Miami 2008 in Review

[Hell Puppy]

Originally Posted by RawAlex

I didn't go. Haven't been to a show for while, but from all I have read, nobody seems to miss the show floor at all.

There's no point to making everyone spend the money on a booth.

I agree with Brad, swag is so 2001. I haven't seen anything clever or useful enough to actually make me make room for it in my suitcase in years. If I'm actually interested, give me a business card. You'll hear from me anytime from the next week til sometime 8 months later when I get around to doing whatever I had in mind with your stuff.

All you really need at a show these days is some sort of layout or even where you can get everyone in a common traffic area so they can find each other.

It's usually the bar.

That's why you see me give show promoters shit when the hotel bar only wants to open a few hours a day.

[Hell Puppy]

One trend I'm glad to see is the guys who just come to party, eat and drink on sponsor tits are staying home.

It actually bothers me when a sponsor or biz I dont know that well and do no business with currently is sneaky and grabs a check (cough, Brad, cough). Just southern upbringing, that's not what I'm there for and makes me feel funny. But some of these guys show up at the bar around dinner time and look to get invited to jump in on a dinner train. Most true business men can afford their own meals.

[Hell Puppy]

I asked before, I'll ask again.

Are there too many shows for the current climate?

I think yes.

I personally think there should be two big ones, one has to be Vegas. And then maybe a couple of more roaming regionals.

If you only had one a quarter attendance would be MUCH better. But such is not the way of our business, or most others for that matter. If someone is making a buck doing something, everyone else will try it til it's saturated to the point no one can make anything until consolidation brings everything back in order.