TJ, the Salt Palace wants to charge us $200 to set up a wifi hotspot. I don’t think it’s reasonable. It’s not like we’re reselling it to other presenters. But, I’d like you to set up a wifi connection for our team.
Okay. What happens if the Salt Palace finds it?
There’s probably a big fine. But, if you can’t manage to hide a wifi signal you’re not as good as we thought you were.
We were at the Outdoor Retailer Show. RESMARK had been working on our reservation software for three years and we were finally ready to roll it out. I had a marketing plan that was designed to “Steal The Show.” But, I needed a wifi signal, and I couldn’t see paying the Salt Palace for Internet twice. I was already paying for a hardwire connection to the Internet. I didn’t want to pay a wifi fee as well.
We were the most high tech booth at the show. Most of the show was vendors selling rafts, and trips and kayaks, and camping gear. It was a former boy scout’s dream show.
Our big give away were remote control Hummers.
We did a drawing to give one away each day. For attendees, we handed out custom mice. The mice were a really big expense, but it was a perfect giveaway. Years later I remember walking into a rafting company in Colorado and seeing them using a RESMARK mouse at their front counter.
As we started our countdown to the start of the show, TJ pulled me aside.
Did you get the wifi setup?
Yeah.
And you don’t think the Salt Palace guys are going to find it?
I don’t even think they’ll notice.
Really? What did you name it?
SALT_PALACE_15
I laughed every time I connected to it.
Sometimes the best way to hide is to act like you belong. TJ did it with a wifi signal, but all of us find ourselves in situations where we aren’t quite sure we belong. It’s amazing how few people will question you if you look like you know what you’re doing and just be confident.
Rodney M Bliss is an author, blogger and IT Consultant. He lives in Pleasant Grove, UT with his lovely wife and thirteen children.
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