Events: Page (1) of 2 - 04/02/04

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A few weeks ago, someone asked about what they should expect when they attend NAB for the first time.  Here are some pointers, plans, and suggestions for NAB newbies to get the most out of their first convention.

Who to see and how?
One of the first problems a NAB virgin faces is, ?How do I get around on this huge show floor?  How do I find the exhibitor(s) I want to see??

Your first step should be to visit the official NAB 2004 website (http://www.nabshow.com/), and check out their very detailed maps of the show floor.  While you can obtain show floor maps at the show, you definitely don?t to announce you are a newbie by sitting down in the middle of the lobby going over a show floor map trying to get your bearings.  Like the Boy Scout Motto says, ?Be Prepared?.

While the map is a handy reference, it?s not going to be much use if you don?t know what exhibitors you are going to see.  Also on the NAB site is the listing of all the exhibitors and more importantly their booth numbers.  You will need both of these to make the most of your show.

Go through the list and find those exhibitors you REALLY must see.  Then go through the interactive map and find out where those booths are in relation to one another.  For example, this year discreet (SL4537), Apple (SL3660), and Avid (SL4761) are right next to each other on the show floor. 

On your first day at the show, visit those must see booths. If you are more interested in watching demos of products, and then talking to a sales person (providing you are looking to buy) plan on sitting through multiple demonstrations.  Most companies will have different demos throughout the day (repeated of course).  My experience is if you want to sit through all the demos (for example FCP, Express, SoundTrack, LiveType, XServe, etc from Apple) it will probably take you more than an hour to do. Between each demonstration there is roughly a 5 to 10 minute break (sometimes longer depending on the exhibitor) that gives the booth time to clear for a new group of visitors to come and sit down.  If you don't want to sit through all of the demos, make note of what time the "shows" start. There is usually a sign (or a ?booth babe?) that says when these begin and end.

The reason I say you should visit those must see booths on the first day is so you can get all of your business out of the way.  It is far too easy to be overwhelmed by all of the visitors, products, and booths at the show, which causes you to miss the important stuff you really came to see.  The second and third days can be spent picking up those must sees you missed, those second on the list, and then wandering the show floor looking for deals and bargains. 

Don?t forget the deals and bargains.  If you are at the show with a wad to spend on new equipment, make sure you check with the vendor dealers at the show.  Many of them will have special deals going on for show attendees.

As a media attendee, I spend the first 2.75 days making my one on one appointments and then spend the third day literally wandering up and down the aisles looking for those "wow" items that don't get much press or those products and companies that are debuting at the show.

Crowds as far as the eye can see
The next thing that comes up when a newbie is visiting the show for the first time is, ?There are so many people, how can I get a more personal experience??

It?s called the largest convention of its type for a reason.  Thousands of professionals from around the world fly to Las Vegas each spring to attend this one event.

Interestingly NAB is very much like oh so many theme parks - those attractions up front (like Apple, discreet, Avid) are the first ones people stop at when they enter the park.  Thus there seems to be a huge bottleneck at those attractions at the beginning of the day, but once the crowds disperse, those attractions are easy to get on.  A key to getting on rides at the theme parks quickly is to get as far away from the entrance as possible when the park opens and work your way back to the front.

I've found the same idea applies to NAB. Go to the back of the convention hall and then work your way to the front doors, by the time you get to the front those first booths won't be AS crowded.  I say AS crowded, because booths like Apple, Avid, discreet, Sony, Canon and the like will likely have large groups throughout the week.
Also, unless you have a lot to see, getting there as soon as the show floor opens on the first day is a mistake as EVERYBODY is queued up waiting to get in.  If 5,000 people are lined up at the door, it will take you a while to even make it through the gate.

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