[Originally published on May 1, 2002]

One of my all-time favorite movie lines was spoken some years ago by a guy most people seem to either love or hate (nothing personal, of course). That would be Rodney Dangerfield, and the movie was “Back To School.” He was trying to land a date with a teacher who was extremely busy (teaching her class) and not terribly interested. The line was (as a few of you will remember), “Well then, give me a call sometime when you have NO CLASS.”

Continue reading: #6 Have You Been Classified? »

[Originally published on April 18, 2002]

I’ve been wondering a lot lately how it is that suddenly at age 52 (which is still young… isn’t it?), I’m finally doing the things that I fully expected to be doing at age 32. What took so long?

There’s probably a couple of reasons: One, I didn’t listen very well to people wiser than me (and who were 52 then) when I was 32. Two, I routinely threw away the instructions, convinced I could put the thing (whatever it was) together with my eyes closed. Any bells ringing yet?

Continue reading: #5 Who Taught Us This Stuff? »

First published sometime in late 2002… BluesToons’ Days of Our Times by Wen Phradder was recognized as one of the great up and coming comic strips of its time… as we knew it…

Continue reading: BluesToons #2 »

Submit Your Video Today!

Looking for some great promotional visibility? Or, just want to some have some fun? In either case we’re going to promote the best video submissions for Tradeshow Blues – The Song. Only those that are highly inappropriate will not be featured. It’s really simple…

Just create your video and upload it to one of the basic video services that can provide an “embed” code. You can use any of the archived lyrics from The (original) Song… or write your own in a similar format. Send us the video link and your contact information (so we can reach you)  to song@tradeshowblues.com. We’ll confirm receipt with you via email and also inform you of posting and promotional activities through Tradeshow Blues.

Got questions? Just contact us.

Sponsored in part by The Guitar Wall

Submit Your Video Today!

You’ve been asking for them… and here they are. The 16 original verses to The Song as submitted by regular folks like you and me.

These verses have been buried for years in an old trunk in a obscure attic where nobody has been…  but now they’re back.

Maybe you have some verses of your own… just leave a comment below with your verse… And soon… there’s going to be videos. Whoa.

In fact, you can submit those videos now and get great free publicity and national exposure unlike anything you’ll get anywhere else.

Continue reading: The Song is Back: 16 Original Verses »

This is the first in a series from our Bluestalgia section featuring some images from the early days of Tradeshow Blues. Feel free to leave a comment if you so choose…

Fair and Balanced from TSB News

The TSB Evening News with Pell Cleveson and Curl Averly was a huge hit (in Slovenia)… but today, it’s being relived by a whole new generation of tradeshow enthusiasts with an eye for the off-beat (when news was news).

Continue reading: Bluestalgic Images: Part 1 »

First published sometime in late 2002… BluesToons’ Days of Our Times by Wen Phradder was recognized as one of the great up and coming comic strips of its time… as we knew it…

Continue reading: Bluestoons #1 »

[Originally published on March 17, 2002]

We’ve recently added a new slogan. You may have seen it. It says, “Be a Part of The Evolution… Be a Part of Tradeshow Blues.” On the surface, of course it’s just another slogan. Fortunately, there’s something underneath.

What I’ve been saying all along is that Tradeshow Blues is about YOU… your experiences and stories, your opinions, your company, your products and services. There’s a lot more, but I want to stay “on message” (and I promise never to say “on message” again).

Continue reading: #3 Be Part of the Evolution »

[Originally published on February 23, 2002]

Many people have asked me in recent days about where we’re going with Tradeshow Blues. My best metaphorical answer so far has been that, “we’re venturing into some new waters on a very different kind of cruise ship.” OK, I admit I was reading Travel & Leisure at the time, but no matter, it speaks the truth.

I have thought for a long time that traditional trade journalism is treated much the way most of us approach work… which is to say, we are way too serious about it. It’s time to lighten up and view things from a slightly skewed perspective.

Continue reading: #2 Where Does This Ship Dock? »

[Originally published on January 25, 2002]

OK, I’m writing as fast as I can. But, c’mon folks, this is heavyweight stuff and as you can see, I don’t have quite as much hair as I used to. Oh, and by the way… I’m OK WITH THAT! It doesn’t matter, I have other hair.

And speaking of hair, I sent a little notice about this site to some people I know hoping to get some early reaction to what we’re doing up here in our top-floor office overlooking the water. One response of particular interest was that already-tired but currently still overused line: “Gee, Jeff… you must have way too much time on your hands.”

Continue reading: #1 Welcome to Tradeshow Blues »