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CAN YOU BELIEVE it? By the time you read this edition, you could be packing your suitcase, hopping on a plane, or walking the show floor at the ISA Sign Expo in Atlanta. If you can’t make it, you’re constantly checking @bigpicturemag on Instagram for updates, right?

We haven’t been to a major, industry-specific tradeshow since Printing United in 2019. 2019! Will we know what to do? What to say? As someone who’s attended a few conferences and tradeshows for the screen printing space, the answer is yes. It’s just like riding a bike.

But just in case your in-person event nerves are in high gear, we asked our Brain Squad to share their advice for attending the show in five or fewer words.
Wade Neff says “Pack light. Talk to everyone.”

Rob Matthews says to bring sneakers, a phone charger, and an empty backpack.

And my personal favorite from Katrin Tobler: “Show how awesome you are.”

A tip from me? Don’t forget to bring something (print or digital) that will allow people to contact you post-show. (Yes, I broke the five or fewer rule, but hey, it was my rule to begin within.) I’m currently attending the Wallcoverings Association’s Annual Meeting and I forgot my business cards! Rookie move.

A few more tips:

Stop by the Big Picture booth #2449.
Attend my session with Eric Zimmerman, Keypoint Intelligence, to learn the results of the 2022 Wide Format Application and Utilization survey on Wednesday, April 4 at 1:30 p.m.
Celebrate the winners of the 2022 Best of Wide Format Awards, Wednesday, May 4 at 4 p.m.
I can’t wait to catch up and witness the new technology and trends wide-format has to offer.

Smart Tips From This Issue

Need ideas for creative, out-of-this-world applications? Check out the 12 winning Best of Wide Format Awards for printspiration. (The Big Story, page 20)
Eliminate dumb rules. This will help you in retaining your Next Gen employees. (Special Feature, page 36)
Break down color-to-lightfastness, color-to-washfastness, and crocking when archiving prints. (Special Feature, page 38)
When attempting to land a large client, don’t only focus on cost. Make sure you showcase all you can offer that differentiates you from competition. (Big Business, page 49)

Adrienne Palmer

Adrienne Palmer is the editor-in-chief of Big Picture and Screen Printing magazines. She joined Big Picture magazine in 2012 after graduating from Ohio University's E.W. Scripps School of Journalism with a BA in magazine journalism. During her time with Big Picture, she has held the roles of assistant editor, associate editor, and managing editor; she added sister publication Screen Printing magazine to her resume in 2019. She is a 2019 Folio: Top Woman in Media; spearheads Big Picture's annual Women in Wide Format Awards and Best of Wide Format Awards as well as Screen Printing's annual Women in Screen Printing Awards; is on the board of Printing United Alliance's Women in Print Alliance and the U.N.I.T.E. Together diversity and inclusion program; hosts the Screen Saver podcast; and represents the Big Picture and Screen Printing teams at numerous industry events year-round as a speaker, moderator, and panelist.