Detours

At my first major in-person speaking event, I gave away a TV. Yep. A smart TV. But before anyone could enter the drawing, they needed to know what to do. That’s where the sign came in. I’m Angie Norris, and this is Side Hustle GPS. Today, we’re stopping in Celebration Square to explore Event Signage. Back in 2020, I spoke at an event in Dallas, Texas. I was nervous, but the presentation went well, and it helped kick off my public speaking career. I also had a booth with two posters. One explained the TV giveaway: drop in your business card, and we’d draw a winner at the end of my presentation. The other showed the different ways people could work with me. A free starting point. A challenge. A done-with-you course. A done-for-you agency offer. Those signs helped people understand what was happening and what I offered—even before we had a conversation. At the time, I used Costco to print sturdy posters in sizes like 11 by 17 and larger. I made so many signs that way, for corporate clients and personal events. Because a useful sign does a job. It welcomes someone. Answers a question. Shows them where to go. Helps them take the next step. And creating those signs can be a paid service. Recently, I helped prepare materials for a memorial. We created a large welcome sign with photographs arranged in a heart, honoring the person whose life everyone had gathered to celebrate. We also made signs for her favorite desserts. She loved sweets, so I used AI to help create a cartoon-style image of her holding her favorite treats. The sign welcomed people to “Julie’s Sweet Treats.” It gave that table a personal connection. Guests could enjoy something she had loved. That’s what I enjoy about this work: combining practical information with the feeling of the occasion. I’ve created signage for weddings, corporate events, personal gatherings, and memorials. You could offer welcome boards, seating charts, directional signs, schedules, or branded displays. And the opportunities extend beyond a single event. A restaurant might need a daily-special sign, a tabletop display, or a QR code that helps customers find its review page. AI can help brainstorm ideas, explore a theme, and develop visual elements. Then you make the sign useful. Keep the message clear. Make the lettering easy to read at the intended distance. Check names, dates, and directions. And test every QR code before printing. A beautiful design still needs to work in the room. Your first money move? Choose one type of customer and create a small sample collection. For an event host, that could be a welcome sign, a schedule, and a directional sign. Offer print-ready files, or include printing and delivery as a separate package. Confirm the printer’s specifications and current costs before quoting. Then show your work. Share a clear photo of your samples and explain what you can create. Don’t hide your work. People need to see it to know they can hire you. So, what question could your next sign answer—or what welcome could it help someone feel? Explore Event Signage in Celebration Square at SideHustleGPS.com. Make your own sign. Sometimes, making your work visible helps someone else see exactly what they need.