the May 2008 Issue in PDF Format - Trade Show Executive

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Incubator ‘Dinner with Strangers’ − Gets Attendees Away From Maddening Crowd By Hil Anderson, senior editor Las Vegas, NV – The popular “Dinner with Strangers” networking event at the annual Exhibitor Show in Las Vegas guarantees that for at least one night, attendees won’t feel like they are alone in a crowd. The concept can be replicated at any event, giving newcomers, introverts or those who prefer smaller group discussions a haven for networking so that they don’t get lost in the shuffle of the show. Augmenting Receptions Receptions may be “can’t miss” events, but they also can be simply too large and noisy – not to mention lacking in places to sit down – to produce much in the way of solid networking among industry colleagues. “Dinner with Strangers” is a means of augmenting the receptions. It gives attendees an opportunity to get together with a handful of people for a civilized meal and a more in-depth conversation. A Whirlwind of Activity At 76,000 net square feet, and with an overall crowd of about 6,000 in attendance, the 2008 Exhibitor Show in February was a whirlwind of activity. Moreover, it was in the midst of the even larger human hurricane at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino and the Las Vegas Your Table is Waiting. One of the many restaurants on the Mandalay Bay property where “Dinner with Strangers” is held. Strip. It would be easy for newcomers to feel a bit overwhelmed or at least have difficulty getting to know anyone beyond the handshake and the standard abbreviated reception pleasantries. “We wanted to make sure that we had a way for people to meet each other outside the receptions,” said Elly Reister, CMO of Exhibitor Magazine Group and the organizer of the popular dinners. “Unless someone is fairly aggressive about going out and meeting new people, receptions can turn into clusters of people who work together or already know each other.” Easy to Organize The show organizer makes the restaurant reservations and can coordinate delegate participation online or in a low-tech manner via a sign-up sheet in the registration area. Interested attendees choose the restaurant that sounds the best to them, sign up and then meet the rest of the group at an appointed time and place. “Each group meets in a different restaurant but all of them are inside the Mandalay Bay facility so that nobody has to travel,” Reister told Trade Show Executive. The plan for the evening is up to the participants. “Dinner with Strangers” is not designed for sales pitches or order writing, but rather a more low-key level of personal networking. “We wouldn’t prohibit anybody from talking shop in order to find out what they have in common, but it is intended to be Looking for Clues. A pair of attendees ponder which group to join for “Dinner with Strangers” at the 2008 Exhibitor Show in Las Vegas. completely social,” said Reister. About 250 people signed up for “Dinner with Strangers” this year, including attendees, exhibitors, suppliers and even some of the conference speakers. The program will likely be expanded even further next year to accommodate 300. Reister said that would require finding more restaurants rather than increasing the size of each party. “We’re going to increase the number of groups next year to try to keep it to a cozier group,” she said. “Once you get to 10 or 12 people in a group, it is harder to meet everyone at the table.” Reister said she would look to keep the event at restaurants that are relatively modestly priced – less than $50 for a meal. “We don’t want to strain anyone’s per diem,” she said. “Dinner with Strangers” is also not subject to any pressures to make it anything other than a social event. No one from show management rides herd on the group and there are no surveys or feedback forms to fill out. It is purely an opportunity for colleagues to make connections that will last a few hours or a lifetime. Reach Elly Reister at (507) 424-4891 or ereister@exhibitormagazine.com 26 May 2008 Trade Show Executive www.TradeShowExecutive.com
How can Bartizan help my exhibitors and me be more effective? 1. GRAPHIC REPORTS, NOT RAW DATA Bartizan gives my exhibitors and me free access to www.LeadsLightning.com where we can view reports – colorful, useful graphs and charts – that provide actionable, in-depth information about seminar attendees and booth visitors. 2. REAL-TIME SESSION TRACKING AND ACCESS CONTROL Bartizan technology enables me to view not just how many people are attending a seminar, but to see precisely who they are – all in real-time. This lets me act on the spot, rather than react after the fact. 3. IDENTIFY BEST PROSPECTS IN MINUTES Using Bartizan’s Dynamic Filtering technology, my exhibitors can sift through hundreds – even thousands – of sales leads and in minutes identify their very best prospects. Sales people love it. Dynamic Filtering almost guarantees that my exhibitors will return year after year. 4. MOST COMPREHENSIVE SELECTION OF HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE Bartizan offers lead retrieval, session tracking, access control and badge printing solutions to meet the needs of every exhibitor and show organizer. You name it, they have it: Desktop, handheld, 2-D bar code, magnetic stripe, RFID, real-time, Web-based. Bartizan has it all. 5. HUGE EQUIPMENT POOL With an inventory of well over 3,000 electronic collection devices, Bartizan and the registration contractors who distribute their products are in a unique position to support my needs. I don’t ever have to worry about being left in the lurch. BARTIZAN CONNECTS, LLC www.Bartizan.com www.TradeShowExecutive.com 217 Trade Riverdale Show Executive Avenue, Yonkers, NY 10705 Phone : 800-899-2278 x108 • Fax #: 914-965-7746 May 2008 27
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