, which collapsed under the onslaught. The pillar supported the ceiling grid, onto which the lighting was fixed and the whole lot came down on top of Dave and a number of people on the stand.

After the crash the hall fell silent. The first sound was Dave letting forth an explosive profanity that seemed to echo around the Hall. Then the c

Let me illustrate my point with a true story….

To set the scene, imagine the Main Hall at a successful Trade Show. There is that hum in the air that signifies lots of visitors talking business with lots of stallholders.

At a Trade Show everyone knows everyone else. They’re all in the same market and many are friends of long standing.

Our culprit is the CEO of one of the bigger players in the industry. Let’s call him Dave.

Dave’s company had built a large opulent stand and business was brisk. Dave had a bar built into his stand and rented a couple of plush leather Chesterfields, for him to entertain his guests in style and comfort.

On the last day of the show Dave was feeling particularly gregarious, helped along no doubt, by the large amount of single malt he’d consumed. He was holding court in front of some of the most esteemed figures in the industry and telling a long tale involving animated and exaggerated arm movements.

At this point alcohol overwhelmed his sense of balanced and he began a slow 45 degree sideways lurch across the stand and the neighboring walkway (still clutching his Scotch).

His fall was almost arrested by a vertical glass display case on a rivals stand opposite. The case slowly toppled backwards with Dave almost astride it. In direct line with his flight path was an Octonorm pillar, which collapsed under the onslaught. The pillar supported the ceiling grid, onto which the lighting was fixed and the whole lot came down on top of Dave and a number of people on the stand.

After the crash the hall fell silent. The first sound was Dave letting forth an explosive profanity that seemed to echo around the Hall. Then the c

nding.

Our culprit is the CEO of one of the bigger players in the industry. Let’s call him Dave.

Dave’s company had built a large opulent stand and business was brisk. Dave had a bar built into his stand and rented a couple of plush leather Chesterfields, for him to entertain his guests in style and comfort.

On the last day of the show Dave was feeling particularly gregarious, helped along no doubt, by the large amount of single malt he’d consumed. He was holding court in front of some of the most esteemed figures in the industry and telling a long tale involving animated and exaggerated arm movements.

At this point alcohol overwhelmed his sense of balanced and he began a slow 45 degree sideways lurch across the stand and the neighboring walkway (still clutching his Scotch).

His fall was almost arrested by a vertical glass display case on a rivals stand opposite. The case slowly toppled backwards with Dave almost astride it. In direct line with his flight path was an Octonorm pillar, which collapsed under the onslaught. The pillar supported the ceiling grid, onto which the lighting was fixed and the whole lot came down on top of Dave and a number of people on the stand.

After the crash the hall fell silent. The first sound was Dave letting forth an explosive profanity that seemed to echo around the Hall. Then the c

st day of the show Dave was feeling particularly gregarious, helped along no doubt, by the large amount of single malt he’d consumed. He was holding court in front of some of the most esteemed figures in the industry and telling a long tale involving animated and exaggerated arm movements.

At this point alcohol overwhelmed his sense of balanced and he began a slow 45 degree sideways lurch across the stand and the neighboring walkway (still clutching his Scotch).

His fall was almost arrested by a vertical glass display case on a rivals stand opposite. The case slowly toppled backwards with Dave almost astride it. In direct line with his flight path was an Octonorm pillar, which collapsed under the onslaught. The pillar supported the ceiling grid, onto which the lighting was fixed and the whole lot came down on top of Dave and a number of people on the stand.

After the crash the hall fell silent. The first sound was Dave letting forth an explosive profanity that seemed to echo around the Hall. Then the c

alanced and he began a slow 45 degree sideways lurch across the stand and the neighboring walkway (still clutching his Scotch).

His fall was almost arrested by a vertical glass display case on a rivals stand opposite. The case slowly toppled backwards with Dave almost astride it. In direct line with his flight path was an Octonorm pillar, which collapsed under the onslaught. The pillar supported the ceiling grid, onto which the lighting was fixed and the whole lot came down on top of Dave and a number of people on the stand.

After the crash the hall fell silent. The first sound was Dave letting forth an explosive profanity that seemed to echo around the Hall. Then the c

, which collapsed under the onslaught. The pillar supported the ceiling grid, onto which the lighting was fixed and the whole lot came down on top of Dave and a number of people on the stand.

After the crash the hall fell silent. The first sound was Dave letting forth an explosive profanity that seemed to echo around the Hall. Then the cheering started….

The Moral Of The Story

At Trade Shows people behave differently to they do at work. They tend to be more relaxed and off guard. If you were able to get Colonel Saunders to give you his recipe… it would be at a Trade Show.

So if your CEO is like Dave (and many are) you must find a way of keeping him quiet, both for the sake of your Company’s reputation and your neighbors stand.