Dos and Don’ts for GSX

This time last year, I wrote about how GSX 2021 was my first trade show ever. I’ve been to a few more since then, and while I won’t pretend that a year and a half has turned me into a grizzled industry veteran, I will say that my handful of experiences has given me a much better idea of what to expect.

As GSX 2022 kicks into gear, here are a handful of tips to make the most of your trade show experience:

  • Make an itinerary: It’s tough to come up with a balance between structured and unstructured time. Last year, as a newbie, I came into the show with maybe 2 or 3 hard, pre-scheduled appointments on my schedule. That left me with a lot of time to do laps around the show floor, weaving in and out of aisles, picking relevant-looking booths at random. I got a feel for the show and got my sea legs, but by the end of the day, my feet hurt and I didn’t feel like I’d accomplished much. This time around, I wouldn’t say my schedule is jam-packed, but I definitely have places to be and people to meet. And far from dreading the busyness, I’m glad I have a little more going on than a seven-hour walking tour of the expo.
  • Leave time to wander: I realize that this directly contradicts the above point. But in a gathering this large, I think it’s important to leave time to explore the unknown. Maybe a company name or their booth setup catches your attention; maybe they have a particularly enticing pile of freebies that attracts your attention. I will say that in the last year, I’ve made a handful of continuing business relationships that started with me passing by a booth and noticing a particularly cool-looking T-shirt, or USB drive, or stress ball. Leave time for new experiences, and for the things you don’t know that you don’t know.
  • Bring a water bottle and comfortable shoes: Trade shows do require a certain level of physical exertion; my step count is exponentially higher during work events than on an average day working from home. During conferences, I’ve noticed more than a handful of people decked out in business suits and tennis shoes. At the very least, a pair of shoe inserts goes a long, long way. Similarly, on my last couple trips, I’ve brought my 32-oz. water bottle along, and it’s really handy being able to refill it as I pass by a water fountain—and it’s saved me a ton of money (or at least the hassle of saving receipts & filing an expense report) on event refreshments.

Travel safe, and we’ll see you in Atlanta!

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning and Campus Security and Life Safety. He can be reached at MJones@1105media.com

Featured

  • 12 Commercial Crime Sites to Do Your Research

    12 Commercial Crime Sites to Do Your Research

    Understanding crime statistics in your industry and area is crucial for making important decisions about your security budget. With so much information out there, how can you know which statistics to trust? Read Now

  • Boosting Safety and Efficiency

    Boosting Safety and Efficiency

    In alignment with the state of Mississippi’s mission of “Empowering Mississippi citizens to stay connected and engaged with their government,” Salient's CompleteView VMS is being installed throughout more than 150 state boards, commissions and agencies in order to ensure safety for thousands of constituents who access state services daily. Read Now

  • Live From GSX: Post-Show Review

    Live From GSX: Post-Show Review

    This year’s Live From GSX program was a rousing success! Again, we’d like to thank our partners, and IPVideo, for working with us and letting us broadcast their solutions to the industry. You can follow our Live From GSX 2023 page to keep up with post-show developments and announcements. And if you’re interested in working with us in 2024, please don’t hesitate to ask about our Live From programs for ISC West in March or next year’s GSX. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • GSX
  • People Say the Funniest Things

    People Say the Funniest Things

    By all accounts, GSX version 2023 was completely successful. Apparently, there were plenty of mix-ups with the airlines and getting aircraft from the East Coast into Big D. I am all ears when I am in a gathering of people. You never know when a nugget of information might flip out. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • GSX

Featured Cybersecurity

Webinars

New Products

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area. 3

  • EasyGate SPT and SPD

    EasyGate SPT SPD

    Security solutions do not have to be ordinary, let alone unattractive. Having renewed their best-selling speed gates, Cominfo has once again demonstrated their Art of Security philosophy in practice — and confirmed their position as an industry-leading manufacturers of premium speed gates and turnstiles. 3

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure. 3