Attend association meetings to keep up with the latest on how to produce successful trade shows. These three key groups are holding meetings in the next few months:
IAEM (International Association for Exhibition Management) serves both the association and for-profit areas. The next meeting is next week (November 28-30) in San Diego. Several excellent sessions are scheduled, including "Non Traditional Attendance Promotion" and "Ancillary Revenue." IAEM also has a number of local chapters that do programs. See www.iaem.org.
EOS (Exposition Operations Society) serves operations professionals. The next meeting is January 14-16 in New Orleans and includes a "field trip" inside the SHOT show. Contact Steve Schuldenfrei at steve@ExpoOps.com.
SISO (Society of Independent Show Organizers) serves only the for-profit side. The next meeting is April 9-11 in Chicago. Provides excellent "by users, for users" sessions on trade show management (full disclosure: Michael Hough is Education Chairman). See www.siso.org.