3 posts tagged “tradeshows”

Hi there. On the tradeshow road, this week San Antonio, next week DC, the week after that back in San Antonio and then the folllowing week in Vegas.

If I write strange things during this time, or disappear for days at a time...don't be alarmed. Random thoughts...

1. San Antonio might have the worst mexican food I've ever had. Wondering how that can possibly be. I also feel the Riverwalk is wildly, wildly overrated. There, I said it. Nothing against the town, really. Just get me the frack out of here.
2. I miss my sister. So badly I may have to do a drive by visit to Los Angeles to squeeze her, sit on a beach and look at the side of her face.
3. I also missed Adult Swim. I watched it last night until I feel asleep in my frigid hotel room. Not sure if it was my intoxication or just having been away from it for so long that made me so nostalgic. Each time I woke from my stupor sleep I found myself laughing out loud.
   
4. For those of you who have nudged me to do the etsy thing...it commences this weekend, stay tuned.
5. I'm going to write a short story called The Expo. I may save it for NaNoWriMo next month. Details on that later.
6. I love Stewie. I mean, I really do.

The outrages I have suffered today will not soon be forgotten!

I miss this space. Be back just as soon as I can.

So as you may recall, I was in Santa Clara this week for a tradeshow. I bitched about SJC for a wee bit on my first day in the area, but other than that, I had precious little time to hang out with all that is Vox. I mean to tell you, I have a serious addiction going on here. But we'll get to that in a moment.

I have some family in the San Jose area, so this tradeshow meant getting a chance to hang out with my Uncle and some cousins while prepping for the tradeshow in neighboring Santa Clara. I haven't been in that area in nearly five years, so I was eager to catch up, and one thing I love about family is that the more things change, the more they stay the same. Being able to pick up precisely where you left off without a hitch is always good. My cousin A, is a serious family historian, so I got to see some old pictures of us way back when. Ever noticed how as you age, and grow more clear about who you truly are - you can see SO much more in your face as a child then just the smile, eyes and crazy outfits? That's surreal.

So what was good? A break away from all the evolution that's been available to me in Austin. My uncles' hospitality, and my cousins and their humor. The nice, neat proximity to the show, to Patty's and to all the places I needed to frequent in between. The way the clouds and the sky seems to be right at your fingertips nearly everywhere you go in the bay area.

The flight in, losing myself in thoughts over snow capped mountains and a cold window pane against my forehead (I will forever be a child in that way). The new friends I always seem to make wherever these travels take me. Yes...[that was all good].

Tradeshow wasn't highly trafficked, but it gave me the chance to meet some additional contacts that may be critical to the growth of our business. The folks at the neighboring booths were awesome, so we all passed the loads of slow time cracking jokes, exchanging schwag and business cards. Sometimes I forget while working virtually, how much I miss the comraderie of professional peers. That combined with enough leads to at least justify the expense of the event, is enough to get tagged...for me.

What was awesome? *insert cheese grin here* If you visited Patty, Deb, Ben, Laurel then you have already seen some pictures and heard about the fun. I was convinced I would get lost, be terribly tired or worse yet, required to stay at the show longer then  I expected. But everything fell into place, as events destined to happen usually do...and I made it to Patty's place for some of the MOST delicious treats (Patty: I need to know the names of those cheeses, and the peppers stuffed with Feta, I forgot to get them from you!!!), awesome company and some of the cutest kitties I've ever encountered (you too Meisha, hehehe).

Not to mention the kitchen gadgetry...but that's another post for another time. Ever go somewhere and feel ridiculously at home the moment you walk through the doors? Well, Patty masters that. When I arrived to warm hugs and big grins, I was ready to stay...for longer then that cursed itinerary of mine would allow.

Awesome? Please...I can't do it justice. Patty's hospitality and frightening ability to intuit just what your mind, tummy and taste buds are searching for. Deb's ability to see through to the precious little I don't share here about what goes on beneath the surface of me - and for us to connect on it after a hug? Ben's impeccable sense of timing and an appreciation for some of those other little residuals I choose not to address out loud. (PS...there's a post coming once I've had a chance to find the appropriate words for it...but I know you guys know what I'm getting at..)

Laurel and Stacy, didn't it feel like we've all known each other a bit longer then we actually have? I tell you...I'm astounded. There truly is just something about vox. Not sure all the words in the world could ever explain it.  And Meisha?  Come ON!!!!! How does it get any more memorable than that?

I took none of these great pictures (that you're likely already seen, lmao). Thanks to Ben and Patty and Annabelle for capturing the priceless moments. I raise my glass and look forward to many more.

But of course, before I get back to a sea of out of office emails and things to do...let me tell you about the ugly. Yes...there was ugly. It was warmer in Austin then it was in Cali. I must've brought the bad weather with me. A torrent of rain on Thursday morning killed any chance we had for good attendance on the final day of the show. We wrapped up our booth early and headed to the land of the lost airport nearly three hours early. So...you may ask what tired expositioners do at the end of a tradeshow with hours to spare in a busted up airport?

You drink. And you drink. And you drink. Until the airport feels cozy and quaint, until you believe you will turn every lead you acquired into a sale, until 3 hours turns into ten minutes to get to your departure gate. Do I need to tell you where this is headed? Three hours later, RPM is stewed on gin and tonics (why gin? I'm still trying to find the answer to this question), sitting on a full American flight back to ATX sitting beside a young mother and her rambunctious, refuses to sleep ten month old with the hardest little baby shoes I've ever seen been kicked by in my life. Armed with the sippy cup from hell finding its way to my lap, I wafted between green sleep (hello quease) and nasty eye rolls tossed in the general direction of the little darling who used me as a sippy cup rest and kickboard for a three and half hour flight. When did she fall asleep? While we waited to de-plane after landing, naturally.

I got off the plane, found the restroom...and uh...got reacquainted with the six or so gin and tonics consummed. I want to believe that's all I had. I would have further discussions with these cursed beverages once I got in the house. Mecca could barely hide her disgust. I managed to dial a friend in South Carolina who (hanceforth be referred to as K) was waiting up to know I made it home. He was very supportive as he stifled laughter very poorly. Even pickled I have to say, he has a way about him.

I think I'm gonna like him. Nothing ugly about that. But that's another story for another day.

Hello hello, sending greetings from chilly, overcast Santa Clara, CA. 

So I'm here for a tradeshow and sitting in a Starbucks currently being courted interrupted by two odd little gentleman who want to know the details of what I'm doing, if I'm married and who purchased my laptop for me. Mmmm...kay. Getting weird.

I have some random thoughts I will share, because trips of this nature make it very hard for me to piece together anything too heady and spiritual. It's kinda like trying to center your chi in the midst of the running of the bulls. Nope sorry folks, it's work RPM today and so I must rant. San Jose International...you need work.

The rental car facility is located practically in another country, and with shuttles that run every twenty minutes or so, the line of people waiting for transportation TO the rental facility looked like a line for a rock concert. Way too long, way too sprawling for my schedule. Not to mention all the signs that tell you where to go for the rental shuttles, are outside of the airport. All of the information counters....have surprisingly little information, and there weren't any kiosks to provide any assistance either. GUH-reat. Baggage Claim might as well be  the Bermuda Triangle. Wander in, good luck wandering back out.

25 minutes later, I arrive at the car rental facility and pick up my rental and head out into the darkness to find my family amid the mountains, the freeways and the poorly marked little side streets of San Jose. By the time I got in, I was tired and ready for a glass or two of Shiraz and some peaceful time.

Today is registration day for the tradeshow, and I'm realizing I've got to get myself back in the East coast rhythm of doing business. Ironic, considering I'm on the opposite coast, but these tradeshows require focus, attention, planning and the ability to adapt as you get a feel for traffic flow. After a long haitus of creative planning, dreaming, piecing together an image, the brutal side of the job has reared back with a vengeance. It will be this way on through October, which means days and hours will fly and before you know it...I'll look up and another year will be gone.

All hail the show season.

On a seriously bright and cheery note, I'm catching up with some voxers tomorrow night after the tradeshow and I am really looking forward to it! I'm sure there will be a photo oportunity or two, and hugs a plenty. That's going to be the best shot of "glee" medicine I've seen in about a month - so you know there will be a post about that.

*temporarily distracted by the beautiful, tall brown man that's waiting in line for his coffee. Does silly little smile, laugh thing, then returns to post*

Where was I?

Oh yes, so tomorrow will be magically voxalicious. Which I need, but yesterday I experienced melancholia tugging at my hair. And I really don't want or need that.