This year’s NAB show was the first that I have attended and both my feet and my organizational skills are still in recovery mode. While carrying several bags full of press kits, CD demos and magazines at the Las Vegas airport, several attendees quickly identified me as a newbie and asked me if my feet hurt before asking me for my opinion on the show.
    Walking from the show’s South to North Hall not only covers a half-mile of distance but a wide range of industries and sectors that go beyond broadcasting. Microphone manufacturers, soundtrack composers, film editing software developers, cell phone suppliers and helicopter companies all share the same floor space. While all of these participants create an exciting and diverse environment, does the variety translate to return on investment?
    Some vendors I spoke to said they felt lost among the crowd. Some vendors felt they were improperly placed and had to think of ways to direct their potential customers past the distractions. When asking for directions to a specific booth, a group of attendees told me that they could find find their own booth two days into the show.
    Like any trade show, success often is determined by placement and visual advertising and depending on who you talked to, the stories were extremely varied. A Microsoft representative who gave me a demonstration of the company’s Mediaroom software, said his company was extremely pleased with their placement beside other giants like Adobe and Grass Valley, where foot traffic is software-minded and focused on specific solutions. But others were not as pleased. Some satellite vendors expressed frustration that they felt scattered throughout the show’s halls. Granted, it is close to a 15-minute walk from the North to South Hall.
    Perhaps NAB would be better served in separate, shorter and more focused segments. It would certainly help me out, as I would not have to carry 30 pounds of fliers home with me and spend a weekend sorting through the relevant content.