last year I couldn't go - this year I couldn't say no, and as NAB approches I'm just curious how many folks have been able to afford the free Vegas users party?.
Yes, both my son Colton and I will be there this year...our first. Really looking forward to the highlight of NAB...the VEGAS USERS PARTY!!! Yeah, baby!
Randy
Since it's your first year.....
Wear comfortable shoes.
Don't pick up EVERY freebie in sight, because by the end of the first row, your shoulder or hand will be ready to fall off due to the weight.
Carry a small daypack if you have one. Security will inspect it on entering the hall, so leave guns, knives, explosives, and other contraband in your hotel room. ;-)
Be prepared to spend a mint on food that is worth the cost of a breath mint. OK, maybe that's exaggerating, but I've had some good breath mints, but never good food at the LVCC.
Plan for no sleep. Vegas never sleeps and during NAB it's even more so. Parties every where every night from everybody.
Man, sounds like we need a survival guide for NAB. Thanks for the great tips. I'll be the one overloaded with stuff and looking for more, ha! ;-) By the way, did I mention that I got my NAB registration pack...complete with official name tag. I'm all aquiver.
R.
Fortunately NAB is a small show compared to CeBIT that just ended (in Hannover, Germany)
The Hannover Fair has 23 halls like the largest NAB hall, each hall with several eateries and several of them with sit-down restaurants, in addition to the multitude outside. The fairgrounds also have their own medical clinic, post office, several banks, hairdressers, drycleaners, grocery stores, place of worship, etc., etc.
Parking for 150,000 cars, with the nearby autobahns one-wayed towards the fairgrounds in the morning, and out in the evening. A 7-track railroad station, 2 light rail tracks, frequently used helipad for commuters who are staying at hotels in Paris or Hamburg (that would be those who didn't make their local hotel room reservations five years in advance). Used to get 750,000 visitors, more than 5 times the size of NAB.
Since my duties in the classroom will not allow me to enjoy NAB this year, unless Vegas 7 is released which judging by the silence ( not even a peep or a hint) then NAB will be ho hum for me. I am seriously hoping Sony surprises us with V7/DVDA4 so we can author HD DVDs/BD.
NAB Ho Hum???? Even as a many-year veteran, NAB is anything but "ho hum." Disney World is ho hum, Thanksgiving is ho hum, a new body style Ferrari is ho hum...but NAB in the year when you'll see more innovation and new products than ever before? Anything but. You have to see the circus before you can even begin to comprehend it.
Whilst I wouldn't call NAB ho hum by any stretch I think IBC is more of a circus!
Although at one stand at NAB the guy was quite happy to let me take a LONG walk with a F900 and it wasn't a cardboard mockup either.
What set IBC apart for me was that a whole bevy of manufactures would get together to show off their wares staging fashion shows, high wire acts etc. So we had Sony, Satchler, Steadicam, Technocrane etc AND Europes top fashion designers AND some extremely attractive models all at once.
And then there's Amsterdam, if IBC doesn't light your fire Amsterdam is a pretty interesting place. And the city knows IBC is on, free public transport for delegates etc.
Both are worth a visit if you have the chance.
The best thing at NAB (apart from the Vegas party), the guy that still manages to keep those RCA tube cameras running.
Why I was saying it will be ho hum is because I cant be there. Vegas is the only thing I get totally jacked about with NAB. Having to read about exciting products is definitely not the same as being there and seeing it up close.