By Jaime Jay, CEO & Freedom Fighter, Bottleneck Distant Assistants

There’s something beautiful about putting yourself out there.
The stage. The booth. The brand.
All the preparation. All the heart.

And sometimes… the people don’t show up.
Or at least, not in the way you hoped they would.

That’s what happened at the 2025 Customer Connect Expo in Las Vegas.

We invested thousands into a booth, travel, hotel, and logistics.
The team was prepped. We printed our assets. And we showed up ready.

But what we expected and what happened were two very different things.

And I’m grateful for it.

A Costly Lesson in Exposure

Let me be clear:
Trade shows are expensive.
Our booth alone was $6,800.
That’s before flights, food, shipping, and everything else that cost money after the fact.

We were promised 3,000+ attendees.
What we saw was a small trickle of mostly local visitors with free tickets.
We talked to maybe 10 people across two full days and nearly all of them were selling something to us, not looking to hire a Distant Assistant.

It was tough.
But this isn’t a complaint. It’s a compass.

What Went Right (Yes, There’s a Bright Side)

• We were featured on the back of the show guide, which gave us brand visibility throughout the venue.
• We were upgraded from a 10×10 to a 10×20 booth – completely unexpected, but a welcome surprise.
• We made strong connections with other exhibitors, most of whom were experiencing the same challenges we were. There’s something comforting about knowing you’re not alone.

Food? Let’s Just Say… Bring Your Own

The event hall’s restaurant? Closed. No warning. No signage.
The only things available: donuts, sandwiches, and an ice cream truck.

Now, I love ice cream, but not when I’ve been on my feet for 10 hours trying to represent my business.

And getting off-site for real food meant hopping a monorail, waiting in lines, and losing valuable booth time.
Even small things like food access can have a big impact on morale and experience.

What I’d Recommend for Future Events

To the Customer Connect Expo organizers – and to anyone hosting a business event – here’s a few things that could make a big difference:

• Gamify the experience for attendees.
• Give them a reason to talk to exhibitors – bingo cards, QR code trails, raffles, or a leaderboard.
• Set expectations honestly.
• Don’t promise huge attendance if it’s mostly comp tickets or foot traffic.
• Offer better communication.
• Clear signs. Real-time updates. A help desk that’s easy to find.
• Feed your exhibitors.
• Even a few food vouchers or bottled water can go a long way.

The Real MVPs: My Team & Partners

This experience wouldn’t have been possible without my incredible team:
Jovelyn, Phil, Jeff, Arvy, GM, Ced, Sherwin, Ryan, and Channelle – thank you.

Special thanks to Dawn Robbins at MLC Expert Consulting for her fast, professional work with our promotional items. She’s the real deal.

And a big shoutout to David Vogel from Remote Video Testimonials – his process is polished and powerful, and he delivered a killer testimonial video that helped us stand out, even in a quiet crowd.

To the Customer Connect Expo Event Staff – Thank You

I want to end with something important.

To the people working behind the scenes – security, logistics, volunteers, tech support – you were kind, professional, and respectful. You listened. And I see you.

Event production is hard.
I know you did your best.

That said, if better communication systems are put in place before and during the show, I truly believe this event can live up to its promise.

Closing Thoughts

Not every investment leads to ROI.
Not every plan works out.

But every experience holds a lesson if you’re willing to look for it.

Would I do it again? Yes. But differently.
Smarter. More strategic. Better prepared.

And if you’re thinking about exhibiting at an event like this?
Here’s my advice: Don’t just prepare your booth. Prepare your expectations.

I hope sharing this helps you avoid some of my missteps and walk into your next big opportunity with your eyes wide open and your heart still in it.

Stay positive. Stay curious. And always keep learning.

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