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Pluses and minuses all over. Vegas shows are becoming a real problem because more and more people are NOT buying badges, and are just hanging around the show entranceway trying to do buisness there. It was a major factor two years ago when AVN had a major badge registry clusterfuck that pretty much made it impossible to get a badge on day one. There were huge crowds of people in the hallway leading up to the show and they just never bothered to go in.
Many of the companies that for years took large booths and brought excitement to the floor are either out of business (think babenet, which were good for 30 x 30 or more every show) or have shrunk their presence down to minimum levels (think old CE boths... one year it was about 100 x 100... now close to 10 x 20). Consolidation, buyouts, and maturation of the industry mean there are less companies to take booths, and many companies have discovered they can get as much done just walking around rather than being locked into a single 10 x whatever space.
AVN is trying some novel stuff this year, particularly trying to "create" a hub bar area for people to hang out in, trying to get people to come in and stay in. Some private meeting rooms, and what appears to be stronger seminar tracks should help as well. Non-conflicting dates are a real bonus as well, finally getting away from the worst times in vegas for visitors (CES week), which should make Vegas just a whole bunch easier to live with.
The show floor may be sold out, but that is due to a restricted show floor space and not because of a major increase in exhibitors.
Combine that with other shows and events happening within 60 days of this show, and it might be slimmer pickings than normal.
I will miss it... unless a miracle occurs, and even then. The expense involved in these shows no longer comes back in bottom line.
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