A shoe in...

One of the questions I often get asked is 'what is the secret to staying on my feet for so long?' and what to do to help survive the gruelling rigors of event life? The answer is very simple – Shoes. 

After again being asked this last week I thought the least we could do was to share our thoughts. Without the right footwear even a one-hour event can turn into podiatry hell, never mind expo events where you can be on your feet for days on end on hard concrete flooring with little or no support from the carpet, the wrong shoe can be the archenemy of onsite life.

At the end of the day it is about form vs function, trying to maintain the balance  between comfort, regulation while still trying to maintain a well heeled look can be more of an issue that what to have with that morning tea on the second day.

There are several archetypical considerations, first and foremost are OH&S considerations during the bump-in and out, no open toes, enclosed heels and without a significant heel and possibly with a steel cap, check with the venue as there are some specific requirements and there is no national standard.

During the event you gotta have sole, the thicker the better, the more support the better and the right arch for you foot is essential.

In extreme cases it has been know for a foot spa to be on site to help the walking wounded and to ensure that the entire team has their best foot forward.

A little thought while packing or before leaving the house can make a huge difference to the enjoyment of an event and remember always take a spare pair of shoes – as I have been told on many occasions, you can never have too many shoes.