Are Trade Shows a thing of the past?

[DannyCox]

In my previous life as an Engineer in Aerospace & Defence, I attended a number of Industry Trade Shows. They were all run basically the same. These shows include the SAMPE show (Society For The Advancement Of Material And Process Engineering), the SME show (Society Of Mechanical Engineers), as well as a couple of other directly related to Aeronautical Engineering for Materials and Processes.

The seminars were not just throw togethers with panels of friends. Six months before a show, there was a "Call For Papers" where people interested in presenting would submit a brief on what they wanted to talk about. Those papers were looked at by a panel of experts, and then short-listed. Those who made the first cut were contacted, and had two months to submit a complete paper on the subject at hand. Those were then gone through, and the final people for the various seminars were selected. I presented a paper at the October 1992 SAMPE Technical Conference entitled "Materials And Process Optimization For Dual-Shell Satellite Antenna Reflectors". I gave a brief on it at the conference and took questions. Everyone had the paper in their hands the day the conference started, so they could go through it and come up with informed questions or comments. All I received for presenting my paper was a free show badge which saved my company about $500.

Real Trade Shows are well thought out affairs, with applicable seminars and show floors that truly cater to those in attendance. They are not about "friends" or the "old boys" networks. They exist to serve the industry, give the suppliers a place to promote applicable wares, and to inform through relevant and proper seminars. And of course, there are cocktail parties put on by the various suppliers. But no one runs around being stupid or getting drunk as everyone there is not only representing themselves but their companies. At a Trade Show, there is no down time, you are always on and always working.

I've never seen a huge party at any of the Trade Shows I've attended in my other industries. There was always a sponsored welcome cocktail party, cocktail parties held by various suppliers in different suites, and a closing cocktail party. That was it for "parties". Dinners were all smaller affairs and meant for work and networking. Suppliers were open to snealing away with you for a beer, but it was still all about business. The thing we knew about Trade Shows was they were there to learn and work, not party. Many guys that were friends would leave in the evening to party it up away from the conference hotel, but no one would ever make an ass of himself amongst his peers. That would kill your career there and then!

I also did a few publishing Trade Shows when I was in university and working for the newspaper. Those were basically the same with applicable show floors and seminars.

That really is the reason I stopped going to shows, they were an embarrassment! If I want to drink and party, I can do that close to home. If I want to travel to party, well, I'll do it as a holiday. To me, a Trade Show is about work and I do try to treat it as such. Our industry shows tend to have totally useless seminars done with no preparation or planning, and given by people without the requisite experience! I've honestly yet to hear anything useful at a show seminar, it's all been about "Buy My Shit!".