Planning Exhibition Stand Entertainment

Your exhibition stand needs to work hard. You've invested in the space, designed the graphics, briefed the team — but if visitors walk past without stopping, none of that matters. Interactive games change the dynamic. They give people a reason to stop, a reason to stay, and a reason to engage with your team.

We've been supplying games to exhibition stands since 2009, at venues from the NEC to the London ExCeL. This page covers the practical side of choosing and positioning games for your stand, based on what we've seen work across hundreds of trade shows.

Choosing the Right Games for Your Stand

The games you choose should match your stand size, your audience and what you're trying to achieve. A 3m x 3m shell scheme has different requirements to a 10m custom-build island stand, and a recruitment fair calls for different entertainment than a manufacturing trade show.

For smaller stands (3m–6m): Compact, high-impact games work best. A Batak Lite reaction game fits in a tight space but draws attention with its flashing lights and competitive gameplay. Prize Wheels take up minimal floor space and give you a natural reason to collect contact details. Crack the Code creates intrigue without needing much room.

For medium stands (6m–12m): You've got space to create zones. Place an interactive game like Whack a Mole or Strike a Light at the front to draw footfall, with a Prize Crane or Cash Grabber further in to keep visitors on the stand longer.

For large stands and island builds: Multiple games create an experience rather than a single attraction. Racing Simulators, Dance Machines and Mega Wire can run simultaneously, each drawing different crowds and keeping your stand busy throughout the day.

Where to Place Games on Your Stand

Position matters. The games that draw footfall — anything with lights, sound or visible competition — should face the main aisle. Place them where passing visitors can see the action without stepping onto your stand, because curiosity does the rest.

Keep your conversion area (where your sales team talk to prospects) slightly set back from the games. Visitors play, get into a good mood, and naturally drift towards your team. This is far more effective than cold-approaching people in the aisle.

If you're at a corner stand, use games on both open sides to double your draw. We've set up stands at the NEC Birmingham where a Batak game on one aisle and a Prize Wheel on another created constant traffic from two directions.

Maximising Your Return

Exhibition stands are expensive. The game hire is often a small fraction of your total stand cost, but it's the element that determines how many visitors actually stop. Here's what we've seen work well:

Use branded games to reinforce your message. We print and apply branding in-house — your logo, colours and messaging on games and equipment. Companies like Baylis & Harding and Lidl have used branded games at trade shows to create talking points that outlast the event itself.

Collect data through gameplay. Prize Wheels and Cash Grabbers create natural reasons to capture names and email addresses. "Spin the wheel — leave your card to claim your prize" converts far better than a bowl of business cards on a table.

Create shareable moments. Photo Booths with branded prints give visitors something to take away and share on social media. That's extended reach beyond the exhibition hall at no extra cost.

Venues We Know Well

We've delivered exhibition stand games to every major UK venue, including:

• NEC Birmingham
• London ExCeL
• Manchester Central Convention Complex
• Olympia London
• Edinburgh International Conference Centre

Each venue has its own logistics — loading bay access, stand build timelines, power supply arrangements. We handle delivery, setup and collection at all of them, and we know the practical details that make the difference between a smooth setup and a stressful one.

How to Get Started

Browse our exhibition games to see the full range, or contact us to discuss your stand requirements. Tell us your stand size, the event, and what you're hoping to achieve — we'll recommend games that fit and provide a no-obligation quote.

We deliver nationwide and can typically turn around bookings within 2-3 weeks, though for major trade shows we'd recommend getting in touch earlier to secure your first-choice games.