Commercial Exhibitors: They’re the Hidden Gems of the SETC Convention

by SETC Secretary Rebecca Beasley

Every year at our annual convention, you see them when you walk into the exhibit hall. Some have flashing lights to attract your attention. Others have games and candy bowls to entice you into their booths, and some have even resorted to slot car races to engage students. You’ll find them showcasing everything from displays of drapery to large flooring samples, and from costumes to makeup demos.

Arts People, which markets performing arts software, was one of the commercial exhibitors at the 2019 SETC Convention in Knoxville, TN.

These are our commercial exhibitors, and they are at the SETC Convention not just to sell products you need but for other valuable reasons as well. Are you and (if you are a professor) your students taking full advantage of what they offer? For example:

• Expertise. The commercial exhibitors are experts in their fields, available to consult, suggest products and provide for your needs whether you’re a student or an adult. In the age of the internet, we need to let students – who often look to a Google search or a Reddit forum for professional development – know that our exhibitors are available to answer questions and guide them in their theatrical, film and production careers.

• Jobs. Many exhibitors are at the convention to fill open positions in their companies, including positions that can be filled by students graduating from an undergraduate program or young adults who have minimal real-world experience – but have worked in their college theatre department for years. Production rental companies may be looking for freelance event technicians, distributors may be looking for the next generation of account managers, and makeup and costume suppliers may be in need of consultants.

So, when you find yourself at the SETC Convention in Louisville next spring, take the time to stop and talk to the commercial exhibitors.

If you are a professor, encourage your students to learn about and network with the exhibitors who make up such a large part of our constituency. And who knows? You might have more than one student who walks out of the exhibit hall with a job.

More info: setc.org/commercial-exhibitors