Last week was an exciting time for those who support mainstream and underground arts. Whether your life revolves around music, film, technology, pop-culture or a variation of all the above, SXSW is an exciting time to discover something new and rediscover something classic. See what Brandon had to say about this year's South by Southwest Festival here. 

Every year around the beginning of March, I receive personalized e-mails from friends and acquaintances across the country inviting me to catch up and meet at a conference, concert or film premier. It is sometimes a project someone is associated with but often times it is just an event the invitee will be attending and a chance to connect again. Companies, consider definitely taking a page out of this book and be more personable with meeting your clients.

This post has more to do with two of the east coast's answers to SXSW.

Then first, appropriately called North by Northeast (NXNE) is a week long festival of music, film and much more in Toronto, Canada. Although NXNE does not have the prominence that SXSW has, it has everything that is offered - great new and famous forms of art with a unique place for visual arts, gallery art, art spaces and even comedies. I have worked with the NXNE festival and planning team before and I can tell you from first-hand experience that there is plenty of opportunity to network with bright and creative minds. 

Can't make it to Canada? College Music Journal hosts a week long festival on the streets of one of the largest year-round Meccas for entertainment - New York City. The CMJ Music Marathon is more than just tunes and musicians - it includes debut films at famed Tribeca film theatres, special events at bars and restaurants throughout the city, seminars at NYU (and others) and much more. My last year attending CMJ Marathon was in 2008 and included such events as the national premier for Zach and Miri Make A Porno, an intimate in-studio performance sitting with Broken Social Scene, a small Crystal Castles concert at Webster Hall and a meet-and-greet opportunity with Donovan Frankenreiter just to name a few.

Didn't get a chance to find great talent for your business or find the new best thing in music or film? NXNE takes place June 10-16 and offers something very unique: huge student discounts (over 50% off standard badge prices) and single day bracelets for those who want to experience what is offered without breaking the bank. Details are forthcoming but the initial music lineup includes The National, Buke & Gass, Flag, Mickey Avalon, Joey Bada$$ and much more. College Music Journal's Music Marathon takes place later in the year from October 15-19 and is currently taking submissions for artists, films and art along with other business opportunities. Stay tuned to this website for more details. Both of these will have plenty of opportunities for promotional product hand-outs and informal meetings with industry elite.

It's not hard to come by a food-enthusiast in New York. After all, some of the country's best restaurants can be found in Manhattan or one of the city's other four boroughs.

That's what makes New York City a great location for the 2013 Summer Fancy Food Show!

The massive trade show, scheduled for June 30 - July 2, 2013, will feature more than 150,000 specialty foods and beverages from 2,000+ exhibitors from countries all over the world. According to the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade, attendees will also have access to more than 15 educational seminars, tours and tastings. Wow!

While the show is not open to the general public, businesses within the specialty food industry are welcome.

To get a closer look at the Fancy Food Show, watch the promo video below:

Get ready, New York City! North America's most-attended car show is scheduled for March 29 - April 7, 2013 at the Jacob Javits Center. The show celebrating its 113th birthday this year -- wow!

According to its website, the trade show will feature 1,000 vehicles "plus the latest in tech, safety and innovation in nearly 900,000 sq ft." For car-enthusiasts, it's one of the biggest and best events of the year.

Perhaps the best part about the New York International Auto Show is that it's open to the public. You don't need to be an industry insider to take a look at some of the best, new vehicles! In fact, an adult ticket costs only $15.

As if getting to see some of the hottest 2013 and 2014 car models wasn't enough, attendees are also likely to take home some sweet customized car care accessories. After all, what's a trade show without giveaways?

Will you make it to this year's car show?

The Trade Show Blog loves to talk about events at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City, mostly because of its eclectic variety in events and its proximity from its Westbury corporate office.

Sadly, this post is not so much about an event that is happening but an event that was supposed to happen and will be scheduled for a later time.

The ISC East, a security industry tradeshow that was supposed to take place at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City tomorrow and Halloween has been postponed until further notice. This is because of the State of Emergency issued by both the state of New Jersey and New York for Hurricane Sandy. Public Transportation will not be running and the storm is said to be detrimental to the safety of those who don't find shelter. Because of this, the trade show will be postponed to another time to be determined.

The tradeshow was to have sessions, plenty of booth-space from vendors and conferences regarding the industry.

For more information, be sure to visit the ISC East website. 

Many of the tradeshows discussed involve fashion in some sense. But many fashion shows showcase clothes that can be extremely costly, are not suitable for everyday use and tend to be aimed at older audiences. 

Here comes Agenda: NYC and Agenda: CA to the rescue. These trade shows brings out over 100 different brands that are intended for younger people. These brands include Ashbury, Levi's, Vans, Skullcandy, Obey, DC Shoes and many others. The hope is to bring these independently-founded brands more exposure to an audience that is passionate about these and other brands.

If you are interested in seeing the newest stylings in promotional apparel, be sure to register on the Agenda website. Agenda: CA is January 4 & January 5 at the Long Beach Convention Center while Agenda: NYC takes place later in the month (January 23 & January 24) at 82 Mercer Street.

In 2013, the New York Times Travel Show will celebrate its 10th anniversary. The massive international celebration, scheduled for January 18 - 20, will offer attendees a tour of the world without having to leave the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City.

According to the event website, guests will get a closer look at more than 500 destinations worldwide, including well-known favorites as well as areas that are still crowd-free. From seminars and travel tips to live performances and culinary treats, the trade show promises to be a truly international festivity. Attendees will even have the opportunity to plan trips from American Express booking stations.

The New York Times Travel Show will be open to the general public on Saturday, January 19 and Sunday, January 20. Even better, kids under 18 will get in for free! They'll love taking home fun travel promotional items provided by sponsors and exhibitors like American Express and Puerto Rican Tourism.

Go away for a weekend and you'll find yourself staying at a hotel or motel and going to several restaurants for your meals. So once the vacation is done and over, how do you remember the hotel or the restaurant you visited?

Promotional products. 

According to eHow, promotional products is one of the most powerful and effective ways to expand your name. In hotels, you'll see this on bathrobes, shampoo bottles, hand lotion bottles and even the occasional pair of bathrobe slippers. In restaurants, you'll find after-dinner chocolates, after-dinner mints, business cards and matchbooks adorning the restaurant's name and information. Over the course of one weekend, you'll probably go home with something like the items listed above.

The International Hotel, Motel and Restaurant Show is an opportunity to meet other people from your industry and to those who cater to making your industry optimal. This is a chance to see what new promotional giveaways are available and what can help promote your name and likeness.

Although the show takes place in November at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City (November 10-13) use this time to register, book a flight/hotel and to prepare for networking. By doing so, you'll be sure to gain awareness of your brand in time for 2013. 

Are you desperate to get into the limelight but too nervous to up and leave for Hollywood? Or maybe you're a talent agent looking for the next Zooey Deschanel.

If you want to see your name in lights, the Showbiz Expo is the place to start. Located in the talent capital of the world (New York City) this expo will feature some of the most cutting edge in products and services for showbusiness. What makes this a great show to attend is that there will be guest speakers from the professions you are passionate about, technology showcases, an online job database and even a film festival. This tradeshow is the best place to network so be sure to have plenty of custom imprinted business card magnets on hand and a large custom imprinted business card holder.

Vendors will love the 10,000 attendees expected to show up for the tradeshow and the modest prices for a tradeshow booth. Just be sure your custom imprinted tradeshow items are in order, bring some custom imprinted pens, promotional magnets or custom imprinted t-shirts and sponsor one of the many areas of the tradeshow and you'll have a guaranteed success at the Showbiz Expo.