All of us in the trade show/meeting/event industry have suffered through...and survived...a different and difficult 2009.  And most of us have commented recently that all of a sudden things are getting busy again!  I just had the pleasure (I really mean that) of being on the road for 10 straight nights, and a few realizations struck me. 

You know you are an EventProf when:

• Your briefcase includes a box of Kleenex, a bag of cough drops, a bottle of saline nasal spray, allergy medicine, and lots of hand sanitizer.

• You know which hotel chains carry what type of products in the bathroom (i.e. Doubletree = Neutrogena; Hyatt = Portico Spa).

• You had hot tea for breakfast and hot coffee for lunch because your voice is rough for talking so much.

• You find baggage claim checks stuffed in every pocket of every coat, purse, briefcase, and piece of luggage you own.

• You gargle with hydrogen peroxide instead of mouthwash because you grabbed the wrong bottle from the bathroom sink - good thing that is how they used to do it in the olden days.

• The wait staff in the hotel restaurant all know you by name.

• The doormen greet you by saying "Welcome Home!"

• You actually believe a Snickers candy bar is a satisfying lunch.

• Your 3 ounce bottles never really make it out of the 1 quart plastic bag.

• You really don't see the problem in wearing the same outfit multiple nights in a row.

• You have mastered the art of doing laundry in your hotel bathroom sink.

• You have a wallet stuffed with one dollar bills for tipping, therefore you have to pay for your cab rides with your credit card.

• McDonald's becomes your most frequented restaurant.

• You get miffed when someone walks into the "Expert Traveler" line at the security check-point and they do not have their license and boarding pass in their hand.

• You do not blink an eye when there is a $68 charge to jump on an earlier flight home.

• When you return home you try to put a "do not disturb" sign on your front door and wonder why your bed is not being made.

• When you do finally wake up in your own bed, you wonder why everything looks unfamiliar and you wonder what city you are in.

I could go on and on, but I would love to hear what you think instead! So comment here on how you know you are an EventProf and what makes us unique!!