Attending an exhibition can be exhausting work, and manning your stand is physically and mentally challenging. Whether it is just one long day of exhibiting, or a whole week, you’re still going feel as though you have hit a brick wall sometime during your show.
When planning your exhibition be sure to think about the things that will prepare you for the show. Yes, having your exhibition stand, literature and products organised is top of the list, but without organised staff it could end up being a disaster.
It’s hard to keep staff enthusiastic during a long exhibition or trade show. However, it’s imperative you put a plan in place to ensure your staff remain focused and happy. Miserable, tired, over worked and uncomfortable staff will not create the professional appearance you need to succeed.
With this in mind we have come up with some simple tips that will help boost the team and keep things running smoothly.
1. Take enough staff
It is important to have enough members of staff manning your exhibition stand.
Firstly, you need to ensure you have enough staff for occasions when your stand is busy with visitors.
Secondly, you need make sure you have enough staff so that people can take regular breaks without leaving the stand under staffed as this will increase stress and tension.
And finally some of your staff may have organised meetings or seminars which will result in their time on the stand being limited, you should always have enough cover for these occasions so that you don’t fall short.
2. Take regular breaks
Regular and timely breaks are a must for any exhibition. Whether it’s just a quick visit to the rest room, a walk around the show to eye up the competition, or a well-earned lunch break. It will decrease the team’s fatigue and increase their productivity.
It’s a good idea to take a few minutes and get some fresh air, an exhibition hall can sometimes be a dull and stuffy place. A few minutes outside with give you the boost you need to get through the rest of the day.
3. Drink plenty of fluids
Staying hydrated is key to reducing fatigue. Being dehydrated can cause you to feel tired, when actually it may be a simple case of a quick drink of water needed to get you back on track.
Have some bottled water on your stand so that staff can rehydrate when needed, or to give to your visitors. It’s a well-known fact that people are more likely to stay and engage in conversation for longer if a light refreshment is on offer.
Walking around an exhibition hall can be just as tiring as exhibiting so your visitors will be thankful for the offer of refreshments.
4. Don’t skip lunch
Whilst breakfast is the most important meal of the day, lunch time gives you that mid-day fuel needed to finish your day.
It is important you take a lunch break, go find a seat, sit down and enjoy a bite to eat. You don’t want a meal that’s too heavy or large, that will only make you more tired.
Something light will do like a sandwich and a coffee, or a jacket potato. At most exhibitions and events there is normally a choice of food vans or stalls available with a selection of food on offer.
Make sure you take advantage of these, remember your pennies though as they are not always the cheapest!
5. Get plenty of sleep
Without sleep no-one can function! Be clever about your evening plans as your days are filled with exhausting work, it’s not a good idea to over exert yourself during the evenings too. Rest while you can and you will feel more alert for the next day of exhibiting.
6. Dress appropriately
You want to make sure you are as comfortable as you can be when exhibiting, so this means you should carefully plan your clothes and shoe choices.
You need to maintain a professional appearance at all times but comfort needs to be considered too. Don’t wear clothing that is too tight, or too loose. Try to choose clothing that fits well and provides the comfort need for those long days.
It’s a good idea to take a change of clothes to the show in your bag in case of an emergency.
7. Wear comfortable shoes
Always make sure you have comfortable shoes to wear for your exhibition. If your planning on wearing new shoes, then try to break them in before the event. New shoes can be tight and stiff and can leave you in pain.
Flat shoes are the appropriate option when choosing your foot wear - try to avoid heels. However, if you insist of wearing heels it’s a good idea to pack a pair of flat shoes that you can change into when your feet become uncomfortable.
8. Be seated when you can
When planning your stand design try to include a seating area if space permits. This is so that you have an area you can just take short rests to reenergise. Standing all day long will take its toll on your back, legs and feet so when possible just take a few moments rest.
This is also great for entertaining visitors who will also be in need of a short rest. It gives you the prefect opportunity to offer them a seat to discuss the products and services you have to offer.
9. Be knowledgeable
It’s important you have all the information and you are confident in what you have to offer during your event. This will stop your blind panic and frustration, which will result in you feeling calm, confident and enthusiastic about your event.
Feeling positive about what you are doing will give you and your confidence the boost needed and leave you feeling a lot less drained and stressed out.
10. Remember your posture
It’s difficult to keep a tall and straight posture throughout the day and many will find themselves slumping forwards without realising. However, you actually use more muscles when your posture isn’t correct which will use more energy.
With regular breaks you should be able to maintain a good posture which will reserve your energy and look professional.
We hope these tips help your next exhibition to run smoothly.
At XL Display we are experts in exhibition stand design and offer a wide range of display equipment, from portable displays, such as pop up display stands, to bespoke exhibition stands.
For more information on our product range or graphic design service, please contact us or call us on 01733 511030.
Permalink:
https://www.xldisplays.co.uk/news/10-tips-for-surviving-long-exhibitions.aspx