Surviving the Slog of Trade Shows

The New York Times has an amusing filler piece today about working at trade shows. The picture is hysterical -- boy can I relate! Some of the quotes are great:

"It just sucks the life force out of you, and you don't even know why."

"I started keeping a journal because it keeps me busy when the booth is slow and it helps me channel my anxiety," said Kelly Sopp, who will exhibit at half a dozen children's apparel and gift shows this year to promote her Wry Baby clothing line. Typical of her journal notes: "Everybody hates my product."

For exhibitors, commentary overheard from the aisles can require thick skin - and a check on the urge to respond. "One woman walked by and she just rolled her eyes and said, 'Now who would put that on her child?' " Ms. Sopp recalled. "I wanted to yell back, '20,000 people so far,' but you just can't do that.''