Imagine the logistical nightmare when over 1,000 exhibitors need access to electricity on the trade show floor. Many exhibitors have had their entire experience at a trade show ruined by power problems that could have been avoided.

The first thing you can do to avoid power problems at your trade show is to check with the show organizers to find out what you’ll need to bring. Many show coordinators will specify how far away your power supply will be from your exhibiting area, and you will need to have an extension cord long enough to bring power to your trade show booth. Failure to bring this could result in a poorly lit booth with no media presentation or sound equipment, which would be a disaster for many companies.

Always bring backup parts in case they are needed. As a general rule, I would always bring a 50ft extension cord, a grounding adapter (changes a two-pronged plug into a three-pronged), extra light bulbs for your trade show lighting, and any other extras that you can imagine needing to replace at the last second.