Getting the most out of CES?
December 14, 2009 8:34 AM Subscribe
What should I know/do as a first time Consumer Electronics Show (CES) attendee?
This year will be my first attending CES in Las Vegas. I am attending as Press, and will be covering the event for a library publication that I'm not privy to divulge quite yet...so my focus will be on ebooks, mp3 players, cameras, and other things that libraries might need to care about in the next 12 months. I'll be avoiding the automotive area. :-)
For those that have been several times, any tips? The size of this thing is a bit overwhelming. I'm familiar with Vegas, and am staying in a hotel on the monorail line to get back and forth to the convention center, so I feel pretty well covered there.
Tips for getting the most out of the show itself? Secrets for getting access to things? How do you get the best schwag? I'm really looking for anything "best of" for this beast.
Thanks!
This year will be my first attending CES in Las Vegas. I am attending as Press, and will be covering the event for a library publication that I'm not privy to divulge quite yet...so my focus will be on ebooks, mp3 players, cameras, and other things that libraries might need to care about in the next 12 months. I'll be avoiding the automotive area. :-)
For those that have been several times, any tips? The size of this thing is a bit overwhelming. I'm familiar with Vegas, and am staying in a hotel on the monorail line to get back and forth to the convention center, so I feel pretty well covered there.
Tips for getting the most out of the show itself? Secrets for getting access to things? How do you get the best schwag? I'm really looking for anything "best of" for this beast.
Thanks!
Oh, crap, two more things. (If only we had an edit window.... !)
There were shuttles doing rounds of the hotels to and from the convention center and other buildings where things were. You can do that instead of the monorail. More networking that way, too.
Also, every year they do the Adult Entertainment Expo on overlapping days in the same buildings. Just be prepared for that.
posted by olinerd at 8:41 AM on December 14, 2009
There were shuttles doing rounds of the hotels to and from the convention center and other buildings where things were. You can do that instead of the monorail. More networking that way, too.
Also, every year they do the Adult Entertainment Expo on overlapping days in the same buildings. Just be prepared for that.
posted by olinerd at 8:41 AM on December 14, 2009
15-year CES veteran here. It is a big show, so be prepared for a crush of people and things.
Be prepared: If you have a list of people you want to see, get hold of the floor plan in advance and schedule your appointments so that they are close together. Some people do one hall a day, but reconcile yourself to the fact that you will never see all of it. I don't think it is physically possible.
Wear comfortable shoes: even with the shuttles, you will be doing a lot of walking.
Be patient; everything at the show takes a long time to get to and from, and a zen-like calm makes it more bearable. There are plenty of other people who get upset and angry at the crowds, so don't be one of them.
The evening events (Digital experience and the like) can be useful, but I don't know if the people you want to see will be there.
If your hotel is a long way off, add in time for queues for hotel shuttles or the monorail. Both get very busy going in in the morning and out again in the evening; you will often find yourself waiting for an hour or so to get on at busy times. I usually find it more productive to either leave early or stay until the press room closes, as the shuttles will be less busy then.
Don't forget that the press room (and the blogger room, I think) do lunch and sometimes breakfast.
posted by baggers at 9:34 AM on December 14, 2009
Be prepared: If you have a list of people you want to see, get hold of the floor plan in advance and schedule your appointments so that they are close together. Some people do one hall a day, but reconcile yourself to the fact that you will never see all of it. I don't think it is physically possible.
Wear comfortable shoes: even with the shuttles, you will be doing a lot of walking.
Be patient; everything at the show takes a long time to get to and from, and a zen-like calm makes it more bearable. There are plenty of other people who get upset and angry at the crowds, so don't be one of them.
The evening events (Digital experience and the like) can be useful, but I don't know if the people you want to see will be there.
If your hotel is a long way off, add in time for queues for hotel shuttles or the monorail. Both get very busy going in in the morning and out again in the evening; you will often find yourself waiting for an hour or so to get on at busy times. I usually find it more productive to either leave early or stay until the press room closes, as the shuttles will be less busy then.
Don't forget that the press room (and the blogger room, I think) do lunch and sometimes breakfast.
posted by baggers at 9:34 AM on December 14, 2009
Best answer: I've been to CES in the past as an exhibitor and as a visitor/buyer in the industry. I haven't been since 2002, though.
Yes, it's huge, and it is just about impossible for you to see all of it, even with a plan. Since you'll be there as media, you presumably have an area of focus, or a set of companies that you intend to meet with. Find out where they are on the floor (and in which buildings), and make your appointments accordingly, so you're not crossing town three times a day if you can help it. Do not schedule them too close together (assume that half the people you meet with will be running at least 30 minutes late).
Always eat lunch, and do it outside of the convention center. This is your break, your time off, and it's vital to your wellbeing after a couple of days of conventioneering.
Ask everyone you interview (and even people that you don't) what they're up to in the evening, or whether their company is sponsoring anything. A lot of the CES networking goes on at the cocktail hours, which are generally invite-only, but you'll usually get invited if you work in a related field, and ASK.
Plan on a full day to just wander around, getting a feel for what's on the floor, and what's likely to be big this year... what's the buzz. I tried to do this the first day of the show, but YMMV depending on what appointments you set up with interviewees. You'll never be able to see everything, but you can get a zen-like feel for things with a few hours of idle exploration.
Do spend some time in the low-budget small-business areas (usually in the back corners). If you've got some spare column inches, do one of those guys a favor and write something favorable (but accurate) about them. You might even do your employer a favor when the small business calls you for reprint rights.
The AVN Adult Entertainment eXpo runs concurrently, and your CES badge will let you in the door there too. Even if that sort of entertainment isn't your usual diversion, it's worth a visit.
posted by toxic at 10:46 AM on December 14, 2009
Yes, it's huge, and it is just about impossible for you to see all of it, even with a plan. Since you'll be there as media, you presumably have an area of focus, or a set of companies that you intend to meet with. Find out where they are on the floor (and in which buildings), and make your appointments accordingly, so you're not crossing town three times a day if you can help it. Do not schedule them too close together (assume that half the people you meet with will be running at least 30 minutes late).
Always eat lunch, and do it outside of the convention center. This is your break, your time off, and it's vital to your wellbeing after a couple of days of conventioneering.
Ask everyone you interview (and even people that you don't) what they're up to in the evening, or whether their company is sponsoring anything. A lot of the CES networking goes on at the cocktail hours, which are generally invite-only, but you'll usually get invited if you work in a related field, and ASK.
Plan on a full day to just wander around, getting a feel for what's on the floor, and what's likely to be big this year... what's the buzz. I tried to do this the first day of the show, but YMMV depending on what appointments you set up with interviewees. You'll never be able to see everything, but you can get a zen-like feel for things with a few hours of idle exploration.
Do spend some time in the low-budget small-business areas (usually in the back corners). If you've got some spare column inches, do one of those guys a favor and write something favorable (but accurate) about them. You might even do your employer a favor when the small business calls you for reprint rights.
The AVN Adult Entertainment eXpo runs concurrently, and your CES badge will let you in the door there too. Even if that sort of entertainment isn't your usual diversion, it's worth a visit.
posted by toxic at 10:46 AM on December 14, 2009
Everything in Lost Wages costs more than you think it will and you're expected to tip everyone. Bring more cash. This is what I learned at my first CES.
posted by Lynsey at 12:32 PM on December 14, 2009
posted by Lynsey at 12:32 PM on December 14, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
Make any appointments you can -- I also attended as media two years ago, and when I registered I got on a media list where various organizations gave me the chance to make appointments with their reps to get video, pictures, quotes, etc from them. I wish I'd done more; it'd have made it easier to get better info without elbowing other people out of the way. Also makes you seem a little more "legit" if you're not from a big-name publication.
Also, when I went, things were set up in way more than just the conference center. Plan on no more than one building a day.
Are you a blogger or full media? I didn't see the media room, but the blogger room was so, so relaxing after all the noise and craziness outside.
It wasn't made obvious to us, but after asking around, I found out that all media get free access to the panels and such (which normal attendees pay pretty dearly for). Find a schedule early and plan on some of those. Be prepared to argue with guards/staff who don't realize that bloggers count as media and can get in free.
I got in to some of the club parties in the evenings thanks to people I knew there who were exhibitors and otherwise honorary attendees; network however you can and use it to go to the fun stuff.
Have fun! I was exhausted by the end, but I loved going. And enjoy the heck out of Vegas while you're there, too!
posted by olinerd at 8:40 AM on December 14, 2009