Are Trade Shows a thing of the past?

[DannyCox]

When AVN first took over IA2000, we did deal with them quite a bit, and they were happy to work with us on giving breaks to the Amateurs in attendance and giving us free space to hold our various Amateur seminars. Then, after some personnel changes, things just went silent and we could never get responses to questions again, or any assistance.We did feel a bit ignored.

The only communication we did have were AVN sales people trying to sell us booth space, but then also ignoring the comments I did have on that booth space. We had booth space at every show from 1999 to 2003, and that last show in Vegas in 2003 was the last straw. As I mentioned previously, it was getting both frustrating and tedious having more people come to our booth trying to sell us there stuff than showing interest in ours! It felt like over half the walk around's on the floor were only there to sell and promote. Complaints about this just fell on deaf ears and were ignored. It is wrong to allow people in who are not exhibitors or sponsors of the show to sell on the show floor, especially when they are leaving promotional materials all over the place and grabbing people right out of your booth! that killd it for us ever exhibiting or sponsoring again.

We also stopped going to shows when the main selling points being used were the "parties". Even avnchris made a post on AWW with the subject line, "Last Call for Alchohol......... I mean FREE Badges......" (sic). I know that is supposed to be humorous, but that really is the basic sell for shows...the party promotion before business promotion. It's also something I, and many others, are not the least bit interested in. I want to be told why I should go as it relates to my business, not my liver!

I may be totally naive, but I do believe that the real decision makers in our Industry are sick of these style of shows and would like to see something truly more business oriented. I know very few people who take any of the seminars seriously as all they are about is someone sitting on a panel saying "Buy My Shit!". Very little thought goes into those seminars, and in most industry trade shows, panel members are not allowed to promote their own products while on panel. Speakers are selected on their knowledge and ability to properly speak, not on the "old boys" network that has gone on much too long.

There really is a lot to do and a massive overhaul of the show concept needs to be done. Trade Show promoters need to concentrate on the ability of their attendees to do business, not the bottom line, as that bottom line will rise with a properly produced show.