I don’t know about you, but I’ve been so busy that I haven’t had time to think about this year’s NAB in Las Vegas. With the stock markets all over the place, layoffs in the hundreds of thousands, the demise of the dotcoms and the shrinking ad dollars, I can’t wait to see what I can buy, or to hear about how wonderfully all the manufacturers in our industry are doing.
In this column previously, I have called the NAB convention the "Annual Fib Fest." This year will be no exception. In fact, the largest growth sector of attendees will be spin doctors: "How can I put a shine on this story or that story?" "What can we say that won’t scare away our clients?" "We need this sale to stay alive."
Everyone, from you and I, to the people on the floors of both the Las Vegas Convention Center and the Sands Convention Center, has to think differently. The same old paradigm isn’t working. We have to find a new way to do business. If you are hoping for the same old way of doing business to come back, you will perish.
Yeah, we will hear the same old words, too: Streaming … no magic. Asset Management … no magic. High Def … so what? Symphony … so? Smoke, mirrors, flocks, bushel baskets, knishes … I wish there were a booth that showed "Low-cost Tuscan Cuisine for Clients and Staff," or, "Wolfgang Puck’s Post Production Facility Cookbook." This would be huge! Or a com-pany that can deliver trendy bottled water for 15 cents per .5 liter bottle.
I’m also afraid (predicting way ahead of the show) that this year’s Las Vegas turnout will be lower than that of any previous year in the past 10. Budgets have been cut, strikes are looming, there isn’t much to see (same old, same old) and we have started to play golf even in New York.
But let’s look at the bright side. There will be fewer lines. Yep—no waiting for the buses for an hour. Reservations will be easy at Emeril’s Delmonico in the Venetian or at Aureole in Mandalay Bay. You might even want to renegotiate your room rate because of the low occupancy rate. And if you dare eat a big steak as in the years past, there will be a seat for you at The Palm in Caesar’s Palace, across from Spago.
This year if you go, you will be able to say, "Meet me at the escalator by the book store," and actually find the person. There will be shorter lines in the facilities. A place to sit down and eat lunch will be easy to obtain. And … you’ll be able to get a cell phone call from anywhere. I hope you are staying at the Rio, because the Golf Course Rio Secca is the best. Shadow Creek is available for MGM and Mirage guests, and Reflection Bay at Lake Las Vegas in Henderson is "a killer."
Yeah, I’ll be there if nothing else comes up. You can’t miss this one. I hope to see you there. If you see me, say, "Hi!"
