Trade Shows in the 21st Century

Why do professionals keep attending face-to-face industry gatherings when digitization offers cheap, fast and time-saving technological solutions for professional interactions? This book sets out to explain such a phenomenon by analysing the reasons why professionals go to professional events, the role of events on individual careers and the way events can be instrumental in structuring emerging professions and (re)affirming stable, shared professional identities.

Showcasing original research on the role of events in the structuration of careers and professions, this book focuses on professional events as a lens to analyse the transformations of professional worlds. It highlights the explanatory effect of career stage on event participation and use and the way events craft sociability to strengthen professions and careers. Different economic sectors are explored including new business lines, such as transmedia, Fab Labs and TV show and globalizing sectors, such as, business representation, fine dining and international trade exhibitions. Mature economic sectors such as craft fairs, film festivals and the events sector itself are also analysed.

Providing an empirical and multidisciplinary approach to professional events and a diversity of case studies, this book will be an ideal read for sociologists interested in business, human resources and organization.