Conventions and Trade Shows: Prices May Vary
I was talking to some conference organizers last night in Chicago where I will be speaking this year. I was interested in their planning and how things were going with the event. They had just signed a contract with a place and talked about its location and such on their conference blog. They were indicating to me how they were unaware of the hidden costs of conferences and since this was their first try at scheduling and running a conference they were talking about their shock of the prices.
I believe this to be somewhat like getting your first car. I was able to purchase an old clunker car when I turned 16. I can still remember the excitement I had of the prospect of having something that was mine. I was king of the world! Then the reality of the other hidden things creeped in and ruined the moment. Things like insurance, oil and gas costs, the cost of tires and all the other things that you don’t think of when you become a first time car buyer.
The conventions location where you hold your event may be quoting prices that you find exciting. They turn out to be less than you imagined. Wow! The excitement sets in. Then the other realities set in quickly. In the case of the event planners I was speaking with, they were quickly set back by the costs of catering, equipment, and many other hidden fees that go along with the event’s location.
Tags: Trade shows, Conferences, Conventions, Event Planning, Vendors or and Suppliers
I cannot agree with you more – the hidden costs of holding a conference and other realities often do come as a real shock. I recently came across a company though, that seems worth a mention. http://www.marketingscoop.com/tradeshowblogs.htm
They provide hardware and software that helps you to engage your clients in things like audience polls and games. They seem like a great way to make the expense of holding a conference worth it.