I went to Hollywood's show this year to meet people and paid my $300 to get into the hotel. I wasn't there for the show, but, specifically to meet up with some people.
Had I been there to see the show and not meet clients and potential clients, this is what I saw:
Show floor - very few booths, even fewer attendees -- even with food in the same room, and poker right outside, the show floor was deserted. Booth babes all looked completely bored.
Pool Cabanas - well attended except the one not serving free alcohol. 90% of the networking occurred at the oceanside tables where you could get food or drinks or at the restaurant that was Air Conditioned. Seems that some northerners believed that 90 & 95% humidity was too hot to be outside.
Seminars - I poked my head into a few and had I expected to actually get usable information rather than hearing people pat themselves on the back on what they did without revealing the actual message, maybe there would have been value. I sat in on 3 different discussion groups, none provided any real information. I did learn that some guy sat in his underwear and came up with an idea that made him $20k. He never did explain what he did, he just seemed happy that he had earned $20k and wanted the attendees to know that.
For me, the $300 was worth meeting a few people and having lunch, dinner or drinks with them. Had I been there to see the show or the exhibits, I would have been sorely disappointed.
If I were going to Vegas, I would probably pay the badge fee knowing that I would be there to meet clients and it was easier to meet people at the hotel than trying to coordinate. I certainly wouldn't be paying the fee for the content offered at the show.
2006-10-26, 05:58 PM
Hybrid Mode
