The Magic Touch: Pros And Cons Of Using A Magician At Your Trade Show Displays

BusinessMarketing & Advertising

  • Author Chris Harmen
  • Published November 3, 2010
  • Word count 525

For many companies, the idea of hiring a magician to promote at a convention seems strange. Yet a number of companies have experienced success with just this tactic. The difference between an unrelated and unimaginative magic act and a targeted marketing act seems to make the difference between a benefit and a detriment to the company's/khi.ygu image.

Why Have A Magician At Your Trade Show Displays?

A magician is, in some ways, the ultimate way to drive traffic to your booth. He will be wearing a costume, so he'll stand out from the crowd. He attracts attention, and that's the first benefit. Beyond that, he will create a further form of interest based on the tricks he performs. One of the crucial aspects of driving traffic is establishing an initial crowd. Once the first few people flock to your trade show displays, more will follow simply to see what the others are looking at. A magician can be the spark that draws this initial crowd.

What differentiates a professional marketer from a children's entertainer is his ability to incorporate your company's products or services into the tricks he performs. The kind of professional that can deliver results will be willing to spend time learning about your company specifically so he can then represent you well at the actual event. By working the focus of your portable displays into his interesting routine, he may provide direct marketing benefit beyond drawing a crowd.

All Magicians Are Not Equally Effective

If you decide to pursue this type of marketing, be aware that it does require a very specific skill set. Most people who practice card tricks are used to doing it at kids' parties, not in a professional marketing setting, and not for an entire day (or more). Interview anyone you might choose beforehand, ensuring that they are ready for the task ahead.

They should be willing to invest time and learn about your company. They need to have a strong working knowledge of everything your company offers, otherwise they won't be able to efficiently incorporate your products into their tricks. They also need to have experience and knowledge of how to entertain crowds. If possible, they should provide references and demonstrations they have performed in other portable displays. If they don't fit what you are looking for, you have no obligation to work with that magician.

Understanding Whether Your Portable Displays Will Benefit

Although driving attention to your booth is excellent, not all trade show displays will benefit from a magician. If magic doesn't fit with your company's philosophy, don't hire him. You should never bend your company's rules to fit a mold simply for purposes of attracting more attention to your portable displays. The ultimate attractor will be your products. If you have excellent products, then you can easily go without a magician.

In some cases, the presence of such a silly-seeming entertainment may actually undermine your agenda. If you are looking to have intense conversations with potential customers or employees, avoid having anything distracting. But if you are willing and able, consider whether a magician might help draw traffic to your portable display.

Chris Harmen is an author for Skyline, a company that specializes in the designing and building of portable displays in Knoxville (http://www.esourcetn.com/) and other trade show displays in Knoxville (http://www.esourcetn.com/).

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