SMA Fight Night Huge Success

Thank you to everyone who came out and supported our event. It was a huge success raising more than $4000 to go toward Madison's care as well as other children with SMA.
I would like to thank our sponsors, Outback Steakhouse, Club KO, M Point Productions LLC, Smokey Bones and www.sofloradio.com.

Weigh In Face Off

The big boys made weight.




And the winner is.....Rich "Frank the Tank" Curran by submission choke.

Fight for S.M.A. DECEMBER 12

Hello Friends & Colleagues,
I wanted to invite you to come watch my Mixed Martial Arts debut at a charity fundraiser we are having for Madison’s Wish.

Come out and support Madison's Wish as we present the "FIGHT FOR S.M.A." Charity Event. This will be a Boxing, Kick Boxing, Grappling & M.M.A. Exhibition.
Watch Dave "The Tree Man" Stewart take on Rich "Frank the Tank" Curran as they battle it out at CLUB KO, Pembroke Pines.
8050 PINES Blvd. 954-432-3939 WWW.CLUBKO.NET
December 12, 2009 Doors open at 6pm, first fight at 7pm.
Tickets are $20 and there is limited seating so please get yours soon.
Sponsorship opportunities are available.

Please visit www.madisonswish.com for more info on Madison and Spinal Muscular Atrophy (S.M.A.)

Please contact me at 954-437-7574 or richardc@expocci.com to get your tickets.

Thank you for your continued support of Madison's Wish and FSMA.

Sincerely,
Rich Curran

Trade Show Contractor Issues

I found this web article and thought I would share.

Trade Show Contractor Issues by Mitch Tarr
A good trade show contractor can make your day. A bad one can ruin your week.

In reality, it's not the contractor or its people that are the issue. It is often how you deal with them that is or becomes the issue.

Before and during a trade show it can be hectic and managing this relationship can be a new or daunting task.

In the larger shows at the major convention centers the event manager will direct you to use their trade show contractor for services.

Often, they are the only place you can receive these services. Take the time to review your exhibiting agreement and know what is allowed in the building and what must go through the trade show contractor.

Here is a sampling of services you may be offered.

Booth rental

Graphics design and signage

Carpet and furnishings

Exhibit transportation and cartage

Set up and break down of booth labor

Daily Cleaning and maintenance

Carpet, furniture and electrical

Utilities and internet connection
You may also see services designated like photography, flowers, catering, computer rentals and other related items.

You are not obligated to use ALL the services offered but some a mandatory and you will just work with it.

Others you have already in-house or may consider the convenience of dealing with the on-site trade show contractor.

You will be more successful if you treat this as a key vendor relationship to manage and not as an adversarial relationship which causes you heartburn.

Remember, contractors are people too, and they won't always be in the mood to handle your heightened level of stress (should you be in that state).

You may get better results with Mrs. Fields cookies than with evil glares!

Trade Show Marketing Tip
From here on in you are reading an excerpt from The World's Most Powerful Trade Show Marketing Guide.

Get a Trade Show Swiss Army Knife

Bring a survival kit with the booth. That means duct tape, paper, pens, phone numbers, spare parts, light bulbs, fasteners, holders, and anything that can be used to solve a last minute breakage problem.

Bring a small office worth of supplies.

Generally you will find that on set up day things don't quite go as planned. Small things break, last minute ideas crop up and you will be in a convention center far from a Staples.

Make sure you also map out where the closest Staples is so you can cab over there on Sunday afternoon and find the missing "insert last minute forgotten item here."

Fishing tackle boxes and tool boxes make good carrying cases for your Trade Show Swiss Army Knife items.

Plan for small annoying missing items and bring a supply with you.

original site: http://www.tradeshow-marketing.com/articles/trade_show_contractor.html


Although this article is brief, it touches on some very important things. If you ever want to discuss more in depth feel free to email me exporich@gmail.com, or call 305-751-1234

Thank you,
Rich

Please be Green !

There are so many reasons to "Go Green". I feel that what ever reason you have is a good one as long as you do something. In case you have been living under a rock, here are some reasons.

Green Corner
Brought to you by the MBCC Sustainable Living Council
Green Tips:
5 MORE Reasons to Recycle
1. Preserves Landfill Space
No one wants to live next door to a landfill. It preserves existing landfill space.
2. Prevents Global Warming .
In 2000, recycling of solid waste prevented the release of 32.9 million metric tons of carbon equivalent (MMTCE, the unit of measure for greenhouse gases) into the air.
3. Reduces Water Pollution
Making goods from recycled materials generates far less water pollution than manufacturing from virgin materials.
4. Protects Wildlife
Using recycled materials reduces the need to damage forests, wetlands, rivers ~.,JI and other places essential to wildlife.
5. Creates New Demand
Recycling and buying recycled products creates demand for more recycled products, decreasing waste and helping our economy

Summer Education

Recently I attended the Exhibition Services & Contractors Association (ESCA) Summer Educational Conference in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico.
"ESCA is dedicated to the advancement of the exhibition, meeting and special events industries. Through the education, information exchange and level of professionalism shared by members and their customers, ESCA promotes cooperation among all areas of the exhibition industry. www.esca.org."
I have a been a member and attending their conferences for 9 years and this was truly another great conference. From education to networking and down to the wonderful resort it was top notch.
On Sunday, I flew in early and checked in with enough time to squeeze in a round of golf before the the opening reception. There is something to be said about a golf course at the base of a rain forest. The views are wonderful but you can almost guarantee a wet & sloppy round. The opening reception was good time catching up with old friends and making new ones.
Monday morning came early with the Keynote Opening Session
David Riveness – The Corporate Jester - "Today, more than ever, individuals are searching for ways to contribute positively to organizational
leadership, culture and behavior. They look for insight into organizational truth as well as an understanding of how to interact with others to bring about positive impact." David was an engaging speaker and had a really good message about how little information makes it up the line to upper management.
Next session was with John S. Parke - Leadership Synergies, LLC specializes in sales strategy consulting, sales training, and sales audits. Before forming Leadership Synergies, John Parke worked for Marriott International for more than 18 years, most recently as Vice President of the Global Account Sales Organization. In that capacity, he was responsible for overseeing more than 200 senior sales executives and $1.3 billion of annual revenues. Under Mr. Parke's leadership, the Marriott sales force was rated Number 1 by Sales & Marketing Magazine for three consecutive years.
Besides the ever important relationship building and maintenance, John discusses the science behind strategic account management. He also explains how to evaluate your sales staffing ratios. It is always great to be able to put math behind the value of your sales force and your market share.
Tuesdays sessions began with a panel of speakers that were all Show Managers and it was interesting to hear their point of view on the contractor/ show manager relationship and their advice on how to work better with your customers. The next session had a similar format but instead of show managers, it was facility managers. They discussed issues such as venue/contractor partnerships, security, and Green innovations.
Then it was off to the golf tournament. The Rio Mar River Course was the home of the ESCA Golf Tournament this year. It was is great condition and the sun was out long enough that day to dry out some of the sloppiness. I definitely wasn't on my "A" game but it was still a good time and we finished at 66 (-6) and the winning team was 64.

Wednesday's sessions were good because they discussed all the updates and projects that ESCA has in the works. The Worker Identification System aka WIS program is a photo identification badge will be issued to all workers of ESCA member companies and will be linked to a secure nationwide labor database maintained by ESCA and its’ partner(s) in the system. The aim of the program is two-fold ……(1) streamline access to venues across the country and (2) provide a time-keeping function for ESCA member companies that want to utilize this feature of the system. The session was closed with a state of the industry address by industry leaders.
That evening was the closing reception that was held in a pavilion literally in the rain forest. Very unique venue, fantastic food and great entertainment.
After the conference, I stayed a few extra days with my wife and good friends to enjoy the tourist attractions and the scenery. We hiked down through the rain forest to the waterfalls and went night kayaking to the bio-luminescent waters. Although it was a great time, I don't recommend doing them in the same day because boy was I sore the next morning. We squeezed in one more round of golf and spent the day in old San Juan before returning home.

My World Series of Golf Experience

The World Series of Golf (WSOG) is a high stakes game that combines gambling techniques of poker and the sport of golf. The greatest part of the WSOG is that it is literally any golfers game to win.
My WSOG experience began a year ago when I caught some coverage of the 2008 second round on tv. I called my buddy Keith and said "you can do this". Keith and I have been golfing together for about 16 years and I felt his game is solid enough to do some damage at this competition. We also run an annual golf tournament together, Madison's Wish Charity Golf Tournament (www.madisonswish.com), and we thought it would be a great opportunity to gain more exposure for our cause. Keith sent in his application and the next thing we knew, he was 1 of 125 golfers selected to play and I was to be his caddy/financial advisor.
We got busy on a game plan as to how we were going to win this thing. Keith flew out for a few practice rounds and played the course well and beat the competitors he was paired up with.
Then came tournament time. We gathered up the peanut gallery, decked out in Madison's Wish shirts and hats, and flew out to Las Vegas. It was definitely more than just a golf outing. From the arrival at the Mirage seeing the big WSOG window display in the lobby to the check in at the hospitality room, it was all around first class. The course, Paiute, was in immaculate condition and the staff made everything perfect.
Before anything kicked off there was a player/caddy meeting to go over the rules and regs ran by the President & Founder of the WSOG, Terry Leiweke. Terry really made it great for everyone from the high roller to the average Joe.
Following the meeting was the Opening Reception White Party. This was by far one of the coolest parties because the venue was the Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat. While there was music playing, drinks flowing and great food we were watching a dolphin show. I was sipping my Capt & Coke while looking into the eyes of a White Tiger. All the competitors are cool people and even though they would be slugging it out for the $300k the very next day they all get along great.
On the opening day we were lucky enough to get the 11:15am tee time. This would give us plenty of time to get warmed up after a decent nights sleep (kind of). Keith was dead on accurate with his chipping. His putting was looking solid and his swing was smooth and consistent. WE WERE READY!!!!!So we thought.


As we approached the tee box for our group's time the tension built up. There were cameras and people all around. The pres kept yelling "This is for HD baby" which did not help the nerves. Keith wanted to do a dedication trick shot off the first tee to try to get the nerves out. That didn't go so well, but it was better than shanking a legitimate drive. There was no possible way to prepare for this format of play unless you have played it before. There would be times that you won't swing a club for 20 minutes.
It was definitely a long and tough day. Keith did, however, win 2 holes and split another one. This kept him in until the 16th hole. Looking across the field of players and their scores, lasting until the 16th hole was not too shabby. When he stuck the green on the par 3, this took a huge amount of pressure off and he drained a 35 foot putt. It really is amazing what a crowd of people and TV cameras can do to your mind (and your golf game). All in all, I was very proud of my friend for accepting this challenge and honored to be his caddy and part of this awesome event.
To read more about the results of the tournament go to http://www.worldseriesofgolf.com/default.aspx.
I feel that the experience of doing it once has prepared Keith and he will really make a bang at next year's tournament.

Golf Season

In addition to my life of trade shows I also have a love of playing golf. Not that I am any good, but I will try to squeeze in a round whenever possible. I don't quite know what it is about the game because to be quite honest it will frustrate the heck out of me to the point of wanting to give it up. Then there is that one great shot that keeps me coming back for more.
Since I know the game pretty well and I have played in many tournaments/ scrambles I decided to translate this experience into a fundraiser. My neice, Madison, was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder called Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). My sister's family now has an unbelievable amount of medical expenses in order to keep Madison's quality of life good. After great success last year, we are now having our 2nd Annual Madison's Wish Charity Golf Tournamet on May 16. Please go to www.madisonswish.com to learn more about Madison and SMA. You can also download info for the golf tournament as well.
My best friend Keith is the co-director of the golf tournament. Since we decided that planning and executing a charity golf tournament wasn't difficult enough, Keith has been selected to play in the World Series of Golf http://www.worldseriesofgolf.com. This is a nationally televised event that will be played the week of Madison's Wish Golf Tournament. Who else should be his caddy except his partner in crime (me). We must be out of our minds! I guess this will be a true test of our resilience.
In any case, please check out the World Series of Golf and support/ root for Keith and I when we are in Las Vegas. We will be using this opportunity to promote Madison's Wish and awareness of SMA. If you are in the South Florida area, we would love to see you at our golf tournament!

Managing vs. Babysitting

I am the father of 3 year old twin boys & I am the General Manager of about 50 people. Sometimes I feel as though I am saying the same things to both.
Here are some examples:
Children vs. Employees
Stop whining / Stop whining
Finish your chores / Finish the project
Leave your brother alone / Stop harassing "Bob"
Change your clothes / Dress appropriately

Then there are the motivational words for children and employees.
Children vs. Employees
Good job, buddy / Good job, Bob
I'm so proud of you / You made the company proud
What a beautiful picture / That report was great

Apparently giving "positive reinforcement" to your kids is the same as "employee motivation". Obviously the pay-off is that you will have well adjusted kids and happier employees, but the irony is that both sides get offended if they are compared. The wife says the family is not employees and boy do the employees get upset when you tell them they are acting like a bunch of children.

It is funny how my wife has to remind me that I am not the GM at home, but it sure seems like I have to be a dad at work. I guess through time (maybe therapy) I will be able to separate the two.

I am sure you are bombarded with email marketing on education and employee motivation so I am not going to give you references, but they do work! It also helps to remind you not just how to do it, but to actually go out and give your employees the little motivational compliments they crave.
As for your children, there are numerous articles on positive reinforcement for your kids in Parenting Magazine.

Here is a fun little experiment for all you managers out there (or those of you who disagree with my comparison). Get a copy of a current Parenting magazine and read the tips on positive reinforcement or motivation. Then come in to work and apply the methods toward your employees and I would bet that they respond the same way (in a good way) the article said your kids should.

Good luck!

Trade Show Diet

For those of you who have lived like a "roadie" the way us people in the events industry do, you can understand where I am coming from. Why does it seem that I am always saying "as soon as I get home its back to eating healthy". Will that day ever come? Let's dive into a typical day of eating while producing a trade show at a convention center.

6:30 am - breakfast @ hotel coffee shop - large coffee, danish or bagel & cream cheese
Mid morning Diet Pepsi
Noon - Fast food near by OR overpriced turkey sandwich from the stands that are set up for move in. And of course the Diet Pepsi.
4:00 pm - feeling ravenous so I grab a candy bar to hold me over until dinner and can't forget to wash it down with Diet Pepsi.
7:30 pm - dinner @ restaurant in hotel lobby - probably over eat since this is your first decent meal of the day and wash it down with a few beers or perhaps a Captain Morgan and you guessed it Diet Pepsi.

We constantly abuse our bodies outside and inside (looking at what I ingested above) and no one will will ever commend you for that. Which is OK, because you love your job.
I guess we take the bad with the good, and looking at the trade show diet, that is definitely bad.

Now what to do. For those of you who just read this and got a chuckle because you live it, great! If any of you would like some tips on how to eat healthier here are a few links. Good luck!

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,509574,00.html

http://www.completetraveldiet.com/

As for me, "as soon as I get home its back to eating healthy".

About Me

I have been in this crazy business of Trade Shows & Conventions for a it seems lifetime already. You see, I am a 2nd generation trade show contractor. This means from the time I was a toddler I was walking the show floor and traveling the country.

Born and raised in South Florida, I then ventured out to see the world. I joined the United States Marine Corps at 18. I was a jet engine mechanic on the FA-18 Hornet. This was a very exciting time for me because I was able to take a boat trip (USS Enterprise) to the Mediterranean Sea and visits lots of countries in Europe and Asia.

After my 4 years, my heart brought me back home to follow in my father's footsteps. Once I got out on the show floor producing trade shows I was hooked. I love to learn a little about everything, so where better to do it then being a part of any and every industry there is.

Why do I love it? Good question. I love the stress of coordinating so many things and having it all come together rapidly in front of your face. I love when I am challenged to fix a problem when everyone thinks all hope is lost.

I am currently the General Manager of EXPO Convention Contractors, Inc. We are a family-owned and operated company small enough to be personable yet large enough to be exceptional. With over 50 employees in-house at all times, including a highly experienced management and sales team, we are available to service shows throughout the nation. We pride ourselves on exceptional service and our "can do" attitude.

Please come see what we can do by stopping by http://www.expocci.com/

My goal with my blog is to entertain you through the eyes of someone who loves what they do. Even if it is as chaotic as the convention & trade show industry.