What I got out of Vegas

[Useless]

Originally Posted by babymaker

hey, here is a curious question, what is the total cost to attend one of these shows

I paid $252 for my round trip flight, $150 for my hotel stay (split the cost with Preacher) and spent around $300 on drinks, meals, cabs, etc. (had a couple of dinners at someone else's expense). It's probably worth spending more and staying at the venue rather than being cheap like me and staying at a less expensive hotel. Getting a cab in Vegas is fast and easy, but it would be less aggravating to not need to travel to where the sexy people are. Also, the more you pay for a room, the prettier the people in the casino will be. (there's a correlation there)

Business-wise, it probably doesn't make sense for a guy like me to go to shows. I'm not going to go out of my way to network with sponsors because they really don't have anything to offer me. If their reps are too lazy or too stupid to approach me, or too busy giggling with each other, then I assume that me and my enormous traffic flow are not needed. I'm really beginning to think that these shows have become nothing more than a meeting place for programs to discuss up-sells with each other. That, or they are all really shy. At this show, I didn't have a badge, so maybe they thought I was just another lurker. But I wore my badge constantly at Xbiz and never had a rep say more than 'hi' to me in passing. If you are particularly outgoing and are willing to fish for reps yourself, you could do so. Tell them your name. They'll say, "who?" Then they'll give you a mouse pad or tshirt and thank you for promoting them even though they've never heard of you and really wished you hadn't interrupted the conversation they were having with their fellow pimps and bullshitters. It's sad to say, but I honestly think that I'd make a better rep at a show than the ones I witnessed talking amongst themselves at the bars. But I do have an every sale counts attitude.

On a personal level, I think the shows are great. If you want to meet and drink with the unpretentious anti-pimp members from GG&J, or even the douchey surfmasters from GFwhy, the shows can be a lot of fun.

[Preacher]

Originally Posted by Useless Warrior

If their reps are too lazy or too stupid to approach me, or too busy giggling with each other...

Yeah, it kind of surprised me to see all the affiliate managers sitting with other affiliate managers, and there should be more reps willing to introduce themselves and whisper sweet nothings into my ear -- that's how my Epoch rep won me over (the cocksucker)!

I do a little bit of introducing myself when I can, but when I walk near reps that are talking to other reps I'm not going to butt in. I walked up to the bar to grab a beer and the bartender was working the other side so we're waiting a bit and I say hi to the guy next to me and ask him what he does. He was in hosting and asks me what I do, and I told him "I'm an affiliate." He laughed and said they need more of those at shows because there's really no one for them to pitch to at the shows anymore. Then he left without saying another word.

One way to avoid the random wooing is like BDok said, set up meetings with companies you want to meet with ahead of time, or just stand in the bar and offer free drinks as apparently most reps are alcoholics. |drunk|