by Chris Kappes
As experience creators, we’re often “in” our own experiences. I’ve had my share of wacky ones after three-plus decades working at leading event agencies. While a storyteller, I can’t make these experiences up and share them below reminiscing with a smile, curled lip, clinched teeth, gasp, and amazement. Come along.
ROPE DOESN’T CUT IT.
At the Atlantic City Coliseum (now torn down), the APPA show was installing, and I’m helping clients finalize their exhibits late into the evening. Little did I know that a neighboring exhibit backing up to one of my client’s exhibits tied a rope to a closet door. Unaware of this, I open the closet door, hear a snap and LOUD kaboom. The exhibit behind us, merchandised to the hilt, crashes to the floor, tools and products everywhere. The next morning is not a happy one when the exhibitor arrives to open the show. BTW: we did help the exhibitor as best we could.
DON’T LOOK LIKE A TERRORIST.
Flying to/from various cities in China for shows, I take a late-night flight to Qingdao from Beijing. Arriving and waiting for my luggage, the luggage area quickly empties leaving me empty handed. When all the lights switch off and gates lock shut, I’m solo in a dark cavernous hall. Guards approach me from outside the locked gates with machine guns. Language barrier aside, and after support from a translator, I’m able to leave with luggage in tow. It’s never fun being questioned as a “terrorist” at gunpoint.
ALWAYS HAVE PLAN B.
After weeks of preparation, two associates and I board a plane in Chicago for an important new client presentation. Smooth sailing…plane arrives on time, and we make it to the client corporate headquarters to set-up our presentation. Only one problem… the presentation is left in the plane overhead by the associate. It’s now on its way back to Chicago. When the dozen or so clients arrive, it is a very short presentation; picture a lot of hand gestures. We didn’t get the business nor did the associate have a job afterwards.
NEWSPAPERS DO MORE THAN SHARE THE NEWS.
It’s the morning of the show opening. I’m in a hurry. I catch a quick shower, wrap a towel around my waste and open the door to pick-up the Wall Street Journal. As luck would have it, the towel gets caught in the door as it closes; half the towel is inside the room, half is outside. Timing is not so good; guests walking down the hall now see a naked man with only a newspaper as his primary cover. Thankfully, an affable couple opened their room so I can call housekeeping. The daily news got better.
DOUBLE CHECK YOUR BOARDING GATE.
Boarding a United flight back to Chicago, I’m excited after a long event to be bumped to first class. Immediately falling asleep, I snooze for 45 minutes and then ask for a glass of red wine. As I’m savoring it, the captain announces that we’ll be landing in Nashville in 30 minutes. NASHVILLE??? You guessed it. Wrong flight. However, good glass of wine.
RUNOVER BY A COMEDIAN.
In Beverly Hills, I stopped at a florist to purchase a bouquet for a new client. With a large bouquet in hand, I head to their offices crossing a condo driveway. Seconds later, a car pulls out and nips me. The car window lowers and Joan Rivers, with dog in tow, asks “where did you get the flowers?”. Joking aside, I expected to hear instead, “Are you ok?”. The dog even looked surprised after her comment.
You can’t make these stories up (I dare say I have more). But like events, we curate outcomes and memories that we call a wonderful career. What unique travel-show adventures have you experienced?
Chris Kappes is a three-decade executive who has served as CMO, CSO and President of leading event agencies. Kappes is a published author of two trade books, The Noise Behind Business. How to Make Tradeshows Work & How to Master the Art of Selling at Tradeshows co-written with sales expert, Tom Hopkins. Kappes shares his industry experiences and views at conferences and publications like Exhibit City News. His contact information: kappes52@gmail.com
