Dancing Bears

In a trade show hall, it’s easy to spot the big budgets or the big budget wanna-be’s.

They have the dancing bears. OK, maybe it’s not actually dancing bears. Perhaps it’s a larger display, an army of attendants dressed in a uniform that stands out, or a coffee bar with attractive staff. 

I’m never sure if these budget outlays are worth it. I suspect it’s sometimes yes and sometimes no. No real definitive answer. 

You definitely need to stand out. But is that enough?

You can command attention with the dancing bears, but once someone looks your way, what are they actually seeing? Is there anything to trust?

Being seen is different than being noticed. Being seen requires clarity and value. Authentic presence.

That’s the work.

Send out the dancing bears if you want, but make sure there’s something worth dancing for.