"...cursed with self-awareness."

1. You know what you know 
2. You know what you don't know 
3. You don't know what you don't know

It's #3 that causes all the issues when it comes to tradeshows (and life.) 

While Annie in Bull Durham says "The world is made for people who aren't cursed with self-awareness"   The tradeshow floor will eat you alive.  

Example #1 is this abbreviated email chain over a weekend this fall;

All week and on Friday the client is excited ready to go!  Then Sunday they show up on the tradeshow floor and, well, if you have never been on one it can be overwhelming.   Sunday night was a disaster.  And I was 1,500 miles away with the ability to do nothing!   (Well I did call the GC and let them know the issues and could they run someone by the tradeshow booth - Which They Did!)

Doing your own show services is not the issues here - not knowing what to expect (#3 from Above) is the issue.

Go with a team member who built your tradeshow booth just once and learn.   After all your Exhibit House should be "....just happy to be here.  Hope I can help the ball club." (Crash Davis giving tips to Ebby Calvin "Nuke" LaLoosh) . (And if they don't want to help the ball club - give Exhibit Associates a call!)