I would like to welcome you as an exhibitor to TMEA's 2008 Annual Clinic/Convention! Plans are in the final stages for the show and it promises to be another great one!

To keep you abreast of exhibitor "must know" information, and to make exhibiting with TMEA as pleasant and seamless as possible, I'm sending you this News Alert and will continue to do so as pertinent news becomes available.

If you have questions that are not answered here, do not hesitate to call or email me at the number and email address below.

Exhibitor Decorator Kits
Freeman Decorating Company is the official service contractor for the TMEA show. They emailed the Decorator Kits at the beginning of December, so you should have received it then; however, you can also click on the link above for the official site.

BREAKING NEWS: TMEA will be offering ATTENDEE LEAD RETRIEVAL at the 2008 Convention! See the form in the Exhibitor Decorator Kit for more information.

***Deadline for discount rates is January 29, 2008***

Sponsorship Opportunities
Increase your exposure and recognition by demonstrating your commitment and support for music education!

***Hurry! Only three opportunities remain available!***

Attendee Pre-Registration Database
Direct mail/email is still the most effective marketing tool available, so reserve all or part of the attendee pre-registration database now to optimize your exhibit experience!

***Database orders will not be processed until after January 21, 2008***

Sales Tax Permit
Texas state law requires all exhibitors who make sales or contacts for future sales at the TMEA Convention to be registered with the Texas Comptroller's Office. Complete information may be found at the link above.

Online Floor Plan
As part of our expanded member services, we offer an online floor plan so that the attendees can map out their exhibit hall strategy.

Convention Center Maps / Loading Docks
The Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center has a great site which provides maps/loading dock/parking/construction information and updates.

NOTE:
West Exhibit Hall exhibitors (3-digit booth #'s) must use the West Loading Dock.
East Exhibit Hall exhibitors (4-digit booth #'s) must use the East Loading Dock.

Badge Request Form
It is time to order your badges for the 2008 Convention. Look on your invoice or booth contract for your Company ID to complete the badge request.

***Deadline---February 1, 2008***

Lodging
We are working every day to secure additional housing in the downtown area at the reduced convention rates, but downtown housing availability is very scarce. However, you have several options:

1. Visit the official TMEA housing site. There is limited housing currently available. Continue to check this site over the next 7-10 days for any additional rooms.
2. Book online using a service such as hotels.com or expedia.com.

***Registration & Exhibit Hall Schedule***

Free Convention Center Parking
The City of San Antonio is offering convention attendees free parking at the Alamodome Lot C. TMEA is providing free shuttle service to the Convention Center Thursday-Saturday, 7:30 a.m.-11 p.m.

Concert Ticket Sales
You are cordially invited to purchase tickets for two very exciting concert offerings this year at TMEA

1) The King's Singers will be performing on Wednesday evening, February 13.
2) Sir James and Lady Jeanne Galway will be performing with the San Antonio Symphony on Thursday evening, February 14.

Explore San Antonio
Learn more about what San Antonio has to offer.

FairGuide.com/Construct Data Verlag Warning
Some of you may have received communication from the Austrian based Fairguide.com/Construct Data Verlag offering services to exhibitors. TMEA has NO connection with this company or any of their events. Be advised and vigilant in any dealings with this company as they will claim to offer online services and use a form which resembles an organizer's free catalogue listing. However, exhibitors who sign and return the form are then contracted into a three-year, non-retractable agreement, which could cost the exhibitor a significant amount of money with no foreseeable benefits.

Tesa Harding, CEM
Texas Music Educators Association
Exhibits & Advertising Manager
512/452-0710 x 104
512/451-9213 fax