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Whether you are just starting to exhibit or you are a trade show veteran, understanding the basics is crucial to your success.  Let Total Events walk you the basics if you are a trade show novice or provide a few tips to veteran exhibitors to make planning for your trade show events an easier venture.

What is your booth exactly?

A general booth space is typically an 8'X10' Pipe and Draped structure with a skirted table, (2) chairs, wastebasket and Vendor Identification sign.  Depending on your venue, you may have items such as: carpet, electrical drops or internet. Make sure you are aware of what any “extras” are and use them to your advantage when you are able! These items can help shave off hundreds of extra dollars from your trade show costs, and the best part is you are already paying for them!

Where are you going?

Are you facing an aisle?  Is there a column in your booth?  Are you next door to a direct competitor?  Ask questions!  Waiting until a month before the show to ask to be moved can be tricky business as many materials for shows (like show books and exhibitor maps) are already in production.  Making changes too late in the game can mean you miss out on potential clients, solely because they didn’t know where to find you!  Knowing details about your booth can help you and your exhibit house determine the best way to take advantage of your space AND your trade show assets like hanging rings, video monitors and table/seating placement.

Who is you Show Decorator?

After you have secured your trade show display space, one of your first steps is to contact the Show Management and determine who the show decorator is.  The Show Coordinator typically books business like Total Events as a first step in their event process.  The decorator is the company that provides services such as:  carpet, A/V, material handling, etc.  Knowing who your decorator is will help you troubleshoot any issues you may have in the planning of your event.

Have you filled out your Exhibitor Kit?

Once you have determined who your decorator is you will want to request a Show/Exhibitor Kit.  Show kits are invaluable assets on virtually everything to do with your show.  The Exhibitor packet is a summary of all the essential show information on one page:  discount deadlines, shipping dates, move in and out dates, show hall hours, etc. Keep this document handy!  This document will help keep you organized at a glance.  This single document has a majority of the information needed to help keep you on budget and on schedule.  Make sure to double check all deadlines listed on forms.

Gathering the information and items above early in your trade show planning process will help ensure the long term success of your event. Knowing this information will help lower costs, reduce frustration, and keep you organized.  If you have questions about an upcoming trade show or convention, contact the experts at Total Events, the leader is Upstate Expo services!  Visit our website at www.conventionexposervices.com.

We do a lot of barn weddings, and like to think we have perfected the art of casual-chic.  Our antiqued, natural wood barn chairs seem to be the perfect rustic fit for this style wedding.  Our Emperor tables provide an ideal place for family style dining.  These extra wide tables have plenty of space for a beautiful table arrangement and adorned with our raw Burlap runners, look like they were designed especially for this style event.  Our antique bulb street fair lights hung high throughout the barn canopy give a romantic glow, while still having an industrial edge.  Additional lighting can be designed with our par theatrical lighting and illuminated paper lanterns can add color and ambiance to any barn interior.  We love to soften hard spaces with a touch of Ivory Chiffon drapery, adding a pinch of ultra feminine detail to this style wedding brings the right amount of detail and interest.  If you are looking for a barn wedding, consider a few of our favorite places; The Old Tater Barn, Maybee Farms, The Shaker Heritage Barn, Pat's Barn and The Pruyn House.

During the summer and early autumn, people love to embrace the beauty of Upstate New York and the Adirondack region.  A favorite venue for the indoor/outdoor blend event is The Sagamore in Bolton Landing, New York.  The Shelving Rock Terrace is a wonderful balance between indoor amenities and gorgeous outdoor views.  We have seen some spectacular weddings in this space, using our extensive ceiling swag expertise, we can transform the ceiling in the matter of a few hours.  Chiavari chairs, lighting, Black and White dance floors all enhance the beauty of the beautiful resort space.  The National Museum of Dance in Saratoga Springs, New York is another excellent space to blend a stunning building with outdoor elements.  Ceremony and cocktail hour inside the Museum transitions into dinner and dancing outside in a gloriously appointed tent in the courtyard.  The convenience of the downtown Saratoga area and picturesque Saratoga State Park make this venue a proven winner.

There is no lack of truly amazing indoor space in the Capital District.  Traditional weddings are proven winners, and Total Events has all of tricks to make them custom.  Chair Cover rentals, specialty linens, personalized monogram, lounge furniture and exceptional accessories will make your next event stand out from all the others.  One of the many benefits of the indoor event is that weather will never get in your way.  The dead of winter and the blazing hot days of summer will never bring you down inside.  No rain, snow or even a hurricane can ruin your plans, and that my friends is a great insurance policy to have.  Also, a vast majority of these venues are associated with hotels, which make getting ready and housing out of town guests a breeze.  Almost every major hotel in the area boasts an impressive ballroom, and assorted singular ballroom facilities in the area partner with them for ease of planning.

Our bread and butter is the tent wedding.  Our inventory of tents can be outfitted from modest to glamorous and everywhere in between.  A tent wedding offers tremendous flexibility and complete customization; it is the "blank slate" of venues for you to do with what you will.  Tented events are particularly fabulous when they are on gorgeous grounds.  Many times our couples want to showcase a beautiful backyard or family estate and bring the tent into the mix.  Even still, we have created some of our most outrageous weddings in parking lots and empty fields which demonstrates that no matter where the tent goes, the inside can be a whole other world.