Great additions to the list. I don’t need many excuses to go to the art museum, but you’ve given me a good one. Our local Minneapolis Institute of Arts has a new show coming, The Louvre and the Masterpiece. Many thanks!

Here’s the short-list action plan: Figure out your objectives first, as that will dictate your exhibit design, both its shape and messages. Know how much you have to spend for all your trade shows, as that will determine how many shows and what size spaces you can take — your booth space costs should be about 1/3rd your budget. Research potential trade shows on http://www.tsnn.com or http://www.tradeshowweek.com, and see which trade shows have the best concentration of your target audience. Perhaps you have a business partner that is already exhibiting at some of those shows you can partner with in your start up phase. Start thinking about who will be your ace booth staffers, and how you can track and measure the results you create. And if you are going to only one show, highly consider renting your exhibit to conserve cash and allow flexibility for your quick evolution.