An outsider’s inside view of CES
Thursday's column on allowing the public into the International Consumer Electronics Show brought more responses from folks with some trade-show experience. I'll move the discussion to the blog and invite you to chime in.
Art Yollin writes:
Anyone with a shred of ingenuity can go to the CES show. I'm not going to explain how but it's pretty obvious from the application what you need to get in. The show that was really tough to get into before it was downsized was the Electronic Entertainment Expo, E3. You have to provide actual proof that you are in the industry. You need two documents, one of which has to be an insurance card, pay stub, W-2 form, business lic(ense), company credit card or resale tax certificate. The other document has to have your name and name of your company. Just for good measure the admission is $400.
When I went to the show in 1999 it was loaded with gamers who showed any old business card. Even then admission was $100. It got ridiculous. It was the beginning of the explosion of computer gaming and video consoles. You could barely move as everyone wanted to try out the latest games. It was unbelievable, loaded with celebrities, rock stars, and athletes, many of who just came to look at the games.
The expense to attend the show shot up as admission went to $150 then $250. The price kept people out even if they could make fake credentials. E3 knew that. Seventeen- to 21-year-old gamers would rather take that $250 and spend it on games. I could never figure out how so many young kids ended up with industry complimentary passes.
I have probably gone to CES about 25 out of the last 28 years. It has changed tremendously. E3 used to be a part of it. Now there are hardly any gaming products at the show ... The show has gone downhill now that the economy is suffering. There is still some great stuff to see there but it has lost its appeal. It became too big. Spread over from the Sands (Expo and Convention Center) and Las Vegas Convention Center. Many exhibitors don't show up there anymore. The reason it would be bad if the general public is let in is that they would pester the reps with questions. They are there to do business and talk to qualified buyers. Many of the companies have switched to meeting rooms. Even regular CES attendees can't get in. That apparently is the same trend at E3. The only way to see new games is whatever G4TV wants to show you over its three-night coverage.
I think what's sad at this point is that any new products at CES get very limited coverage from the media — a few lines in USA Today, five minutes on a show like “Good Morning America” where they try to squeeze in four items and spend 30 seconds on each. There is no way for the public to see new liquid-crystal display TVs unless they go to a high-end home entertainment store where salespeople try intimidate them or they go to Best Buy and get hassled by every minimum-wage employee there. You can actually compare TVs at CES without being surrounded. CES might have to open to the general public one day if the economy continues the way it is just get people interested in spending money.
When I went to the show in 1999 it was loaded with gamers who showed any old business card. Even then admission was $100. It got ridiculous. It was the beginning of the explosion of computer gaming and video consoles. You could barely move as everyone wanted to try out the latest games. It was unbelievable, loaded with celebrities, rock stars, and athletes, many of who just came to look at the games.
The expense to attend the show shot up as admission went to $150 then $250. The price kept people out even if they could make fake credentials. E3 knew that. Seventeen- to 21-year-old gamers would rather take that $250 and spend it on games. I could never figure out how so many young kids ended up with industry complimentary passes.
I have probably gone to CES about 25 out of the last 28 years. It has changed tremendously. E3 used to be a part of it. Now there are hardly any gaming products at the show ... The show has gone downhill now that the economy is suffering. There is still some great stuff to see there but it has lost its appeal. It became too big. Spread over from the Sands (Expo and Convention Center) and Las Vegas Convention Center. Many exhibitors don't show up there anymore. The reason it would be bad if the general public is let in is that they would pester the reps with questions. They are there to do business and talk to qualified buyers. Many of the companies have switched to meeting rooms. Even regular CES attendees can't get in. That apparently is the same trend at E3. The only way to see new games is whatever G4TV wants to show you over its three-night coverage.
I think what's sad at this point is that any new products at CES get very limited coverage from the media — a few lines in USA Today, five minutes on a show like “Good Morning America” where they try to squeeze in four items and spend 30 seconds on each. There is no way for the public to see new liquid-crystal display TVs unless they go to a high-end home entertainment store where salespeople try intimidate them or they go to Best Buy and get hassled by every minimum-wage employee there. You can actually compare TVs at CES without being surrounded. CES might have to open to the general public one day if the economy continues the way it is just get people interested in spending money.
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Steven Rosenthal writes:
Al, we let locals into CES just once, they stole the place blind. Those booths are not made for high security.
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