Opinion on trade show ROI and effectiveness

Our PBS/NPR stations do local chamber of commerce expos. I anchor deals from evey one! If the other reps aren't, then shame on them! I arrive pre-dawn with a flagon of coffee from Panera Bread or alt. and cups. Help vendors setup. greet visitors, wear a nametag as BIG AS YOUR FACE so there is no doubt. The best hour at any show? the LAST hour... that's when the business owner shows up after locking the door at the end of a long day. and half the vendors have their head in their briefcase packing to leave. There's also the concept of working the show from the attendee-side. Booths are usually filled with reps not decision makers, but they are anxious to fend off pitches by giving you the name of the decision maker, unlike the highly trained gatekeeper who answers the phone. My tip of the week? The smaller the venue, the larger the rewards. Why worry about how deep is the sea, when you are the biggest fish?