Readers say ‘yea’ to chance to pay for day at annual electronics expo

The public should be invited behind the curtain of the International Consumer Electronics Show, many readers say.

Only industry insiders and the press get to see the latest and future gadgets during the annual CES in Las Vegas. It's the largest event of its kind, and many companies use the venue to announce deals, products and services. It has the mystique of living behind the "public not invited" shingle.

Last week I asked if you would be willing to pay an admission fee to spend a day at CES, and many salivated at the idea. An anonymous reader summed it up in an e-mail:

"What better way to fill the typically slow last day of any major trade show than by opening it up to the public. The seminars, conferences and meetings have been presented and the bigwigs are heading out of town early while the worker bees still man the booths until the bitter end.

"Give them something to do! Let them meet the public. This goes for almost any trade show for products having the general consumer as the end user. Think of it. Not just electronics, but the homebuilders shows, jewelry shows, shoe shows, clothing shows, furniture shows, travel shows, etc. ... There is probably a consumer market for almost any product show that happens in Vegas. The LVCVA (Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority) publishes a comprehensive calendar on its Web site for anyone interested in seeing what's coming to town.

"There are pluses and minuses on both sides of the fee-no fee question. No fee means there is no way to screen out freeloaders or other undesirables, while a reasonable fee -- say, $10 -- would attach value to the privilege of seeing a trade show.

"True, most locals do work, but perhaps there are a good number who might be willing and able to attend, not to mention tourists looking for something unique to do in Vegas during the daytime. Most tourists don't have major trade shows in their home cities."

George Appleton, who said he used to be an "audio-visual man" and teacher at Basic High School, said he's gotten into technology shows in the past with admission credentials that were shared by several people. He agrees that "us civilians ought to be allowed in -- even for a small fee -- for at least one day of the show. In the olden days, on the last day you could buy much of the stuff they'd been demonstrating so the salesmen didn't have to pack it up and carry it home."

A reader named Tom said: "People in this town always look for freebies -- and then don't appreciate them. I know. I am a merchant here.

"For that show, I would charge no less than $4 admission, or $10 for a multiday pass. Serious people will pay that. Only 'freebie-searchers' will look for $2 passes, and they don't intend to pay anything."