The  Ceramic  Arts  Road  Show  and  Symposium  Kicks  Off  in  California  in September  of  2004

Washington, D.C., March 16, 2003.... Horton Events, in cooperation with ceramic and clay industry leaders, have decided to launch The Ceramic Arts Road Show & Symposium on September 18 & 19, 2004, at the Riverside Convention Center in Riverside California.

The event will be structured into four (4) parts.  The first part (and main event) is a symposium, which this year will feature David MacDonald on Saturday and Toshiko Takaezu on Sunday. The second part is a program of “courses” given by top guest artists from throughout the country that will be comprised of several 1 ¾-hour educational sessions. The third part will be a show floor full of manufacturers of ceramic materials, professional organizations and publications.  The final part will be the guest artists pavilion where their ceramic art will be for sale.  Part of the promotions will be advertising in the Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco areas to attract the public interested in purchasing ceramic art, as well as local ceramists interested in the event.  The total package offers something to all levels and interest in the ceramic arts industry.

“There is a demand for events like this across the country,” says Mike Horton, General Manager of Horton Event Management Services.  “There are plenty of small quality workshops put on by local retailers and artists but nothing where ceramic enthusiasts can see top artists and instructors from around the country without having to travel. Now,” says Horton, “we can bring industry experts and products to them.”  Horton explains that the key to the success of an event like this is the “participation of guest artists, retailers, manufacturers, industry organizations and magazines.  Together we have the opportunity to support the growth of the clay and ceramic industry.”

“We knew that an idea like this was incredible!” says Ramon Camarillo, a well-known instructor in clay and raku firing.   “We just needed to find an organization who had the experience to handle the logistics.  I’m not sure who got more excited about this,” said Camarillo, “my group of ceramic artists or the staff at Horton Events.”

Instructors, top name artists, manufacturers and organizations who would like more information on participating can contact Mike Horton, General Manager, Horton Events, at 703-430-8590, or go to the Road Show’s website.
Mhorton@hortonevents.com

Horton  Events  Adds   General  Contractor  To  It’s  List  Of  Services

Washington, D.C., November 6, 2003.... When a trade show closes, successful exhibitors have three important things in their hands:  a long list of show floor sales, an equally long list of qualified leads, and a reasonable bill for the cost of exhibiting.

“That last item, however, a reasonable bill for the cost of exhibiting,” says Mike Horton, General Manager of Horton Event Management Services, “is becoming more and more problematic each year for exhibitors. And what is worrying show producers and exhibitors alike is that those rising and unpredictable costs may drive some exhibitors away in future years.”

After the close of last year’s Art Methods & Materials Show, in October of 2002 at the Pasadena Convention Center, the show producer was facing numerous complaints about the cost of exhibiting.  Several exhibitors stated that they would not return for next year’s show if their costs stayed the same.

The show producer turned to Horton Events, who was already the show manager, to see what could be done. Horton Events, drawing on its experience of working with general contractors, submitted a proposal to become the show’s general contractor for October 2003.  The proposal showed how Horton Events would use a bid process to find decorators, independent labor firms, union labor, registration services and freight companies to provide creative and cost aggressive package deals that would be very favorable to exhibitors.  The show producer brought in Horton Events as the GC and the package deals offered resulted in a 50% reduction to most of the exhibitor’s costs. And, the show producer was able to ward off cancellations and “no-shows” and help ensure future exhibit floor space sales.

Horton said that among the keys to success were his firm’s understanding of local labor laws, setting a set and strike relationship with a decorator, and also by using Horton Events industry experience to provide superior show floor management. “Over the years,” says Horton, “we have lost focus on the difference between a general contractor and a decorator.   Show Manager/Producers are facing the difficult task of trying to increase exhibit sales, and at the same time decrease costs.  With an ever shrinking staff, the idea of one-stop-shopping appeals to them.  It is vitally important that they make that one stop with a company that can help them to succeed in all phases of the trade show environment.”

“Not only were we able to cut exhibitor costs by up to 50%, we also increased our bottom line with a revenue share,” said Gail Fishback, Associate Publisher of American Artist Magazine, a division of VNU Business Media. “I was absolutely delighted because in past shows I have always had to deal with a line of exhibitors complaining about the expense and threatening not to return.  This year, exhibitors were praising the changes and ready to sign up for 2004.”

Show producers and/or show management companies, who would like more information can contact Mike Horton, General Manager of Horton Events, at 703-430-8590.
Mhorton@hortonevents.com


Horton Event Management Services is a Washington, D.C. area based trade show management company with decades of trade show experience, operating in all of the traditional trade show cities in the U.S. and occasionally overseas.  Horton Events offers a substantial array of trade show services and specializes in creative and experienced exhibitor cost reducdtion practices.