Leave TISE with an evaluation record, not just a bag of brochures
Bring a repeatable evaluation sheet to the show and leave with specific follow-up questions.
Bring a repeatable evaluation sheet to the show and leave with specific follow-up questions.
A useful trade-show visit starts with a shop question: what are you trying to improve, and what evidence would help you decide? Write that down before building a list of booths.
TISE combines product discovery with demonstrations and education. Its 2026 organizer recap describes fabrication demonstrations, the Natural Stone Theatre, and workforce-related learning sessions. Those are opportunities to prepare better questions; attendance or an award does not establish how a product will perform in your own operation. TISE 2026 organizer recap.
Bring one evaluation sheet
| Field | What to record |
|---|---|
| Shop problem | The actual task, delay, or information gap being investigated. |
| Product and version | Exact model, software version, or demonstrated package. |
| Demonstration | What you saw happen, with the inputs and conditions. |
| Vendor explanation | Claims discussed but not demonstrated. |
| Dependencies | Required equipment, software, data, staff preparation, and support. |
| Follow-up | Question, responsible contact, requested evidence, and next review date. |
Use the same scenario where comparison is meaningful. A digital templating demonstration and a job-management demonstration need different tests, but both should explain what leaves the demonstrated stage and what receives it next.
Distinguish discovery from acceptance
A demonstration can establish that a function exists in the configuration shown. It may not establish compatibility with your files, equipment, or processes. Ask for a follow-up using representative inputs and document the conditions before treating a result as evidence for your shop.
If a vendor cannot answer on the floor, record the question instead of filling the gap with an assumption. Confirm what training and implementation support would actually be included.
Review the notebook while details are fresh
Group notes by the shop problem, not by the attractiveness of the booth. Pick the few candidates that warrant follow-up. Summarize the evidence already available and the uncertainties that could change the decision.
For a publication, use that same distinction. An event preview summarizes announced plans; a retrospective examines records afterward; a hands-on report requires actual observation. An editor reviewing old TISE sources should never imply that they attended the show or tested the machines.
Original editorial framework. Adapt these examples and worksheets to your shop. No firsthand product testing or customer interviews are claimed.
Editorial approach & corrections →
