What They Really Said

This was a memorable year in many ways – including some of the quotes captured by Tradeshow Week editors along the way.

“There was no hiding, like there was in the Enron crisis. It was all in full view of everyone.”

–Jeremy Siegel, professor at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, on the subprime mortgage meltdown that sparked the current economic downturn, at the Professional Convention Management Assn. Annual Meeting (New Orleans, Jan. 11-14)

“If you say the Internet is going to replace us (referring to face-to-face marketing), I assume you’re looking for a job with an Internet company.”

–Chris Brown, executive vice president of conventions and business operations for the Natl. Assn. of Broadcasters, during the MTO Summit (March 25-26, Natl. Harbor, Md.)

“Having an event that people want to get into that they can’t is a good thing.”

–Rick Calvert, CEO of BlogWorld and New Media Expo, during the MTO Summit

“Paper. We’ve saved $80,000 by not making exhibitor kits anymore.”

–Gene Sanders, vice president of tradeshows for the Society of the Plastics Industry, when asked about technologies his association has tried and discarded, during Exhibitor (March 22-26, Las Vegas)

“Feel free to use your BlackBerrys, but know that if your head is down, the opportunity for you to be called on is up.”

–Galen Poss, Hanley Wood Exhibitions then-president and keynote session moderator, during the Society of Independent Show Organizers CEO Summit (March 29-31, San Diego)

“Of course, if you want opportunities outside the U.S., the first thing you have to do is get a passport.”

–Messe Frankfurt Chairman Michael von Zitzewitz, commenting on the insularity of the American tradeshow industry, during the SISO CEO Summit

“No, it’s the kiss of death.”

–Joel Davis, CEO of JD Events on whether he offers exhibitors discounts on space, during the SISO CEO Summit

“You can’t sling a dead cat without hitting a church.”

–Kevin Johnstone, director of tradeshows at NAMM, the Intl. Music Products Assn., of going after the worship market in the Bible Belt, during a meeting of the Southwest Chapter of the Intl. Assn. of Exhibitions and Events (April 8, Pasadena, Calif.)

“I’m president of the No Events Before 8:30 a.m. Club.”

–Brown, on the 7:30 a.m. start of the Exhibition & Convention Executives Forum (June 11, Washington, D.C.)

“We now have no money, so I’ll be wearing this suit for the next six years.”

–Sanders, after explaining his association gave exhibitors $4.5 million in incentives this year, at ECEF

“The irony is not lost on me. We had a meeting to declare the power of meetings.”

–Larry Luteran, Meeting Professionals Intl.’s immediate past chairman, referring to MPI’s MeetDifferent event in Atlanta earlier this year, at MPI’s World Education Congress (July 11-14, Salt Lake City)

“The main point for (U.S. Treasury Secretary) Timothy Geithner to get into his cute, little head is meetings did not cause the recession, unless they were held at the Federal Reserve (Board).”

–Ben Stein, former Nixon speechwriter, author, economist, civil rights lawyer, college professor and actor, during his keynote, at WEC

“Drayage is moving freight the shortest distance at the greatest cost. I came up with that in the ’80s, and it still works.”

–Robert Dallmeyer, president of RD Intl., during TS² (July 20-23, Chicago)

“My customers are early adapters and early quitters.”

–Lance Fensterman, Reed Exhibitions vice president for publishing and pop culture, on attendees at the shows he organizes, at SISO

“What I don’t know, I could write volumes about.”

–Kerry Gumas, Questex Media Group president and CEO, on the uncertainty evoked by the current recession, at SISO

“One size fits all fits nobody these days.”

–Alan Peterson, Penton Media tradeshow and conference group president, at SISO