LAJ Talks About Production of the 2010 Cybernet Expo Show in San Francisco

Insider Look at Trade Show Production: An Introduction

On 10.28.09, In Marketing, by LAJ

LAJ is Director of Operations for Cybernet Expo, a trade show for independent Internet marketers and developers. In this first of many updates he shares some of the tasks that go into producing an event like Cybernet Expo in San Francisco.

I’ve been organizing trade shows since 2003, and the first time out I was more or less thrown into the deep end to sink or swim. Fortunately I swam but it was certainly not without a few bumps and bruises along the way. This blog series will detail my weekly adventures with production of the Cybernet Expo 2010 event currently scheduled for July in San Francisco.

I obviously don’t want to give away all my tricks here, since it seems too many people think they have what it takes to put on a competing trade show, and the market is pretty saturated. But I will be sharing in these blog updates some general marketing and production insights that I have learned over the years while working in the show, some of which might be useful in planning a variety of different kinds of live events, not just trade shows.

Even though the 2010 show is nearly nine months away as of this writing, and we wrapped up the 2009 show just a few months ago, it is never too early to start getting it together for next year. Lead time is critical, and it’s much easier (and more beneficial for the show) to plan early as opposed to starting late. This will minimize the damage or frustration that often comes with last minute changes… and trust me, there are always plenty.

Currently I’m looking for possible show sponsors, thinking about what the website will look like and which model or personality would make a good “face” for the 2010 show. I’m also compiling a list of potential speakers, seminar and workshop topics, and planning various other events and logistics. By this time next month we hope to announce the show dates and launch a brand new website.

Next to follow will be putting together online and print creatives to help market the show once we have several more sponsors on board and dates for the event locked in solid.

The closer we get to the show, the more I’ll have to discuss, so stay tuned!