Afishinado

Looks like one of the two industry trade shows I have a booth at every year (in New Orleans) is going to happen. Booth is long paid for. It’s always been a pretty good venue, I’m also wondering if I roll the dice, how many people will show up... For the cost of transportation, room, etc I could throw it into advertising instead....
At 70 years old, with the risk of getting sick there, on the way there and back, is pretty real to me and especially my wife.
What do you guys think?
If you had a annual trade show to visit in May would you plan on attending?

ucf_motorcycle

Why don’t you get vaccinated and have some peace of mind?

Suprasteve44

What UCF said. Eventually, every single one of us must decide for ourselves the extent to which we will allow the possibility of contracting covid to dictate our lives.

Eye8atoad

Hell no, unless it’s critical to your financial security. Why risk it? Even with the vaccine?

Afishinado

i have been vaccinated. Taking a shot with the downside being sick a day or two is FAR different than bringing my wife Covid..... Almost lost her with it at Thanksgiving BTW

t84a

Well, if you've been vaccinated, according to the experts, you won't get sick (Covid). If you don't think so, you probably shouldn't have gotten vaccinated.
Get your wife vaccinated. You have 3 months.

Edit; I just saw your wife had Covid. She needs only 1 shot, if any.

t84a

Are you serious? When do you personally plan on leaving your house?

OrbitExpress

What kind of freebies are you going to give away?

Eye8atoad

Settle down Skipper. I’ve been flying all over the country during this whole deal, eating out, Keys trips etc. But I’m not 70.
I wear a mask most of the time. Don’t let that trigger you too.

Afishinado

Not critical, and I’m leaning towards not doing it. Wife changed residency to SD, so she won’t be able to get a vaccination until late April when we get back, at the earliest

Big Island Lifer

Is the show still going to happen? I attend 3-4 trade shows a year and I manage our corporate relationships with the show management.
Most have cancelled or are waiting to cancel- again this year. I have one that rescheduled from April to December the others have cancelled or moved to an online version. I have one that is looking at a hybrid model (officially), but the contact told me that they are waiting until a certain timeline that will allow them to get out of their contract with the city/ convention center and allow them to cancel the in person event.
To be honest, I miss the trade show circuit and connecting with customers (I can’t believe I just wrote that). If I have been vaccinated I would have no issue with going and standing in a booth all day.

onokai

My guess and its from info from others that do shows is they are 1/2 of what they used to be. The expenses are the same the sales are 1/2.
At 70 why even think aboiut the risk-get those shots no matter what and wait a year for show to be better attended-so what if you loose the fees long ago paid.

Lifeislarge

I used to do at least one show a month all over the world. The tradeshow "crud" is real even before the rona. I miss them bigly not only for business opportunities but to see friends and travel. What industry? Be happy to work it for you.

aubv

Possibly less competition and the attendees might be hungry to get things done....


I’ll bet there are scores of people who, for fear of Covid, changed plans and subsequently ended up at the wrong place at the wrong time.

rickpcfl

Is it in an industry where people will even be allowed to go? If it is one where the attendees have to register in advance, I'd ask to see a list of people who have recently indicated that they will be attending. I bet it will be down, but if you're in an industry where one or two sales make it all worthwhile then it is something to consider.

I own a small software company and won't be attending any trade shows this summer, but might do one in November depending on what covid cases do. It is a mix of risk and time involved versus reward considering how few people would likely be attending.

flcatcher1

The information in the edit is incorrect. The CDC recommends (as of Feb 10 public statement) that individuals who have had Covid get vaccinated after they no longer meet the criteria requiring that they be isolated. For m-RNA vaccines that means both doses. However they do stipulate, as they have in the past, that individuals who have had Covid may delay receiving the vaccine for several months (generally construed as 90 days, although I do not think the CDC actually stipulated a specific number of days) if they so desired. When this recommendation was initially promulgated the rationale for the allowed delay was that those recovering from Covid were believed to have immunity which would last for at least several months, but which would decline over time. Allowing those individuals to delay their vaccinations would allow others with no immunity to get vaccinated sooner since supply of the vaccine was so limited.
As far as go to the show or not, that is a decision you will have to make. You may want to speak with someone in your local health department or your primary care physician to get some advice. I think you are asking a very good question and one to which an "absolutely" yes or no answer is not appropriate. One other point to take into consideration is how your booth/display may have to be set up should you participate. Likely social distancing will still be recommended, and whether you have to add any protocols to your normal way of displaying in order to disinfect touched objects/surfaces is salient.

AquaWhaler

I did trade shows for 25 years,travelled all over on company dime,made good profits,had some wild times. Hairdressers at trade shows be like crazy..Would I do it this year? Absolutely not, risk reward ratio is not there yet.

Walleye Guy

I never thought trade shows were worth participating in. I guess you have to measure the ROI and risk vs. reward.

Never added up for me when I worked. I think the only ones who makes out is the venue, the union workers who have to set the booths up, and of course restaurants and hotels.

Dockmaster

We have a booth in the Eastec trade show up here in the North East that is always in May. Eastec postponed it to October this year. I heard many shows thru the end of June were either postponed or cancelled.

Rwalker

Show will be cancelled with the lunatic running NOLA....LaToilet