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May 13, 2012

Meeting Industry Controversy – I Wrote My Congressman

I wrote to my representative in Congress this week.  As a proud participant in the Meetings Industry, I am concerned about the backlash that has popped up around the abuses by people working for the GSA in regards to inappropriate use of money spent in regards to conferences.  Similar bad press rumbled around in 2008 because of the WordCom fiasco and the 2011 "MuffinGate... more

May 1, 2012

White Paper: What Attendees Tell Us About Best Exhibiting Practices

Editor's Note: Mike Thimmesch and Joyce McKee will be giving a TSNN Webinar - "Getting More Leads and Making Them Count" May 24 at 1pm - sign up here:
http://www.visualwebcaster.... more

April 23, 2012

Dear Airlines, Please Stop Nickel and Diming!

I will admit that I shouldn’t be writing this right now because I am really steamed and maybe it would be best if I calmed down a bit. But, forget it. I am going for it.
 
I am so fed up with airlines nickel and diming every little thing to death to the point where I think airline tickets are higher than they have ever been in a very long time.
 
... more

April 18, 2012

See Your Trade Shows with Fresh Eyes Again

The busy season is over and you’ve just exhibited at the same trade shows that you always exhibit at year after year.  Which can make you too easily fall into the “same old, same-old” mindset: Same competitors, same booth staff, same exhibit, same promotions, same city, same products, same, same, same.... more

April 8, 2012

The Smart But Dull Conference? Does Content Stand Alone?

Is content king?

I continue to see the discussion around the meetings industry about "content versus style" when it comes to speakers. I have long argued that there should be no disagreement on this topic, as it is not too much to expect both from those who make presentations at events.

I would never argue against content. That is crazy talk. However, there seems to... more

April 4, 2012

Dodger Blue and the Opportunity in Event Marketing

Full disclosure: I am not an LA Dodger fan. I am an insufferable Chicago Cub fan. This is our year. Really.
 
The LA Dodgers just sold for US$ 2.15 Billion. Nice day for Frank McCourt, a fairly vilified citizen of LA; not quite as nice for... more

March 30, 2012

New Recipe for Attendee Experience Success

I’ve traveled the world looking for the best practices in exhibiting. Though at first the following steps to creating the best attendee experience may seem counterintuitive, they are in fact revolutionary.
 
Step 1- Prepare a “show-stopping” layout:
 
No one wants too many people in an exhibit. Do what you can to prevent... more

March 19, 2012

Is the SXSWi Badgeless Movement a Sign of Things to Come in the Event Industry?

It started with a tweet:
 
“Connect to #Badgeless2012, FB on.fb.me/xrP9zC and the Web bit.ly/AuxLX”
 
At first, I thought that “Badgeless” might be referring to a technology that allowed event participants to interact with one another without using the square 3 x 4”... more

March 18, 2012

The Efficient Conference Experience

David Allen’s 2001 bestselling book, “Getting Things Done” launched a time management movement around the world. His tips on living in stress-free productivity have engrossed millions of people to embrace his system (or dozens of others) and get focused on efficiency. Most of us are easily distracted by all the stuff in our lives and it is hard to be focused on the... more

March 11, 2012

18 Hidden Rules of Trade Shows

Hidden rules govern almost every area of our lives. They guide our behavior and expectations, yet are rarely written down for us in neat little books.
 
For example, there’s the 5 Second Rule:  When a piece of food falls on the floor, you can eat it if you pick it up within five seconds. There’s the High Heel Rule: if a... more