I got to Gladiate (aka: saving KitKat)…Yeah!

I know what you are thinking; what the hell is gladiating?

Gladiating was born sometime around 2018 on a late Sunday morning in Boston. I went to the Convention Center for the Wells Fargo 10×20 install. My client at the time.

The booth shipped from show to show – and was handled by a different exhibit house. Everything was to come to Boston, but somehow one crate was not shipped with the exhibit. Of course, the most critical item was in that crate. It was not the lovely 10×20 backlit exhibit and counter – I created- but the pinwheel -I inherited.

At first, I thought, thank God we have the booth, but my relief was soon over when I realized the pinwheel was the draw to the booth. All the attendees stand in line for a chance to spin and wing a Wells Fargo newly released Pony. They are collector’s items; you’re welcome if you have one and did not know that.

Here’s the thing. I learned long ago from a great man name #chuckpollaco – you must take responsibility even if you are not responsible for the problem. I always remembered it. I built my career and reputation on it.

I did not build or ship that pinwheel, but I was responsible for finding, making, creating, or manifesting a pinwheel on a Sunday in Boston (which would mean printing graphics as well). Really?

Deb and Dan, my #dreamteam at the time, went to work on getting graphics printed while I searched for a physical tabletop pinwheel. With the assistance of Cory, we located a prop store on Peabody; the rest is history. The pinwheel was placed on the counter three minutes before the show opened, and all was well. There is a picture, but I cannot find it.

I paid the Uber driver in cash to meet my supervisor at takedown on Tuesday, drive the pinwheel back to the prop shop on his own, and trust that he would do that. Some Uber drivers are uber excellent. (I know I am) and he was. I would have been out $2,500.00 if it did not return. We rented it for three days. Who knew you could rent a pinwheel on a Sunday in Peabody for $150 a day?

Being on top in the trade show world has a lot to do with Gladiating. You never know what will happen, no matter how buttoned you are. That’s why the show floor team is as critical as the design team.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/exhibit-design-great-whos-running-show-conti-vc-gold-level-ctsm/

So who is KitKat? What the hell does it have to do with with gladiating?

I dropped Spencer at the airport and headed to New York for a sweet 16. Spence checked his bag, went through security, and was on the plane without delays. All was good.

I stopped to get a snack and put some air in my tire. When I got back in the car, I had 15 texts. Mom, Mom, Mom, Kit Kat, help, Mom, please, it’s the only stuffy I have from when Mike was alive. Can you please find it!!! MOM!!!! WTF

Somehow Spencer managed to leave KitKat – our long-time beloved family stuffy from Great Adventure NJ – in the waiting area, and his plane was speeding down the runway. What do you do? You text your mother?? OMG- what the F is he thinking?

He’s thinking; my mom is a gladiator. I fucking say it enough – It’s embedded in his brain.

So, long, long story and abridged: first thought – fuck that shit! Second thought – fuck that shit, I have to recover KitKat. – third, though fuck!!

I did recover KitKat from my car driving down 84West. After a few phone calls and convincing a lovely woman from Boston Logan to help me skip the “filing a report” part – a remarkable man named #jovito (I will never forget that name) from #americnairlineslostandfound went to the gate.

He found KitKat on top of the counter at the gate entrance.

Jovito said, “KitKat would never have been found had I filed the report and gone through normal channels.” I said, ” I know” I lost my favorite- I am the Storm – sweatshirt – on an AA flight – never to be seen again, going through the appropriate channels. He was surprised it was still there since the plane took off over 30 minutes ago. The trade show gods still look after me.

I thanked Jovito and picked up KitKat on Sunday when I returned to the airport to get Spencer. Hoping to meet him, but he was not there.

Spencer knew I had found him, but the smile on his face when he jumped in the car warmed my heart.

If you have read this far – thank you.

That day reminded me of who I am, why I have such a following, and a massive record of show successes. It’s because I love my work and I Gladiate!

Make someone’s day – gladiate away.

VC