When we arrived on Monday to set up the booth, we found that we had a great booth position, but that the management had placed next to us a company that does embroidery. They had 2 or 3 heavy duty sewing machines running that made so much noise that you had to shout just to hear yourself.
Show management indicated that it was acceptable to them that this noise continue, but it was NOT acceptable to us. Every other show requires that you NOT disturb your neighbors with noise or flashing lights or such things . Our only alternative was to use the only remaining booth -- tucked way back in a darkend corner of the hall.
What choice did we have? We took it and it was a disaster. All week long, we only did a few demos and handed out less than a dozen brochures. Given what it cost us to exhibit at the show -- the space rent, the electricity, the travel expenses, the hotel, the 2 weeks of work getting ready for it, the week lost at that show, the extra expenses to keep the business running smoothly during the show, etc. etc. etc. --- we have to consider whether or not we will continue to support the CTTA by being exhibitors in 2000. Our product is NOT something that is so simple as choosing whether you want the red one or the blue one.
You need to spend time to consider it. Ask meaningful questions. Try it out yourself.
We are NOT a Company that dazzles you with full color glossy brochures. We try to keep our expenses down, so that we can keep our prices low. And we cannot afford to waste our money on a show that treats us this way. After nearly 15 years of exhibiting at the CTTA show we get treated like this!
And we also did not know, but discovered at the show, that YOU had to PAY to see us! How dare they charge you $20.00 just to get into the exhibits?
(More soon. This Rant isn't finished -- not by a long shot!)
O6.28.99 Picking up from where we left off, I got a call on Friday, June 25th from the organizers of the convention. They are aware that I was disappointed with the way we were treated, so they offered to deduct about $50 from next year's Expo. And if that isn't acceptable, then I will just have to settle for an apology. I believe it would be a heartfelt apology, since I do believe that they were just trying to make the best of a bad situation. However, it was a situation that they had created. And the only reason that there was one booth still available was that the company that paid for that booth was unable to attend. So it seems to me that the CTTA is getting nearly double for the same lousey booth.
Unfortunately, there is no way to recover the lost opportunity. We typically give away about 100 brochures and diskettes at the show; this year it was about 10. That is a 90% reduction in our exposure, so I feel that I should be offered a 90% reduction in the price. Even more would be reasonable, since more was lost than just the price of the booth. But the offer to reduce by $50 next year's booth fee seems woefully inadequate. Besides which, we are not even sure we want to exhibit next year.
What do you think? Do you think we should bother exhibiting? What if we just came to the convention to have some fun and visit with some clients? How do you feel about having to pay $20 just to see the exhibitors? Do you think there should be noise regulations at least for the inside exhibitors? Should I be able to blast Frank Sinatra at 110db with impunity? And what if I personally liked rap or hip-hop? Would that be acceptable behavior? I don't think so, but what do you think?
We really need your help on this one. Your opinions have always been an important part of our business. This is your chance to tell us what you think and how you think we should handle this situation.
