A blank canvas can be intimidating. Starting a new venture -- a new blog -- a new tradeshow booth or event -- or working with a new vendor -- can all be just as intimidating.
That's what this blog will be about: addressing the ways to handle new ventures in event management, or handling the many details along the way. Perhaps we'll come up with ways to overcome the intimidation factor.
Bob the Planner is a way for me to convey to those stakeholders who wonder, "how should I handle this situation?", or "why are we doing it this way?" when it comes to handling tradeshows and events. Along the way I hope to share tips I've come across, lessons I've learned, resources you may want to consider, and even some philosophy from time to time.
So get your TO DO lists out, mention this site to others, and feel free to visit frequently as I get this site up and running.
About Me
- Bob McGrath
- My 20+ years of experience includes stints as a Channel Marketing Manager -- meaning I know how to promote products through various channels of distribution, and as a Trade Show Manager at an optics manufacturer, at an aerospace company, and in meeting planning for continuing medical meetings. I've worn the association meeting planning hat for numerous professional and trade associations and have sold exhibit booth space as well. I have managed over 60 shows a year as a corporate exhibitor, and have handled special events and meeting planning as well. I'm a Certified Meeting Planner, meaning I know how to handle all kinds of events besides trade shows. If you were to ask my vendors what they like about working with me, they'd say I treat them like human beings. I believe that both of us win when we can understand each other's position and move forward together. I like to write and take photos, and hope to share those passions on this blog. And yes, I like TO DO lists. Lately I've been focusing upon campaign management and I Love It!
3 comments:
Bob, This sure looks great. Your insight on the industry of Tradeshow management is going to be a very important asset to many people. I am excited to see your blog flow. The changes that you have seen in the photography world to the digital photography world are also a magical science embracing an art. If the future is the decisions we make today, and marketers around the world can share their thoughts in a form like yours, you will have the ability to collect the conscience obvious. The collective consciences of this community are sometimes relative - but in this case the glory is - it’s your perspective - and now it’s your blog. Let it ROLL!! Billy G
Digital Generation article by Bill Ganz
Harnessing the Power of the Digital Generation in Business
Today’s college students are a product of the “Digital Generation” or the D Gens as I like to refer to them.
They are millions strong and supercharged for life in the real world, and there’s the catch.
These students were brought up on Xboxes, the Internet and every new digital product as it became available. They are in essence “digital natives”. The professors who teach at their colleges are not of that generation and lack some of the real world application knowledge. They are what you might call “digital immigrants”.
According to the recently released 2007 reports by the Office of Information Technology's Digital Media Center, it is true that students are technologically experienced: 92.3 percent own cell phones, 78 percent own laptops, 68.6 percent own MP3 players, 88.3 percent have taken at least one course supplemented by online educational technology, 39.8 percent have taken a fully online course, and 58.7 percent access online course materials at least once a day.
Yes these students are technologically educated and experienced but they lack the sophistication required in the real world of business.
They use simple online communication tools more frequently than the more complex programs required in business. These students also consume more than they produce online.
Faculty on the other hand is much more fragmented in their technology experience and attitudes. In the world of business this can lead to “a guided missile without a navigation system syndrome”. The students have the power; they just are not sure where they are going with it.
Both students and faculty seem to rank their use of technology that supports collaboration, interaction, and engagement below the use that supports information delivery, increase access to course materials, and the like.
An important factor is the attitude of these students toward technology. It is very positive. With that being said it is time to go beyond the colleges and into the real world of business.
This where More Media Group Inc.’s new program “Fast Track Digital Business tm” comes into play. A curriculum built around “How To” apply these talents and abilities to the real world of business. After going through this course students are now ready to super focus their digital knowledge in the business environment.
Fast Track Digital Business tm use real life situations to educate students in the application of digital business tools. This makes for a better understanding and long term retention. Students actually see the end result created by there actions. They acquire a working knowledge.
Businesses on the other hand now have a pool of digital business experts to draw from.
Our mission is practical application of this digital knowledge base and we feel this will result in a win-win situation for both student and company.
www.billganz.com
www.linkedin.com/in/billganz
So many of us are tasked to "do more with less." In the world of events and tradeshows, that command is compounded by the need to practically "predict the future" from a somewhat detached reality, where the probability of meeting budgets is only matched by the improbability of products arriving on time, the introduction of new players or new "booth guests", or the advent of new areas within an already packed program to incorporate new objectives, often within weeks of an event that has been planned for months.
Such is the nature of our world.
Lately the focus has been on the cost of fuel and how it is impacting the many components of an event. This can raise its head as a fuel surcharge on a shipping quote, as a fuel surcharge on a material handling bill, or even higher catering prices as vendors pass along their higher costs to the sponsor or exhibitor.
TIP: It may be possible to approach your shipper to ask if they have other customers traveling to the same show. Perhaps an "LTL" load (less than truckload) can offer financial relief by sharing resources (space on a vehicle) with your neighbors at the event.
I'd be interested to hear what others have learned as a way to address the impact of rising fuel costs.
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