHOW?
DO YOU HAVE A DATE IN MIND? A TIME OF DAY?
WILL YOUR SHOW BE ONE OR MULTIPLE DAYS?

7. LETS START BY ASKING A
FEW BASIC QUESTIONS
THINGS TO CONSIDER:
O?
PROMOTE YOUR SHOW
WH
EARLY AND OFTEN.
TABLE HAVE PROMOTIONAL
TOP MATERIALS PREPARED.
SHOW BE PROACTIVE WITH
YOUR SPONSORSHIP
OPPORTUNITIES
PROMOTE USING
MULTIPLE MEDIAS
WHO WILL YOU TARGET FOR EXHIBITORS AND SPONSORS?
WHO MIGHT YOU WANT TO PARTNER WITH?
WHO WILL YOU PROMOTE TO FOR ATTENDANCE?

8. LETS START BY ASKING A
FEW BASIC QUESTIONS
THINGS TO CONSIDER:
W?
COUNT THE COST
HO TABLE
BEFORE COMMITTING
BUDGET AND MANAGE
TOP THE MONEY TRAIL
SHOW
BUILD YOUR TEAM
LEVERAGE RESOURCES,
HUMAN, FINANCIAL, AND
ORGANIZATIONAL
HOW MUCH TIME WILL NEED TO BE COMMITTED?
HOW MUCH MONEY WILL NEED TO BE COMMITTED?
HOW CAN YOU LEVERAGE RESOURCES?

9. PUT QUITE SIMPLY…
TABLE
TOP
SHOW

10. EXAMINE THE MOVING
PARTS OF A SHOW
TABLE
TOP
SHOW

11. SET-U P
TEAR-DOWN SH OW
LAYO UT
FIRE
PERMIT
FACILITY
CO NTRACT
IN SURAN CE
TABLE
TOP
SHOW

12. SET-U P
TEAR-DOWN SH OW
LAYO UT
FIRE
PERMIT
FACILITY
CO NTRACT
IN SURAN CE
TABLE
CONTRACT
TOP
PRINTIN G SHOW
CONVENTION
SERVICES
ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR
L AYOU T
TAKEOF F
FINAL
LAYOU T

13. SET-U P
TEAR-DOWN SH OW
LAYO UT
FIRE
PERMIT
FACILITY
CO NTRACT
IN SURAN CE
TABLE
CONTRACT
TOP
PRINTIN G SHOW
CONVENTION
SERVICES
ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR
TECHNICAL
TRAINING
L AYOU T ENTER- & OTHER
CO-
TAKEOF F TAINMENT DIVERSIONS TECH NICAL
FINAL LOCATE
TRAINING
LAYOU T SPEAK ERS OPP’S
TOPICS

14. SET-U P
TEAR-DOWN SH OW
LAYO UT
FIRE
PERMIT
FACILITY
CO NTRACT
IN SURAN CE
L IQU OR
TABLE
PERMIT
CONTRACT
TOP
PRINTIN G SHOW CATERER SET-U P &
DELIVERY
CONVENTION
SERVICES F OO D
ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR QU AN TITY
CONTRACT
TECHNICAL
TRAINING
L AYOU T ENTER- & OTHER
CO-
TAKEOF F TAINMENT DIVERSIONS TECH NICAL
FINAL LOCATE
TRAINING
LAYOU T SPEAK ERS OPP’S
TOPICS

15. SET-U P
TEAR-DOWN SH OW
LAYO UT O NG OIN G
LIAISON
EXHIBITORS
SALES
FIRE AND
PERMIT SPONSORS
FACILITY
CO NTRACT
SHO W
PRO MO
IN SURAN CE
L IQU OR
TABLE
PERMIT
CONTRACT
TOP
PRINTIN G SHOW CATERER SET-U P &
DELIVERY
CONVENTION
SERVICES F OO D
ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR QU AN TITY
CONTRACT
TECHNICAL
TRAINING
L AYOU T ENTER- & OTHER
CO-
TAKEOF F TAINMENT DIVERSIONS TECH NICAL
FINAL LOCATE
TRAINING
LAYOU T SPEAK ERS OPP’S
TOPICS

16. SET-UP
TEAR-DO WN SHOW
LAYOUT ON GO IN G
LIAISO N
EXHIBITORS
SALES
FIRE AND
PERMIT SPONSORS
FACILITY
CO NTRACT
SHO W
PROMO
INSURAN CE
L IQU OR
TABLE
PERMIT
CON TRACT
TOP
PRINTIN G SHOW CATERER SET-U P &
DELIVERY
CONVENTION
SERVICES FOO D
ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR Q UANTITY
CONTRACT
TECHNICAL
TRAINING
L AYOU T ENTER- & OTHER CO -
TAKEOF F TAINMENT DIVERSIONS TECHN ICAL
FIN AL LO CATE
TRAININ G
LAYOU T SPEAK ERS O PP’S
TOPICS

17. SET-UP
TEAR-DO WN SHOW
LAYOUT
H
ON GO IN G
LIAISO N
EXHIBITORS
T
SALES
FIRE AND
PERMIT SPONSORS
O
FACILITY
O G
CO NTRACT
M N
SHO W
PROMO
S
A NN I
INSURAN CE
L IQU OR
TABLE
PERMIT
!
CON TRACT
TOP
PRINTIN G
R U IN E SHOW CATERER SET-U P &
DELIVERY
C H
CONVENTION
A
SERVICES FOO D
ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR Q UANTITY
M
CONTRACT
TECHNICAL
TRAINING
L AYOU T ENTER- & OTHER CO -
TAKEOF F TAINMENT DIVERSIONS TECHN ICAL
FIN AL LO CATE
TRAININ G
LAYOU T SPEAK ERS O PP’S
TOPICS