If it's June the only thing on the industry's mind is InfoComm. And this year there's even more reason that all staging roads lead to Anaheim. If you've been following Tom Stimson's InfoComm previews in these pages, you know that the show this year will offer a variety of seminars, training, and business/marketing tracks specifically for rental/stagers, in addition to the always-popular Rental & Staging Forum. (See Stimson's article in this issue rounding up some of the key events at InfoComm 07.)
But even as we head to InfoComm, well, when it rains it pours. July will see a flurry of activity. We're revamping and improving our Rental & Staging Services Guide & Product Directory (which is the July issue). There's still time to list your company. The annual Rental & Staging Services Guide & Product Directory, together with a new on-line database, is a resource you don't want to be left out of. Even more this year, it's an essential vehicle to match new equipment buyers with equipment manufacturers, and to match show producers, meeting planners, and end-users with rental and staging service providers. And it covers both the corporate meeting/corporate staging and entertainment staging industries. Be sure to submit your listing for the 2006 Rental & Staging Services Guide & Product Directory now on our website at www.rentalandstaging.com.
Speaking of resources, it's official: Rental & Staging Systems magazine, in association with InfoComm International, have announced the launch of a series of Regional Events to serve the industry this year. We will be bringing seminars and hands-on equipment demos to an area near you, to bring business management and product update/product training for you and your staff.
The first event will take place July 25 this year, in a New York City area venue that is easily accessible to anyone on the east coast. The event will enable attendees to get technical and product training, business planning, management help, and more. It will also feature a special panel where staging services end-users offer tips on how to get on the fast track to their best jobs. The event will be anchored by three industry pros that will share their vast knowledge about the industry and tips on how to make your company more marketable in an increasingly competitive environment. They are Tom Stimson (who you know from these pages, and whose business and marketing acumen is widely respected) who will help attendees master Sales and Marketing, and Profitability; Andre LeJeune of MVP Audio Visual who will conduct seminars on rigging/staging and IP show control; and Stas Ushomirsky of Sky Creative who will share with attendees technical tips on "Designing the Screen" and "Populating the Screen-Managing content distribution in a multi-screen/multi-format environment."
For details, and information on how to register to attend the July 25 event, log onto www.rentalandstaging.com.
And finally, let me publicly commend our managing editor, Ryan Abeling, for the great job he has done this year. Ryan has experience on the other side of the fence from here--your side. He paid some dues on the road, at staging companies in the southwest, before joining NewBay. Be sure to track him down at InfoComm and let he and I know what your company is up to. The word on the street is that the staging industry has not seen such a healthy year in a long time, and we want to know what shows and events you're involved in, and offer our services to help you grow your business.
