INPEX® Exhibitors "Pitch to America" on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno"
Each year, the INPEX publicity staff works diligently to encourage coverage of the show by various media outlets. INPEX 2005 (held June 8-11 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) was no exception, as assorted newspapers, trade magazines, Internet media, and television and radio stations turned out to cover the event.
Perhaps the biggest hit with exhibitors this year was The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, which gave inventors the chance to present their inventions on a national stage. A Tonight Show film crew was on hand for two full days of taping, and exhibitors were able to sign up for time slots to demonstrate their products in front of the cameras. Not surprisingly, these auditions were in extremely high demand.
"We had well over 150 exhibitors sign up to present their ideas to The Tonight Show," said INPEX Trade Show Director Jennifer Lawlor. "Fortunately, the show's representatives were very accommodating, and they went out of their way to make sure that everyone who wanted to present a product got an opportunity to do so."
Once the taping was completed, the Tonight Show crew returned to their Burbank, California headquarters, where they had the task of selecting which inventions to include in a future program. In the end, nine INPEX 2005 exhibitors comprised a "Pitch to America" segment that aired on July 7, 2005.
During the segment, each inventor gave a brief synopsis of his or her idea, and also showed the product in action. The Tonight Show audience then voted on the inventions.
"I just could not believe that I was watching myself demonstrate my invention on national television," said Angie Cunningham, inventor of The EmStand. "I was shocked at how many people saw the show – it was great exposure for my product."
Roll and Press Therapeutic Massage Vest creator Kathryn Schroeder was equally enthusiastic about her Tonight Show appearance. "Naturally the segment had a lighthearted tone – as does anything involving Jay Leno – but it was such a thrill to know that millions of people got to see my invention."
Of course, only a small percentage of the INPEX 2005 exhibitors who presented to the Tonight Show crew actually appeared on the program. But many of those who were not selected still offered positive feedback about the experience.
"Having the opportunity to present my invention for possible inclusion on a Tonight Show segment was tremendous," said Gerald Dennis, inventor of The Door Adjuster. "Even though only a handful of the many exhibitors make it on television, just the possibility of reaching such a broad audience was exciting."
With INPEX 2005 now in the rearview mirror, the show's Publicity Department is already working hard to procure local and national media coverage for next year's event. The 2006 Invention Show will be held June 7-10 at the Greater Pittsburgh ExpoMart. For more information on INPEX's exhibitor publicity efforts and booth packages, call toll-free 888-54-INPEX.
While the above publicity is not typical of what most INPEX clients can expect, we are pleased to report that it is an example of publicity received as a result of the INPEX Publicity Department's efforts.
