6/09/2010 6:25:23 PM
Topic:
Exhibitions under fire for sexist promotions
Toruk Makto Special edition
Posts: 136
|
I agree with P&P
I do many trade shows and I have yet (in 10 years) to find a model who knows anything about the business they are working for, other than the name and the header of the flyer they are holding.
Below is a youtube video - and this pretty much says what kind of losers the models are
Yes, nothing about product knowledge which is what serious customers actually want, just (you can make money from doing it) you really don't want someone at your stand who is just their for the money- you want them to be interested in what you are selling)
The old argument sex sells- does it really? guys lets be honest when we see a good looking girl in a bikini or whatever are we looking at the product, no we are not, do we remember the product? no we do not- it is a way of getting attention but it doesn't make us really stop to find out about the product
at RSVP they had guys walking around the expo. topless with big muscles most of the comments from the women I spoke to were "I don't like the tatoo's" they didn't seem to care.
and unless your event is entirely made up of a single sex there is no point hiring so called good looking men or women, because they are going to alienate people more often than not.- Invest your money into say a magician who is going to engage their minds not their genitals.
So to answer your question- Yes some men do feel intimidated by really good looking men with huge muscles- it makes us feel less especially when the women at the event are gawking at them and I assume visa versa (although I don't know much about what women want).
If you have a model at a trade show basically your saying "we have no idea on how to exhibit"
with regards to Microsoft not knowing what the girls were going to wear- this is possible- many times especially with big companies- the trade show is booked by the marketing department and the sales staff turn up- they get told to expect models or whatever but they don't know much else.
edited by Toruk Makto Special edition on 6/09/2010
|
|
|
6/09/2010 6:14:39 PM
Topic:
Mice related portals
Toruk Makto Special edition
Posts: 136
|
http://www.meetingsevents.com.au/membership/benefits.php
Meetings & Events "might" have some of the things you are after on the link above they say members only referance tools
but you may wish to ask them
|
|
|
3/09/2010 11:12:54 PM
Topic:
Mice related portals
llopezwong
Posts: 2
|
Hello Batman,
Thanks for your reply. Another question: I am trying to look for performance indicators for Mice activities for example on conversions (mice confirmed business / all mice requests). FOr hotels business, there are many services that provided this information for example The Bench (Deloitte), Hotelligence (Travelclick), etc,, have no idea on where to get this info specifically for MICE. Any hint on how can help me?
Batman wrote:
There are a number of Websites that can assist you but the most comprehensive site is EventConnect.com
|
|
|
3/09/2010 8:38:00 AM
Topic:
Mice related portals
Batman
Administrator
Posts: 4
|
There are a number of Websites that can assist you but the most comprehensive site is EventConnect.com
|
|
|
3/09/2010 3:02:08 AM
Topic:
Mice related portals
llopezwong
Posts: 2
|
Hello,
I am looking for portals that give visibility to hotels that want to propose themselves for Meeting, Incentives, conventions and events B2B clients.
Can somebody help me with some names to start with?
Thanks in advance
llp
|
|
|
2/09/2010 11:38:27 AM
Topic:
Exhibitions under fire for sexist promotions
bfoster
Administrator
Posts: 56
|
I believe at an AIME exhibition or perhaps even Sydney on Sale a few years back there was quite a handsome shirtless guy in a bed, maybe promoting a new bed of a hotel chain or something. I'm not sure how much interest he created.
I think the Microsoft GM was spot on in this instance.
What amazes me is how those who organised the Microsoft event on the Gold Coast were surprised at the meter maids' attire when they turned up and that it was too late to change them into anything else. I'm sure there's a surf shop or two just across the road from the convention centre. A couple of sarongs or similar probably would've been money well spent!
|
|
|
2/09/2010 10:04:15 AM
Topic:
Exhibitions under fire for sexist promotions
p&p
Posts: 1
|
I completely disagree. I am a female representing the technology sector, i am a professional with over 20 years experience, females are a minority in this sector. I also am a professional events manager. I understood our job was to 'speak to the audience' Know your target market. In the Technology industry there is a severe shortage of women. Microsoft should rightly be ashamed of their actions, and the events industry for not knowing their target market. Tracey Fellows is the Australian GM for Microsoft, no wonder she's offended, she is an advocate for encouraging women into the sector.
So, how will professional women ever be taken seriously at an exhibition when there is a less than half-dressed meter maid standing at the exhibition stand with professional women, do the men look at both of them the same or different?
If my comments above don't matter or you disagree, then i look forward to seeing scantily clad men parading at AIME and RSVP in the future, as men are the minority in the events industry, same same.
|
|
|
1/09/2010 4:38:29 PM
Topic:
Exhibitions under fire for sexist promotions
suepearce
Posts: 1
|
There is absolutely nothing wrong with this type of promotion. The participants are either models or staff who are paid to attend, and who have the choice whether or not to do so. I am 100% sure that if they thought it sexist they wouldn't do it - after all they are adults! It is great for the industry that some companies have the initiative and artistic skills to combine this type of drawcard with the showcasing of their products - surely the only people who complain would be their opposition. Beaurocracy is for beaurocrats and Exhibitions are to exhibitionists - bring on the next one!
|
|
|
1/09/2010 11:16:13 AM
Topic:
Exhibitions under fire for sexist promotions
bfoster
Administrator
Posts: 56
|
First it was an exhibitor at the CeBIT event who was criticised for using women in nurses uniforms on their stand, and more recently it was Microsoft at its TechEd conference on the Gold Coast that was lambasted for using Meter Maids in a promotion. What are your thoughts on these kinds of promotions? Do they still have a place in the world of events?
|
|
|
17/08/2010 1:17:13 PM
Topic:
The Great Website survey HELP
Toruk Makto Special edition
Posts: 136
|
OK I'll design it by myself then.
Did you know that many of our clients can't view flash yet many event organiser sites are flash
or those fancy drop down menus you see built on Javascript are blocked and people cannot view your website navigation
Even some web forms are coded with Javascript and as a result people will not be able to get in contact with you
are you thinking should you or should you not invest into social media- well then this survey could shed some light on who is using it- and if it is worth it for your business or just your time.
Of course anyone that actually posts to help will get a plug in the email that is sent out to the 15000 events people
edited by Toruk Makto on 24/08/2010
|
|
|
12/08/2010 3:42:15 PM
Topic:
The Great Website survey HELP
Toruk Makto Special edition
Posts: 136
|
Hello Peoples
I am designing a survey to be sent out to 15000 industry professionals on the topic of web site usability.
With questions such as:
Can you view flash or youtube
Can you view Drop down menus
what social media sites do they have etc etc
I am looking for business owners to share with me here their own website usability problems so that I can create a better more accurate survey.
The reason being is that as a small business owner I spend alot of time creating and developing my websites and I am sure that I am not the only one. There is no point creating a fresh new exciting website that no one can view as a result of browser security settings, and our corporate clients on many occasion have higher security settings than say a home computer.
So I wil post the survey results here and will also send them as press releases to the Major Events Media Companies such as Mice.net.
The web is a powerful communication tool- but if our customers can't use it as a result of security- we need to know (all of us) and we need to know exactly how to fix it and hopefully this survey will give us some answers
Please post your suggestions below-
I will create the survey and I will have examples next to each question
so I will have a flash video next to the flash question
a DHTML Drop down menu next to the drop down menu and so on.
This ensures that while the customer may not understand the technical terms for web items- they can say yes/no if they can view the example.
YOUR HELP IS NEEDED.
edited by Toruk Makto on 12/08/2010
edited by Toruk Makto on 17/08/2010
|
|
|
12/08/2010 12:18:34 PM
Topic:
What famils work for you?
Toruk Makto Special edition
Posts: 136
|
TD wrote:
I totally agree Brad. I think there's a culture to get on these trips without having any intention of actually booking. It certainly doesn't help anyone. Perhaps if there isn't already - there should be a system where people are blacklisted from these types of events as I have heard countless stories of venues and tourism bodies going to great expense getting 'PCOs' there only to find out that many either aren't qualified or leaving their job within the month.
Thats good- with such a high turnover in job changes it is hard enought to keep on top of your ever changing database- one month later and only 3/4's remain. Personally I would feel guilty if I went along to one of these events with zero intention of doing business.
|
|
|
12/08/2010 12:05:24 PM
Topic:
What famils work for you?
TD
Posts: 3
|
I totally agree Brad. I think there's a culture to get on these trips without having any intention of actually booking. It certainly doesn't help anyone. Perhaps if there isn't already - there should be a system where people are blacklisted from these types of events as I have heard countless stories of venues and tourism bodies going to great expense getting 'PCOs' there only to find out that many either aren't qualified or leaving their job within the month.
|
|
|
11/08/2010 11:15:58 AM
Topic:
What famils work for you?
Toruk Makto Special edition
Posts: 136
|
bfoster wrote:
The thing that continues to amaze me after so many years of participating in famils is that there are some people who just shouldn't be there. I have known countless individuals who take part in famils when I know full well that the business opportunities they offer for the destination are highly unlikely. Unfortunately I'm not one of those people who has the time to participate in a famil and treat it more like a holiday.
I hear you.
Recently, in fact several times for a company I have been a entertainer for a venue showcase site inspection whatever you want to call it. You work for free under the impression that you'll be showcasing your product to potential bookers, and 1/2 the people you were told were going to turn up- don't actually turn up, and the rest are some potential customers but the bulk are other services their to network. I really can't get any business from these people. I can get referals, but most of these people that might refer you want to act as your agent and get 10-20% of what you charge, and they don't treat the potential booker with any respect- it's more about how they can make money (woooooooo sorry - slightly off topic)
so Brad is right there are so many people who are at these famils who should not be there. I think independant organisers of famils want the appearance of a many many people
but they really need to qualify people before they attend. For example I have been apart of the famil club site inspections, and this is their booking form for would be attendies
http://www.familclub.com.au/phplist/?p=subscribe&id=11
Copy and past the link if you need to
But other than asking
I am responsible for booking, planning and selecting meetings and/or events.
I am planning to book an event/meeting in the next 12 months
These two questions are not enough to qualify someone before you get them to come along to their event, and this is the problem
what kind of events do they organise?
What is the date
Are you the descision maker or is it a committee
Are you a service to the industry
what type of event is the next one you are organising.
what are your needs for the event
There are many many more and in fact these double as your trade show qualifiers, when someone comes into your stand, you don't just scan them, you qualify.
|
|
|
10/08/2010 12:42:22 PM
Topic:
What famils work for you?
bfoster
Administrator
Posts: 56
|
Hey AB99 and nice response. Famils can and should be a great opportunity for participants to get a real feel for a destination, particularly when the itinerary offers a whole lot more than one hotel site inspection after another. From a writer's point of view I also find them extremely worthwhile when writing an article about the destination. The thing that continues to amaze me after so many years of participating in famils is that there are some people who just shouldn't be there. I have known countless individuals who take part in famils when I know full well that the business opportunities they offer for the destination are highly unlikely. Unfortunately I'm not one of those people who has the time to participate in a famil and treat it more like a holiday. Personally, I'd rather take a holiday with the family. Participating in famils if you don't think you may be able to book an event within the destination some time in the future is doing nobody any good, particularly those hard-working small business operators who help to make the famil a memorable one.
|
|
|
6/08/2010 3:05:03 PM
Topic:
What famils work for you?
AB99
Posts: 9
|
Famils have been an absolutely invaluable resource for me, for experiencing a location, venues, and the 'extras' (e.g., bus transport, post-Conference activities for delegates, etc). Townsville, Gold Coast & Adelaide all come to mind as those who have provided some top famils. Trying out the fun activities available, having a special dinner, a 'different" lunch, and yes a few choice rewards (massages always a plus!) or giveaways - plus a bit of free time, have in several cases sold me on a location (and/or venue, plus activities) I might not have known about and therefore chosen.
|
|
|
6/08/2010 12:32:50 PM
Topic:
What famils work for you?
bfoster
Administrator
Posts: 56
|
Anybody working in the business events sector and who book or run meetings or incentive travel are regularly invited on familiarisations, or as we often call them educationals. Have you been on an educational recently that really knocked your socks off? What part of famils do you like and not like? What changes would you recommend for those who organise educationals? Have your say, and take a look at Elizabeth Rich's recent article in micenet ASIA on how to organise a successful famil program - http://www.btp.net.au/243/section.aspx/category/9/catalog/54/page/1460
|
|
|
5/08/2010 5:58:58 PM
Topic:
More Green initiatives
Toruk Makto Special edition
Posts: 136
|
janefullertonsmith wrote:
Have you seen this? www.sustainable-event-alliance.com if you ever wanted to understand anything about greening or sustainability of events, this new resource is the place to visit.
Thank you
There is a bit to go through just on the site without even joining
|
|
|
3/08/2010 3:39:44 PM
Topic:
More Green initiatives
janefullertonsmith
Posts: 4
|
Have you seen this? www.sustainable-event-alliance.com if you ever wanted to understand anything about greening or sustainability of events, this new resource is the place to visit.
|
|
|
31/07/2010 8:18:40 PM
Topic:
More Green initiatives
Toruk Makto Special edition
Posts: 136
|
Hello folks
I have read info on making events greener and how to make venues greener- I have become stuck trying to find how to make services greener
My web site is now powered by green servers and I have tracked down eco friendly casino quality playing cards-(I go through over 200 a year) I drive my motor scooter whenever I can (it's a big scooter) But I am just trying to learn how a 1 man business can make some changes to what I do to make me green friendly. Being an entertainer I am a little lost. They are at the moment just initiatives it is a start
any suggestions on where or how a 1 man business can get greener without forking out a gazillion dollars
|
|
|