Momentum Management works hard to educate our customers with as much useful information as possible in our monthly e-blasts. One email we get the most comments on is “Gaining Momentum – Tips from the Tradeshow Floor.” In this email, we give our customers a few tips on ways to make life on the show floor a bit easier. (If you’d like to sign up for our email list to receive these monthly e-blasts, click here.)
So how about a challenge? Most of our great ideas come from our customers. What we are offering you is a chance to win a $1,000 gift card to the Apple Store. All you have to do is submit your tips on ways you can enhance your performance on the tradeshow floor, and the top tip voted by our staff will receive a $1,000 shopping spree to the Apple Store.
In our efforts to educate our customers and future customers, all the tips we receive can be viewed on our blog, Facebook and Twitter pages. Make sure you “Like” our Facebook page and/or follow us on Twitter so you can keep up with the tips as they come in. Our winner will be announced via all our social networking sites the first week of June.
Happy tipping!
Momentum Management Inc. is a national labor management company that focuses on all aspects of labor services including installation, dismantle and supervision for tradeshows, store and museum installs and other events. For more information, please visit www.momentummgt.com or email us at contact@momentummgt.com.
Here is a quick list of our tips that have been published in recent years:
TIP #1:
John Ramaglia - VP of Operations EAC Forms
One of today's challenges, as a result of the economy, is that both show and exhibit house coordinators are simply overwhelmed by many details and deadlines. A critical one that often slips through the cracks is getting your EAC forms in early. Often the deadlines have been moved up by general contractors and show management companies for various reasons. Having them come in late often results in your desires to use us or any other exhibit appointed contractor (EAC) removed, forcing you to use the GC's labor.
Momentum is sending you EAC requests based on our history together in advance of the deadline to help you to remember this detail. We're also sending out reminders of deadlines that you have not known about as we become aware of so that you can be proactive. Even so, when you get your "early reminder", help us help you. That's how we're trying to Redefine Service to you.
TIP #2: Matt Cornell - Southern California Manager Outbound Shipping
Using FedEx as an outbound shipper can be risky. FedEx comes to a convention center once a day for pick up and if the paperwork is delayed or someone misses their freight, then it could be shipped via the general contractor carrier or to their warehouse. Also, when a show dismantles on a weekend, there is even more of a chance FedEx will not show up at all. If it is a small box, allow Momentum Management or the client to take it to FedEx. FedEx drivers have a tight schedule and do not like to wait in line for their pick up at a convention center.
 TIP #3: Rich Carlson - Las Vegas City Manager 1. Equipment Count - Know your equipment needs when placing your order so that the labor shows up to your booth with the necessary equipment. Otherwise, they may have to leave the booth to retrieve equipment after the start time. (Saving you time and money!) 2. FedEx - FedEx rarely picks up packages from the show floor, so before shipping out FedEx, make sure you know the show's shipping regulations. This will save you money on forced freight or your labor company making the delivery for you. (Which Momentum will be happy to do for you if ever necessary!) 3. Baby Wipes - I know this sounds funny, but it is a cleaner and a disinfectant. It will clean hands, food spills, shoe scuffs, and will soothe irritated rashes caused by excessive show floor walking. TIP #4:  Andy DeebOne issue that comes to mind that can help you avoid unnecessary charges is "target times" while scheduling labor. It's a small detail that often gets overlooked on the busy trade show floor. Make sure the labor isn't scheduled to begin until several hours after the target time... and on the dismantle, double check to make sure the truck isn't sent in until the correct time. Note: After Andy brought this concern to our attention, many other common mistakes that often occur during the dismantle were brought to the table. The dismantle is a very common place where hours are wasted when many small details get overlooked. Please stay tuned for next month's "Gaining Momentum" email for more tips and tricks focusing on a smoother dismantle.
TIP # 5
Glen Ruggiero - National Account Executive
After focusing our previous Gaining Momentum email on "target times", we thought we'd give another useful tip regarding the dismantle. 'When to begin the dismantle?' may seem like an easy question to answer. To avoid overtime charges, many clients request that the dismantle begins the day after show close, but we have found that many times, it is safer and more cost-efficient if the client begins the dismantle as soon as possible after the show close. Take a look at the chart below. (And for a refresher on last month's Tips and Tricks, click here.)
Beginning the dismantle at show close:
PROS | CONS |
- Your client's product can be secured at show close.
| - If product is being left on the floor overnight, you risk the possibility of theft or damage.
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- Your booth can be packed and ready to be picked up for shipping first thing in the morning. This can be very beneficial if the booth is trans-shipping to another show.
| - If your crates are not returned to your booth in a timely manner, you risk paying for the labor as they wait for the crates to arrive to finish packing the booth. Note - if your booth is located near the loading dock, there is a good chance your crates will be some of the last ones to be delivered.
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- The client or supervisor can leave town earlier saving in travel costs and time away from the office.
| - Possibly more overtime charges as most shows tend to break later in the afternoon.
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TIP # 6
Helen Richie - ACI Design "One thing we always tell our customers: Never leave your purse or laptop unattended during setup and dismantle, in any way. We had a customer who had two booths at the show and walked across the aisle for about 10 minutes. When she came back her laptop was gone!"
Mike Ciufo - Northeastern Regional Manager
Tip #7 - Bring a big spray bottle of one part fabric softener, one part water. Spray it on the carpet to eliminate static (just don't spray too close to any plugged-in equipment).
Tip #8 - This may seem obvious, but never forget your first aid kit. You never know when you may need it!
Katana Luther - Skyline Exhibits and Events
Tip #9 - To avoid any possible theft, never wrap pallets containing flat screens or other valuable   items in clear shrink wrap. It's better to always wrap in black wrap so that passersby cannot easily view items waiting to be unwrapped or shipped off.
Tip #10 - When filling out the outbound MHA for show management, make sure that you write clearly and note each item in the appropriate line on the form for each item you have shipping out of the show. Don't look at the MHA for the items shipping to the show and write down the exact same items, weight or description because it is likely that the number of pieces shipping out and their description will be different than what was sent in. Kaci Bledsoe - Momentum Management Billing Coordinator
 Tip #11 (for iPhone, iPad users)
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Pressing the power and home button together on your Apple device creates a picture of your current screenshot. |
Creating a screenshot of your screen on any iPone or iPad is as easy as a touch of a button. Simply press your home screen and the power button at the same time and it creates a photo of your screen and saves it in your 'camera roll' on your phone. You can easily send the photo to someone via a text message or email. This can also be helpful when someone is unable to open a certain type of file like .pdf or .xlsx. By sending them a "picture" of the document open on your screen, they should be able to open it no matter what type of device they are working with. If you are using an Android device, you can download an app called "Screenshot It" to get similar results.
Annette Jester - Art & Display
Tip #12-16 - Visit Starbucks as often as possible during breaks to keep yourself refueled.
- Keep visqueen down as long as possible so that you won't stain the carpet when you spill your coffee.
- Use a backpack instead of a purse or nice laptop carrier/brief case. No one wants to steal an ugly back pack!
- Bring works gloves.
- Bring a BIG black felt pen, preferably with your name or company logo on it because it will likely be "loaned" out.
Richard Wienecke - DC and Baltimore City Manager
Tip #17: It's important to get order confirmation on carpet or electricity orders. This simple order confirmation from whomever orders the product will allow the project to stay on budget and on time.
Tom Goss - New York City Manager
Tip #18: At NY Javits Center, it's important to always PRE-ORDER everything. Pre-order electric, pre-order rigging, pre-order plumbing, pre-order everything possible. Doing this simple step will enable you to save money in the long run!
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Taylor's
Twitter Tips 
