Trials of the Trade Show – You Decide – HOSP 420
Scenario:
You are standing by the loading dock with sweat dripping down your brow. As dozens of trucks and other vehicles line up for what seems like miles in the distance. As the sun continued to beat down on the loading dock, the union representatives begin to exchange words with you about who has had the jurisdiction of work. Finally, you glanced at your watch and realized that the loads-in for the event was running two hours behind schedule, thus incurring thousands of dollars in overtime charges. And this was only the beginning of trials for the trade show. Once the doors to the exhibition opened, hundreds of buyers streamed in and promptly clogged the aisles on one side of the exhibit floor. For nearly four hours, buyers virtually ignored exhibitors on the other side of the exhibit floor. A few minutes after the exhibition began. Several exhibitors complained to you that the other exhibitors were playing loud music and stepping into the aisles to bring people into their booths.
Your Role:
You are the Event Leader for a tradeshow and exhibition.
Key Players:
John Reed ( Legal Counsel for the Exhibition Center) – John Reed was the legal counsel for the exhibition center. He reminded the exhibit manager that it is illegal for an exhibitor to play music without permission from the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers or Broadcast Music, Inc.
Fred Meyers ( Union Representative of the Exhibit Hall) – Fred Meyers, the union representative of the exhibit hall, was having some heated words about the jurisdiction of work with you. You notice that you’re running two hours behind getting the exhibit materials into the exhibit hall.
Sam Smith (Exhibition Manager) – Sam Smith, the Exhibition Manager, is getting concerned about the problems developing with loud music in some exhibitor’s booths, the labor jurisdiction of work for the union, the issue of overcrowding, and the activities conducted in the booths. He requested that you give him a report so these issues would be solved before the next trade show which will begin following week.
Assignment
- What should be included in the exhibitor’s policies, procedures, and practices, and regulations?
- How do you design the exhibit floor to avoid crowding, gridlock, and other crowd control issues?
- What do you do if an exhibitor violates regulations?
- How do you communicate effectively with union workers?
- What are some creative solutions to ensure that buyers visit underutilized areas of the exhibit area?
