This week I am travelling to Louisville, Kentucky to visit  the GIE-EXPO trade show for the first time. I am very much intrigued to see how what appears to be a much-larger scale outdoor powered machinery exhibition, than what we have over here, operates. 

For a start it comprises both indoor and outdoor exhibit space. Indoor for stand space, outdoor for demonstation areas. This seems like a superb combination - but in terms of replicating that over here it's all to do with space I guess - and the finding of a suitable venue.

The first day of the show, Wednesday, is a dealer-only day. This is an interesting concept. A day devoted to a series of learning and education seminars, targeted solely at independent dealers. As well as the seminars dealers also have the opportunity to walk around the exhibits, talking to the manufacturer representatives, in a quieter enviroment.

The next two days are for everyone, with groundskeepers travelling from around the country to get hands-on with the latest machines.

Also laid on by the organisers are a series free social events of an evening. Music concerts take place each night, one of which features Grand Funk Railroad (a name I only know as Homer Simpson's favourite band!). I suppose this works due to the nature of people travelling a great distance to come visit the show and therefore staying over in the town - as opposed to just popping up in the car for the day. 

Whether our shows would get an increased attendance if visitors knew there'd be a fun activitiy to go along to at night, is debatable I suppose. I presume the main considerations for staying over at a show are costs, time away from the workplace, and simply whether there is enough content there to justify spending more than a day?

Anyway, I'm certainly intrigued to see how it all works. And indeed when the new SALTEX comes around in a few weeks, it'll be interesting to compare and contrast.