Tradeshow silliness
May 1st, 2008 by Benjamin KuoColin Stewart over at the OC Register has an amusing post this morning about D-Link (and OC firm) using booth babes at Interop. Having gone to more than my share of trade shows, I can tell you that (for journalists, and for real buyers) having a booth babe isn’t all that useful.
Typical conversation I have had at a trade show booth:
Me: “Hi, I’m trying to get information about your products. What can you tell me about what you do?”
Booth babe: “Uhh, I don’t really know anything about that. Do you want a pen?”
Me: “Actually, I’m really interested in writing an article about your company, I think you’ve got some interesting products. Do you have anyone here who does know something about your products?”
Booth babe: “Well, actually, I have no idea. I just got a call from my agency this morning who told me to show up to this trade show. I don’t actually know who is in charge here.”
Me: “Does anyone here know who I could talk to — maybe a marketing person or their PR folks?”
Booth babe: (calling over to her equally bubbly and well endowed friend): “Jill, do you have any idea who is in charge of the booth?”
(other booth babe pauses from fending off sex-starved IT geek hitting on her) “Umm, I don’t have any idea.”
Me: “Do you actually have any idea what this company’s equipment does?”
Booth babe (laughs): “I don’t even have a computer, or even know how to turn one on!”
Me: “Uh, thanks…”
May 5th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
I recall being at a trade show and a crusty old guy approached me and barked, “Do you actually know something about this product or are you just here to look good?”
It gave me great delight to inform him that not only did I know a lot about the product (GoldMine Software), but I was also on the board of directors and co-owner.
Great post, Ben!
May 5th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Brenda, thanks for the comment! I think (most) companies are a bit more progressive nowadays…