Jamming With Jason McGraw – A Man Who Likes His Gig

Ask Jason McGraw what he’d be doing with his life if he weren’t in the trade show business, and he just chuckles. After all, he’s been working around expos since before he was even out of college. And, although McGraw admits he’d probably be pursuing his first love – music – if he hadn’t stumbled upon the trade show industry, the senior vice president of expos at InfoComm International says his second calling in life is one that has turned out to fit him perfectly.

“My fantasy when I was younger was to be in a rock band and tour around the country selling records,” McGraw said. “I’ve always liked the arts, entertainment, theater and music so I’d probably still be involved in some way with the music business if I hadn’t gotten involved in trade shows. Plus, by now, I honestly don’t see myself switching to something different.”

Although the guitar, long hair, moustache and cowboy boots of his college band days at George Mason University have long been replaced by a more clean-cut look, McGraw says he is grateful to be where he is in life, managing GovComm and InfoComm, the largest annual trade show and conference for the audiovisual communications industry.

“Over the years, I’ve developed a skill set to manage all (kinds of shows) but I personally really love our show and the industry that we serve,” McGraw said. “We try to do different things every year and the technology changes every year, so it’s not stale or stagnant. It’s always kind of evolving.”

Like many in the trade show business, McGraw also fell into the industry but had the rare opportunity of doing so at a very young age. Once the D.C. native landed his first gig working part-time for a show management company, he never looked back.

“I’m going on 24 years that I’ve been working on trade events,” McGraw said. “I’ve kind of done a little bit of everything. When I started out I was doing operational stuff, registration, AV, signs and shuttle busses, then I moved into organizing special exhibits and other operations, sales support and sales and expo management. I’ve definitely worked my way up kind of grassroots over the years.”

Along with the blood, sweat and tears that often comes with show management, McGraw says he’s experienced all kinds of trade show nightmares, including registration system crashes, monsoon rainstorms, attendee medical emergencies and unforeseen plumbing issues.

“At our 2010 InfoComm at the Las Vegas Convention Center, we had a burst water pipe that happened at 1 a.m. the night before we opened, right near the main entrance to our show floor, so it was all hands on deck,” McGraw said. “But between Freeman, the building and the cleaning people, by 7 a.m. you wouldn’t have had any idea that anything had happened. It was definitely something I’ll remember for a long time.”

But, besides weathering storms and learning to be better prepared for the unthinkable, McGraw also has enjoyed the fringe benefit of his career, including the chance to travel the globe. And even if work-related travel can be tiring, McGraw says he truly appreciates all the amazing experiences he’s been able to have, thanks to his career.

“I have personally been able to travel around the world and see things I would never have been able to experience had I not been in this industry,” McGraw said. “I’m very grateful that I’ve had the chance to experience so many different countries and places. It gives you a different perspective than people who haven’t been able to travel outside the U.S.”

His life might be a far cry from strumming his guitar in smoky college bars, but McGraw has designed a satisfying career and happy life with his wife and four children in the suburbs of Fairfax, Va.

Beyond spending as much time with his loved ones as possible, taking them on vacations or trips to the beach and enjoying big family gatherings, McGraw also gets a lot of satisfaction out of mentoring the younger trade show generation.

“A couple of years ago in Orlando we brought in a bunch of students from the Rosen College of Hospitality Management to visit our show and I got the opportunity to chat with them,” McGraw said. “I think it’s great to be able to mentor and share. It’s such a great industry for anybody coming out of college who’s looking for a career path. One of the reasons I’m involved in IAEE is that I really enjoy being able to give back and help the industry continue to grow because it’s been good to me and our organization.”

Press McGraw about where he sees his life going, and he’ll tell you he’s more than happy with his current reality: being with his family and fulfilling his passion for managing shows. Still, the thought of having time to pick up his guitar does appeal to him.

“It’s still a hobby that I like to do when I have a chance,” McGraw said. “Actually, my next dream is to have something like the “Partridge Family”. My kids will play instruments, and we’ll jam in the basement together.”

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