Trade Show Exhilaration 

"I knew much more then, then I do now." –Bono, City Of Blinding Lights

Amen, you old Irish blowhard.

As I get older, it's gotten easier and easier to spot my shortcomings. I'd like to think this was a bit of wisdom seeping in, but maybe it's just the harsh light of reality. I’m not complaining or asking for pity. Not even. Knowing that you're not as good at something as you'd like opens up the world in often big and wonderful ways. It also provides new-found respect for the people around you.

This was especially apparent over the past week, when I saw my coworkers juggle a million tasks with apparent ease – or at least with a minimum number of freak outs – at the September Surf Expo show in Orlando.

No duh, running one of the top 50 trade shows in the U.S. is a big task. So it was a welcome surprise to realize just how well everyone knew their jobs and how smoothly the show really runs. I felt baffled by a lot of the behind-the-scenes work that needs to get done – and I got off easy. Someone asked me for 40 pounds of ice and I spent 15 minutes running around trying to make it happen, flummoxed. Some of my coworkers literally had dozens of far more complex requests every hour.

Even the sanctuary of the Volcom mini ramp contest was an eye opener. Who knew skate photography was such an elusive art? Well, I did, but it was still humbling to stand next to the other photographers. Maybe I was simply tired, but the moment produced a tiny epiphany. Suddenly I looked around at all the booths, the wonderful product, the skills of the skaters, the attention of the buyers, and was agog at it all, at all the hours of work and skill on display. It was exhilarating.

When was the last time I felt that way at a trade show?