What happens at expos, stays at expos.

I have been working at expos, otherwise known as trade shows, for a long time as an exhibitor. These shows are very long and boring. Exhibitors have to entertain themselves somehow. Pitching their products to attendees just doesn’t cut it. Therefore, they usually walk around and talk to other exhibitors, which are called neighbors. There is always a motive to this. And it is not to network.  

  

Basically, anything goes-- drinking, flirting, exchanging numbers, taking pictures, and being touchy feely. At one show, some exhibitors from Peru wanted the Disbeliever (also my co-worker) and I to take a table. They wanted to hang out with us afterwards to show them around NYC and probably hoped to hook up as well. They took a picture with us. One of them went to kiss me on the cheek, but he moved his face so I ended up kissing his lips! Then he smacked my butt. I guess the social norms of foreigners are less conservative than in America! I like it. :) He texted the Disbeliever to send him my phone number. But I am not calling Peru!

The following steps are the norms in the exhibitor world.

1. Scouting. Exhibitors walk around on Friday (the first day of the show) to meet potential party-goers/hook-ups for the after-party on Saturday night at the hotel that a majority of them stay. They do the professional handshake, introduce themselves, and talk about their products.

2. You help me, I help you. Exhibitors do a friendly exchange of helping each other out by filling out entry forms or to get on mailing lists. Most of them they get commission.

3. Visiting neighbors. Exhibitors visit their neighbors and then come back to them numerous times to build some rapport in order to not sound like a creeper. The more an exhibitor comes back, the greater the chance that he will ask you to join the party on Saturday night at their hotel.

4. Exchange phone numbers. There are many ways exhibitors exchange phone numbers, but most of the time it is by filling out a lead. The phone numbers are not used for networking. It is a disguise. They are really used to initiate hang outs or to even hookup.

5. The hotel party. Many exhibitors stay at a nearby hotel and there is always a crazy party Saturday after the show. Only the elite get invited. In other words, if you are hook-up material, you will be on the VIP guest list.

Consider this example that illustrates steps one through five.

An exhibitor walked by to check out my booth, with a clipboard in his hand (step 1). He introduced himself to me and asked about my product. Then I asked what he is promoting. He works for a windows and siding company and asked me if I own a home. He was trying to get me to sign up, but I do not own a home (step 2). However, I said that I am moving. It so happens that we are both moving to the same area. He is looking for a roommate and asked if I’d be interested in joining him. He made it very clear that he has no intentions of hooking up with me. In fact, he repeated that numerous times. Yet he made some insinuations and dared me to makeout with him behind the curtains! He claims that he has lived with females before and has not hooked up with them. I said that I was interested, so we exchanged numbers (step 4). If anything, this would be good blog material.

  He came back to my booth numerous times to get people to sign up (this means I am a good candidate to hang out/sleep with-- see step 3). He was definitely showing off. He is very persuasive and a good scammer, which are red flags when it comes to dating. He also does not take "no" for an answer and was very pushy, which is annoying. I was not impressed.

He texted me a few times after work and asked me out for drinks (step 5 equivalent of getting invited to the hotel party). I know bars are the typical social gathering, but I am not fond of having first meetings at loud places where mental impairment is involved. If I am going to live with this guy, I want to know how he is sober, in daylight, and while I am sober too, of course. I think that he is full of crap about the not hooking up thing. I know that drinking would make him less nervous, but having the first hangout at a bar sets the stage for partying. I do not want to live in a frat house.

Granted, he is attractive, funny, and is not an elder (I always attract old men and I hate it, but that is for another blog). I really do not feel comfortable moving in with a guy and other people that I do not know anyway. Sharing a house with others would be easy on my pockets, but not on my sanity.



Keepin' it real,
    Realist