Tammi's World

Trade Show - Day 2

Tired. Ohhh sooo tired.

But never bored. Oh no. Never bored.

Let's see - today I got to play enforcer, guard, spy, policeman and cheerleader.

I'll try to explain.

First - let me just say, thank GOODNESS it was a smaller crowd today and I was not assulted by the "fashion divas" I saw yesterday. I don't think my stomach could have handled it.

Anyway - it started right out of the gate. Literally. I arrived at a bit before 9 this morning. The show opens at 9 on the dot. It's a long walk from the parking garage, added to my 1 1/2 drive I had plenty of time to brace myself.

As I approach the doors, working my way through the mob, IT happens. The crowd surged. Literally. I was almost knocked off my feet. The guard at the door was watching my face and had to turn away. He was laughing THAT hard. It was as if I were standing in the middle of a herd of cows and someone delivered hay. Seriously. I've been in the position before and it was EXACTLY the same. I couldn't believe anyone was that anxious to get in there.

Anyway - I get to the booth and my boss pulls me aside. Tells me to make sure I keep an eye on any visitors we have. Now, I have to explain. This show is not really our venue. It's mostly scrapbookers and real crafty folks. But, it's local for us so we always go. But what does happen is that folks from the Chinese factories come, check out our stuff and then rip off our designs. Seriously. So my job was to chase them off.

I did.

It was fun.

Next, we have more problems with folks cutting through the booth - knocking everything off/over/out. So - again, I'm stationed at the corner to "encourage them to walk around".

I did.

It was fun.

At 4:00 every day there is a give away at the booth across from us. It just so happens I was on the phone with Army Wife at this exact time. I calculated there was probably 50 people standing there. I was later told it was closer to 100.

Anyway - they give away "birthday cake" (have no idea why it's birthday cake, but anyway) and raffle off cropper scissors. Little plastic scissors.

As the screams echo throughout the convention center, AW asks what the hell is going on. I tell her, it's a give away.

AW: what are they giving away? A trip to Burmuda?
Tammi: No, plastic cropping scissors.
AW: No F'in way.

Then she breaks out in hysterical laughter.

It really was beyond all reason the excitment created by giving away a $2 item. And folks were begging us for free stuff.

We had little buttons.

They were ugly.

They took them all anyway.

Go figure.

The day ended with an uneventful drive home (thank GOODNESS) and a take out pizza from Fritz's and a really really good Capt'n and Diet. I mean really good Capt'n and Diet. Exactly what the doctor ordered.

Anyway - that was day 2. Tomorrow - more of the same PLUS the added excitment of tearing the booth down.

I can hardly contain myself.

Good night.................

Posted by Tammi at July 22, 2006 07:55 PM | TrackBack