Trade show people live in a tremendously taxing environment, first and foremost due to unpreventable deadlines, and sometimes due to non-performance of service companies. Exhibitors often feel extremely frustrated in their dealings with the trade show people. It helps to be realistic about your demands because the next step for you is frustration and that only turns to anxiety, and a complete meltdown. In the end, trade show management generally wins. They have to or the show will not go on! You do not have to give up until you have a situation your company can live with, but end it there – there is no perfect.

The people that work day-in and day-out in the trade show world are really not masochists – most of them love the excitement and thrill of making something out of nothing in 72 hours! You have to work at your trade show site for five to seven days and you literally feel as if you are being poured into your plane seat on the last day.

Some of these exasperating folks are exclusive for your show, and no matter how you feel about that, to make your life easier, you must always treat everyone with consideration, respect, and especially understanding (try to recognize what they are going through and their problems). We suggest using logic, and patience. Keep in mind, that the General Service Contractor assigned to your show believes it is giving superior service. And compared to a decade ago – they really are doing just that. Changes in service cannot be accomplished in an argument on the trade show floor or at the service desk. Compromise now and take your issue to your show management after the show.  It’s easier to let a cooler head prevail than to get into an altercation on the show floor.