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Yikes! My Feet Hurt!
Concrete. Tiles. Cheap carpet. Walking, walking. Standing, standing. Talking, talking. Walking, standing, talking—and walking some more. We’ve become a comfortable people. We don’t walk miles per day on hard surfaces. We don’t stand for hours in a relatively confined space. And, we get grumpy when we’re required to do so.

No only do we get grumpy inside, we show it on the outside. Our shoulders droop. Our smiles become forced or disappear. We begin to make snide little comments like “Boy, this is a long show.” Or, “Yikes! My feet hurt!”

We perch on the edge of tables, put elbows on counters or just sit down—forcing visitors to lean over to talk to us. We look bored and people who should stop to talk to us just pass by. Who wants to deal with grumpy people?

Trade shows are hard work and they’re hardest on your feet. Whether you’re in the booth or walking the aisles, these tips will make the show more comfortable for you:

Remember your feet are your friends.
Simple foot care is a priority before you subject them to long stretches of stress. Be sure to protect any injuries you may have with proper support, bandages or medicine.

Wear comfortable shoes.
Not old, ugly comfortable shoes. Nice, polished professional comfortable shoes. Never new shoes. Make sure your socks or hose fit properly in the shoes—lumps and bumps make blisters.

Your shoes must be appropriate to your attire.
You look odd if you wear a business suit and big white running shoes. Often you will go straight from a trade show to seminars or receptions, so when packing take clothes and shoes which can be worn for an extended period.

Never remove your shoes while in the booth.
You wouldn’t take off your shoes during a sales call to a client’s office. The show floor is a professional selling space, and no matter how uncomfortable you are, you need to maintain your dignity.

Three pairs of shoes.
That’s the minimum you should pack. Take varying heel heights which are comfortable to you. Women can change shoes from flats to heels. Men can use inside lifts if they are comfortable. Change shoes at least once a day. It improves your posture and your health.

Keep your posture erect.
Stand with shoulders straight and head up. When we’re tired, we have a tendency to curl over, dropping our head and shoulders. The simple solution? Bend your knees slightly forward—that throws the spine into alignment and rebalances your posture.

When your dogs are really barking.
When it just gets to be too much, here’s a good remedy: Just before bedtime, soak your feet in warm water. Rinse in cold water. Massage your feet, ankles and calves with Ben-Gay, Tiger Balm or other such product. Put on an old pair of socks that you’ll throw away the next day. You’ll have refreshed feet for another day of walking, standing, talking—and walking some more.

Remember, at a trade show, your feet are your friends. Take care of them.

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