There were many exciting displays at Stage Expo 2007, and opportunities to learn about new products, new programs, and even a fancy can opener or two promoting the 2008 event in Houston, Texas.

Photo/Casey Kearns

Helen Willard
Stage Expo Sales Manager

Stage Expo 2007 in Phoenix set a new record for square feet of exhibit space, with 27,700 square feet, topping Louisville's record of 27,300 square feet, Toronto which had 26,000 square feet, and Long Beach in 2004 with 24,700 square feet of exhibit space. More than 28,000 square feet of exhibit space is expected next year in Houston.

Stage Expo 2007 opened with a performance by Native Trails, Native American dancers whose chanting, drumming, and energetic dancing fascinated the large crowd. VP-Conferences Joe Aldridge cut the USITT tape with a huge pair of scissors, and the crowd surged into the exhibit hall in search of the ultimate swag. Exhibitors were happy with the traffic at Stage Expo, and more than 90 of the 120 booth exhibitors lined up to reserve a booth space for 2008.

Priority booth space selection for the next year's show is held on Saturday, the final day of Stage Expo. Appointments are scheduled in five- minute intervals, and there was a steady stream of exhibitors at the Show Office from 10 a.m. until nearly 5 p.m. Over 80 percent of the available booth space is booked for next year's show, so Stage Expo 2008 is already well on its way to setting new records for the number of exhibitors and square footage of booth sales.

The 48th Annual USITT Conference & Stage Expo will be held in the George R. Brown Convention Center in downtown Houston. Stage Expo 2008 will be in the Convention Center's Exhibit Hall E, with meeting rooms located just an escalator ride from the exhibit hall. The headquarters hotel is the Hilton Americas, which is connected to the Convention Center by two skybridges.

Booth space selection will continue until all available booth spaces are sold. Priority selection for table spaces will be conducted later in the year. Anyone wishing to exhibit at Stage Expo 2008 in Houston should contact Helen Willard at hpwillard@aol.com for more information.

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