Are Trade Shows a thing of the past?

[tony404]

one of the best quotes on gfy on the subject and so true :

Originally Posted by Atticus
Only in this industry would people welcome the consolidation of choices. Nobody needs to have a "sit down" regarding the state of industry trade shows. It's a free market and if there are more shows than the market will bear, then some will die off. If all of the current shows continue to offer a decent ROI for sponsors, organizers and attendees then they will remain. If, as an attendee, you feel a show isnt worth your time, then dont go. If enough people feel likewise you'll see the show cancelled.

Combining the two biggest shows of the Summer into 1 isnt going to solve anything. Without competition it will just end up raising sponsorship, badge and hotel pricing.

If you really wanted to work together for the "benefit of the industry" how about setting up a universal advertising guideline and not accept ads from companies that utilize practices that harm the industry as a whole, ie: hidden pre check cross sales, hiding behind DMCA's, using stolen content etc.

Just saying...

[Hell Puppy]

You guys have really touched on a couple of key truths that I haven't seen in that other thread as of last time I checked it...

One, the industry is still filled with people with no real business experience....or business ethics for that matter. The other is letting porn valley "lead" us is stupid. What in the hell do they know about the web? Or running a trade show for that matter.

Meanwhile, "Web 2.0" shows and seminars around SEO, affiliates, blogs, etc are blowing past us in size. I would also argue that they are now blowing past us in innovation where we used to always lead simply because we have one of the most in demand products on the web.

Also, this business is totally cut throat. The industry rips off customers and each other. There's very little overall cooperation.

This makes doing something like providing seminars or panels with true value a tough sell. Who wants to tell the bro's your secrets only to have them replicated and exploited to the point no one can make a buck with them?

The answer is B2B and education on tools and indeed teaching those who WANT to learn how to be businessmen instead of basement warriors how to do so. Some good topics have been thrown out for workshops. I'd add business 101. Think about topics like benefits of incorporation, how to manage your taxes, how to get health insurance, how to setup a SEP-IRA, etc? Although most of those are U.S. specific..

There's opportunity for a new entity that focuses on trade shows or does them well in a related industry to step in and grab attendees and sponsors alike. Provide the ROI, protect the sponsors, etc. It would take deep pockets to start, but the industry is ripe for something like this. I'd love to see one of the shows bought out by totally new blood.