C-E-S Approaches

But it went away.

Now the second cousin to COMDEX – CES (Consumer Electronics Show) — is the top dog in a town that yawns at most big conventions.  Because of the down economy, the city is drooling at the estimated 130,000 spenders headed here.

But in general Las Vegans are a bit miffed at CES.  They're as big a fans of new gizmos as anybody.  CES brings it all right to their door, but the public can't attend.  Years ago, the exhibitors would just dump all their wares on any local who could wrangle access to the convention center floor.  Then retailers got tired of that, so a city ordinance prevents the practice.

Thursday the fun begins.  Try…go ahead, just try to get to every exhibit in the 4-day show.  Only a triathele can achieve it.  So you rely on the cadre of journalist, bloggers, tweeters, and rumor-mongers to disseminate their version of things.  

Most serious attendees have an agenda, a map, a good pair of walking shoes, and (if they're smart) a focus.  That way, they might achieve the networking, sales, client-finding, and liaisons they'd hoped for.

As a working journalist in Las Vegas, I can get easy access.  I also know where to park, and what entrance to use…and STILL going to CES is a challenge.  It's just so…BIG.

Honestly, the whole scene is analogous to a major football game in your town.  Sure, you could go and buck the crowds, get beer spilled on you, and freeze your touche off.  Or you could sit at home and see the best angles on TV, and read the best reviews on the internet.

I guess it comes down to whether you like to be a real participant or not.  I'm going to dive in.  But my dogs will be tired at the end of the day, and I'll have a big plastic shopping bag full of promotional ball-points, advertising flyers, maybe a lite CD version of some software program, and if I'm lucky, a Sony T-shirt.

COMDEX was no better.

CourVO