Overheard on the Showfloor

Staff -- Tradeshow Week, 3/20/2006

"No, show management companies knocking on our door trying to acquire us hasn't really been a concern. They've tried to launch competing shows, though, and failed."

—Michele Marini Pittenger, president of the Travel Goods Assn., on the Travel Goods Show (Las Vegas, March 7–9)

"I don't believe it's just cards. But then, I'm a cynical New Yorker."

—EXHIBITOR attendee, observing Exhibitor Group founder and CEO Lee Knight poised atop one wing of a large house of cards, in the Square, a community area at EXHIBITOR (Las Vegas, March 5–9)

(The house was, in fact, made of just cards.)

"People can't stop touching our exhibit."

—Leo Boczar, marketing manager for Fabric Images, on the fur-clad columns of the company's booth at EXHIBITOR

"... and not just women. Guys too!"

—Boczar's colleague, Pat Hayes

"Get out your pocket change and prepare to hurl it this direction."

—Architect Bryan Berg, instructing attendees on the method for imploding the house of cards, at EXHIBITOR

"You sound just like a casino owner."

—Wiseacre in the audience

"Has anybody peed in the ice machine yet? Isn't that what people do at conventions?"

—Goo Goo Dolls lead singer Johnny Rzeznik, talking to the crowd at a charity benefit concert for MAGIC Marketplace (Las Vegas, Feb. 21–24)