The Not-So-Public Side of Trade Shows
So I started working for this wonderful blog not too long ago, and shortly after arrangements were being made for CES, are being made I should say. Bottom line is the show is January 7th-10th, 2008 and there are already arrangements and plans being made which amazed me.
I myself have never been to a trade show of any sort before, I hope to get to one before CES so I at least have some clue as to what I am in for, but that might not happen. Well apparently there are a couple of well-known after-party companies that host parties after the trade show doors close and allow vendors to pay to set up booths there. Those two companies would be Pepcom and Showstoppers.
I know you are probably thinking "that sounds a lot like an actual trade show" but the key differences are apparently these events are closed to the public, so it's basically the press vs. the vendors/PR people. The other difference, the one I personally can't wait to experience is the free drinks and food making your mingling experience a bit more relaxed, and comfortable, all the while also making you more receptive to their views, ideas, and thoughts.
Well apparently one of the editors had a genius idea, and it really is a great idea, basically his idea was, that since most editors and press people are up late writing like well trained monkeys, he would have an after-after-party for the editors to write about what they saw at the trade show and what they learned at the Pepcom event (they were the ones to be hosting this particular after-party event). So it's a great idea, but when the editor, a Mr. David Berlind, contacted Pepcom to see if maybe a small contingent of PR/Vendors would like to come and answer questions while people write (since just looking up and asking is a lot quicker than email) Pepcom got angry (I wonder if they turned green?) and went as far as to make a statement saying that anyone organizing or attending such an event would not be welcome at any Pepcom events.
Crazy stuff right? Well that was Pepcom's response and Mr. Berlind's response was to publicly condemn Pepcom and suggest that press and exhibitors alike reevaluate their desire to attend such events. Now that sounds like an equal and opposite action following Newton's rules, but if that happens, how else are we supposed to get some one on one time with the exhibitors? In the end, that was a mighty hasty and undeserved response from Pepcom especially since Mr. Berlind was trying to coordinate with them, not replace them.
Behind the Curtain: The Sordid World of Tech Trade Shows [via CrunchGear]