WELCOME! We hope you will join us in Houston, TX, at the 94th Annual Texas Music Teachers Association State Convention, June 11-15, 2008. This is a great opportunity to meet and introduce your company to over 500 music teachers from throughout the state of Texas, as well as over 5,000 students and their family members. Sign up early to ensure you will be able to showcase your products and services.

LOCATION Our 2008 State Convention will be at the Hyatt Regency Houston, 1200 Louisiana Street, Houston, TX 77002.  Convention attendees will enjoy the special rate of $110, plus tax, by calling the Hotel Reservation Department at 800/233-1234, before the group cut-off of May 27, 2008. After this date, reservations will be on a space- and rate-available basis. Check-in is 3:00 p.m. and check-out is noon. Valet parking is priced at $18 plus tax per day (special TMTA price) with in and out privileges; $13 for the first three hours. Other parking is available nearby; those fees will range from $6 to $15 daily.

EXHIBITOR SERVICES

Convention Decorating Services (CDS) is the decorator for the Exhibit Hall. Their office is located at 3559 Belgium Lane, San Antonio TX 78219. Telephone is 210/581-9220; fax is 800/677-8191. After we have received your signed and paid booth contract, CDS will email an Exhibitor Services Manual for ordering services such as electrical, Internet, etc.

EXHIBIT INFORMATION

Exhibits will be on the Lower Level of the Hyatt Regency Houston. Exhibit booths include a fully-draped 8'x10' booth, two chairs, one wastebasket, one 6' table, and a standard identification sign. General lighting and cleaning are also provided. Each booth will be entitled to two exhibitor badges; extra badges will be $50 each.

College and University table-top attendees must register on the teacher registration form (available Spring 2008). 

All booths will be assigned on a first-contracted, first-served basis. Deposit/payment must be included before booth space will be assigned. A security guard will be on duty in the Exhibit Hall during non-show hours. Cash food sales and convention photography will be in the Exhibit Hall, driving traffic to the booths.

Exhibitor Brochure: Please note that you will be unable to fill in credit card information on your computer.  Please print the form and fill in that portion by hand to protect your confidential information.

Floor Plan

Fees

Exhibit Booth - $400

Incentive Package - $700

Table-Top Exhibit - $100 (available for colleges and universities only)

HOURS Effort has been made in the scheduling of exhibit times to give exhibitors the maximum amount of exposure to convention attendees. Setup is conveniently scheduled for Thursday afternoon and tear-down Sunday afternoon. Prize drawings always create interest, and we encourage you to participate in the Treasure Hunt (additional information below).

Booth Setup time: Thursday, June 12, Noon – 8:00 pm

Exhibit Hours: Friday, June 13, 9:00 am – 6:00 pm

Saturday, June 14, 9:00 am – 6:00 pm

Sunday, June 15, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Booth Tear-Down: Sunday, June 15, 5:00 pm

Deadlines

December 15 – Incentive package

April 14 –receipt of all contracts

April 14 – Convention On-site Program advertising

April 21-May1 – notification of booth location

Major Events of Interest

Jo Ann Dunn Fargason Memorial Concert

The concert is to honor deceased member Jo Ann Fargason, a former president of TMTA. Student concerto winners of the MTNA/TMTA State Performance Competitions are featured with an orchestra.

Silent Auction

Come view and bid on items donated by TMTA members, exhibitors, and friends. Proceeds will go to the Texas Music Teachers Education Foundation (TMTEF) and used to fund student awards.

Composer Autograph Party

Students are honored with a party and a chance to visit and get autographs from some of their favorite composers.

Last Call Shopping

Teachers are treated to a drink while finishing their shopping in the exhibit hall. 

MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES

Incentive Package

The TMTA Convention Incentive Package includes the following items:

One 8'x10' booth (Value $400)

Quarter-page ads in the Fall and Winter Texas Music Teacher magazine (Value $170)

Quarter-page ad in the Convention On-Site Program ($85)

Link to your company Web site on TMTA Web site until June 30, 2008 ($100)

TMTA membership list (Excel format) ($250)

Business card ad in TMTA Member Handbook ($45)

Total value $1,050      Cost $700

Limit of one Incentive Package per company. Additional exhibit booths or advertising can be purchase at the regular rate.

Convention On-site Program Advertising is available in the Convention On-Site Program, distributed to attendees of the TMTA State Convention. The brochure will be an 8-1/2" x 11" booklet, with full-page, half-page, and quarter-page ads, starting from $80. Quarter-page ad is included in the Incentive Package.

Membership Database Purchase the TMTA membership database (Excel format) for only $250; TMTA members $125. The membership list is included in the Incentive Package.

Treasure Hunt Provide a prize for teachers, students, or both for each day of the Exhibit Show. A box and entry forms will be delivered to your booth. Winners will be announced at the end of each day. Exhibitors will keep all entry forms.

Showcase Exhibitors may present a session that introduces products or materials to the TMTA Convention attendees for a fee of $250. Showcase contracts must also be exhibitors. No order taking or selling is permitted during the Showcase. Limit of one Showcase per Exhibitor.

A special Showcase may be purchased for $750 that allows a company to make a presentation of materials with no display booth required. Sales of showcased materials may only be made at the Showcase

An Exhibitor/Advertising Brochure, containing  the Exhibitor Contract and Contract Rules will be sent upon request and will be posted on this website in September.

For additional information please contact Sherri Beck CPS/CAP, Administrative Director, at texasmta@tmta.org or Convention Exhibits Chairman Jonathan Gary at jgary@umhb.edu. 

TMTA President-Elect Janelle Schlaudt is the convention chairman and may be reached at  janelle@tmta.org.