Are Trade Shows a thing of the past?

[DannyCox]

Originally Posted by Hell Puppy

I attended the first web oriented version of IA2000 back in 97-98 at the Monte Carlo.

The first IA2000 show that included the Adult Internet was in Orlando in October of 1996. I think there were maybe 40 of us there and since the show floor was only geared toward Audiotext, we all mainly hung out in the lobby bar. That was the beginning of many of the initial large companies as real networking was being done.

By the next year, in October 1997, the webbies had half the show floor and the big parties got their start. JoeE threw a big party with strippers in the hotel ballroom, and then when it came time to pay, his credit card was refused and the hotel wouldn't take his check. Pushrod and I had to bail him out of that one

We went to all the early shows, and stopped in 2002 just because it wasn't worth the money anymore. I could get more business done on the phone than I ever could at a tradeshow. We used to have our booth at every show, but by 2002 it was so bad with more people coming to our booth to try and sell us crap than people who were actually interested in what we had to offer, that we stopped that. Complaining to AVN about the people walking around, leaving flyers on your tables, and grabbing people at your booth, just fell on deaf ears.

I've easily spent well over a quarter of a million dollars at tradeshows, from having booths, seminars and sponsorships. There was no ROI on that! With the tradeshow operators allowing basic attendees to walk the show floor, hawking their crap, it just didn't make sense to spend money on things anymore. Almost all "real" tradeshows have a policy in place where no one other than actual exhibitors/sponsors can promote on premises. By turning a blind eye, the tradeshow operators have only hurt themselves and the business.

After 2002, we were only at one other show, which was summer Internext in 2004. That was the biggest waste of my time! Farrell and I put on the Amateur Roundtable seminars, and even there, we had people trying to promote their programs.

I have all sorts of how rants, but I'll stop now

[gonzo]

[quote=DannyCox;829260
After 2002, we were only at one other show, which was summer Internext in 2004. That was the biggest waste of my time! Farrell and I put on the Amateur Roundtable seminars, and even there, we had people trying to promote their programs.
[/quote]
FWIW Danny I spent the day in that Roundtable and it was the most free flow of information that was useful that Ive ever seen at any show. Farrel did a goo job of moderating it but yes there were too many people trolling around with their own agenda.

Thank you for sponsoring it as it was one of the most enjoyable days Ive ever spent at any show. And yes I spent damn near all day in there.

I think this is a great idea to get a show started to interest new people. Combine that with a the old content shoots we used to have where you can actually allow affiliates in to shoot some original conent to poromote programs and I think you have a winning formula. This was done also and I spent an entire day of Webmaster Access in Atlanta with Cory at this shoot. Another enjoyable day.

Gives a guy a few ideas ya know . . .