Attending an exhibition that goes on for multiple days can be valuable to your business, however they can also be exhausting and stressful. But they don’t have to be, we’ve compiled some of our top tips to help your survive your next long trade show.
Dress appropriately
Exhibitions often mean long days on your feet as well as long distance travel, so to combat this you want to be as comfortable as possible. Whether you will be walking long distances or not, standing for a full day will take a toll on both your legs and your back.
Comfortable shoes should be your number one priority when packing for your event. We suggest not wearing brand new shoes as they can be stiff and uncomfortable until broken in. Heels are also not recommended however you can take flats to change into half way through the day.
Clothing that’s too tight or too loose can be a bad idea too, try to bring something that fits well but still looks professional. When packing for the event it can be a good idea to pack extra clothing, just in case of emergencies.
Eat and drink
When working long days and networking with potential clients it can be easy to forget to stay hydrated. Pack a few bottles of water in your bag, being properly hydrated helps both your body and brain to function better and will make the exhibition a far more pleasant experience.
Snacks shouldn’t be forgotten about either. We recommend bringing nutritious snacks with you such as protein bars, fruit or nuts such as almonds. Many unhealthy foods will give you a boost at the start but after a short while you’ll be back to needing more.
Before the exhibition starts you should have breakfast. A good breakfast to keep you going for the day ahead includes protein, and avoids too much sugar or fat.
Take breaks
Before the exhibition create a rota that allows you and your colleagues to take regular breaks. A break will give you the precious time to have a snack or stretch your legs and walk around the exhibition. Getting away from your exhibition stand can help clear your head and revitalise yourself.
Another option for breaks is to have a few chairs set up on your exhibition stand that are out of view of the public. After spending hours on your feet, simply sitting down for a few minutes can do wonders for your energy.
Bring an exhibition emergency kit
No matter how much you plan and prepare in advance, things can and probably will go wrong. This is why an emergency kit is important. Here’s what we suggesting packing in your emergency kit:
- Wet Wipes
- Headache tablets
- Lip Balm
- Plasters
- Water
- Nutritious snacks
- Pens & pencils
- Business cards
- Travel sewing kit
- Phone & equipment chargers
Having an exhibition emergency kit on hand will make sure you can overcome any issues that arise, such as equipment failure or clothing tears, this will lead to the long exhibition days being easier to handle.
Read our Exhibition Emergency Kit article to find out more about what you should pack for your next exhibition.
Create a timeline for each day
Creating a timeline will help you stay focused and on track for the event you are attending. Firstly you should factor in your commute, if you’re staying far away from the venue then you will want to set off earlier, especially as you will likely be travelling during rush hour.
Another good addition to your timeline is scheduled meetings. At exhibitions you will often receive a list of attendees before the event. You should be using this to your advantage, if there’s anyone on the list you particularly want to meet with, get in contact with them and schedule a meeting.
Scheduling meetings makes sure you will both have the time to meet each other, as well as allowing you to have more control over the flow of the day. For example if you know you have 10 meetings throughout the day you can plan and prepare for these, easing stress.
Your timeline doesn’t have to be set in stone, but having an outline of what you will be doing is a great start to helping the day run more smoothly.
Get rest in the evenings
After the event it can be tempting to have a few alcoholic drinks. If you’re at an event that is a few days long, we would suggest avoiding this. Drinking too much the night before an exhibition will leave you exhausted and have a negative effect your performance.
The best way to be prepared for the next day of exhibiting is to get a good night’s sleep, this will help you to feel energised and refreshed for the day ahead.
We hope these tips help your next exhibition to run smoothly.
At XL Displays we supply everything from custom built exhibition stands to portable display equipment such as pop up displays. For help designing your exhibition stand or for more information please contact us or call us on 01733 511030.
Permalink:
https://www.xldisplays.co.uk/news/how-to-survive-a-long-trade-show.aspx