I got inspiration for this post after walking through several exhibit halls at the conferences I have been speaking at recently and of course, from David Letterman’s top ten list. These issues have a way of really messing up a perfectly great display and making your booth staff and your company look unprofessional. I’m here to offer advice if you need some work in these areas.

#12

The plans for assembling the display were not in the crate so the I&D crew set up the booth backwards

#11

It takes the average attendee 22.6 seconds to figure out what your company does

#10     

The booth decor includes an assortment of half empty cardboard boxes

#9       

Cleavage appears to be part of the dress code 

#8       

An entire 20’ exhibit is stuffed into a 10×10 booth space 

#7       

Three chairs are blocking the view of that brand new $5000 graphic mural 

#6

Three guys in suits are sitting in those chairs talking to each other 

#5       

A bowl filled with kit-kats and snickers is the preferred method of customer engagement 

#4       

The front counter doubles as a dinner table 

#3       

A magnifying glass is required to read the long list of features under the mission statement on the banner stand 

#2       

A badge-swipe has replaced the need to ask qualifying questions 

#1       

The decorator’s ugly cardboard I.D. sign is still hanging from the rear drape