With Halloween just around the corner we decided to take a spooky approach in our latest post. I was browsing for ideas when I realized all the rules I’ve been seeing for surviving a zombie apocalypse, could also be applied to surviving a trade show. Read on to learn how exhibiting at a trade show is like surviving a zombie apocalypse.
1. you need to assemble a strong team
How do you think the gang from The Walking Dead has survived so long? A strong team that works together (at lease most of the time) towards a common goal. While their goal is to outrun zombies and your goal is collecting leads, believe it or not, you need some of the same kind of people on your team to reach both those goals when exhibiting in a trade show.
who you need:
- A Ringleader: This is the person who will not only communicate the plan, but keep everyone focused on the main goal of staying alive bringing in attendees.
- A Sharpshooter: This is your no nonsense team member who spots a potential client, and seals the deal consistently. Your sharpshooter will know how to zero in on visitors quickly and efficiently without being pushy.
- A Personality: This person will keep up morale amongst the group, even when things are apocalyptically slow on the floor.
- A Weapons Products Expert: Your go to for anything and everything product and services related. He or she will know the in’s and out’s to help any attendee and answer just about every question.
who to avoid:
Anyone who may go rouge: It’s ok to have a wild card on your team, just make sure they are working for your company goals and not just themselves. You don’t want someone who is going to go off book and let everyone get eaten by zombies or worse, make all your leads go cold!
2. you need to plan ahead & be prepared for everything
Now is not the time to fly by the seat of your pants. That is a recipe for disaster when exhibiting in a trade show and in the land of the undead. Each move you make should be strategic. Do this and you’re more likely to get out alive.
However remember, issues on the show floor are as unpredictable as zombies, popping out when you least expect it to throw a wrench in your original plan of action. For that reason, always have a plan B…and C, D and E.
3. you need to always be alert & get all angles covered
Here’s a new trick; think of all the visitors to your booth as brain-hungry zombies. We bet you’ll never ignore a visitor again because you’re poking around on your phone.
Back doors, broken windows…if there’s a way in a Zombie will find it. Same goes for booth visitors, so in addition to staying alert, make sure to evenly distribute your team members throughout the booth manning all entrances and demo stations. People will be approaching from all sides, and the last thing you want is for one to creep in without you seeing. Also place team members slightly outside your booth on the floor to reach those lurking nearby.
4. you need to seek out a good location
Sure, in a zombie apocalypse you’re trying to go unnoticed and at a trade show you want everyone to notice you, but the main point is you need to find the perfect location to fit all your needs. It needs to be large enough, in a prime spot to fit your booth design and provide proper outlets for lights and technology. Of course if zombies take over the show floor, you’ll want to leave this great booth location as soon as possible.
5. you need an on-the-go survival kit
When you’re on the run from the living dead, you can’t carry much with you. When you travel to a trade show the same rules apply. You may not have the space to bring everything you really want. For that reason you’ll want to pack a survival kit of essentials. Your kit should be easy to carry and compact. Include supplies you will likely need like duct tape, velcro, pens, a lint roller, extension cords and so on.
So if you know these basic rules for surviving a trade show, you’ll be in pretty good shape should the zombie apocalypse ever arrive and exhibiting in a trade show will be a piece of cake.
Tweet us @Nimlok and/or using the hashtag #TradeshowApocalypse and let us know more rules for survival that work for both zombies and trade shows!
Photo Credit: The Walking Dead is a Big Deal courtesy of Flickr user Daniel Means under the CC license.
