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The bad:
- my first room I checked into smelled like a freshly laid bug bomb, luckily, I got there a day early and was able to switch to a different room
- the service in the restaurant was terrible
- the bar was very small and closed way too early
- while I managed to keep my language clean due to the family element there, it was tough to "talk shop" sometimes when you ad to constantly look around for a child or family (I look at the more a problem with theo hotel booking them so close together and not a reflection on the show itself)
- the booths seemed out of place since there were only a handful
- the natnet suite only came about because Bill and Matt were able to pul something together last minute (this isn't a knock against Netnet who fucking rock or cybernet, but the hotel's lack of facilities fora hospitality suite
- the noise complints when we'd be trying to have discussions in the coutryard (again, lack of adequate facilities for this type of show)
The Good
- the hotel was very accomodating in taking care of some of the problems
- I had a lot of face time and am looking forward to doing a LOT of business with those who I had some very strong actual business conversations with
- The seminars were informative and I liked the prize give-a-way aspet...it kept me stickin around longer to a seminar I might have walked out of and in a couple cases, I glad I did end up sticking around as there was good information towards the end of the seminars
- I won 12 domain names from moniker.com ;-)
- The party schedule was simple and unlike InterNext with a bunch of parties up against each other and the frantic race to make an appearance at each one. It also gave people opportunities to do their own get togethers aside from the "official" parties for those who didn't want to attend them
- The Player's Ball switching from all rap and hiphop to reggae was a nice change of pace (hey, how about a rock show at an upcoming convention? ;-))
- The TJ trip was a nice diversion that allowed for some fun and frolic and still a little of a networking element
- The NateNet party at On Braodway was an AMAZING party and a great time was had by all (especially when the scruity guards started letting in some hotties who weren't quite part of the convention, but added to the scenery of the party
- The corridor cruising was a great way for small companies to exhibit with limited budgets and I loved the way it turned out and really enjoyed some of the goodies as well as face time with some of the other sponsors, a couple of whom I wasn't really aware of going into the show.
- The show also opened dialog with a major company (out of respect, I won't mention the company until everything is official) to take part in a major project a friend of mine is working on
- The welcome reception was a fun way to get together, drink some beers, have an arm wrestling competition (well, ok, one male vs. female arm wrestling match that lead to some low stakes betting and a ton of fun), and again, get some face time
All in all, one of the better shows I've attended in a long time and a big hat's off to Faye, Dave, LAJ and YNOT Bob (who I somehow missed every time at the show). I not only had a lot of fun, drank way too much and made some great contacts, but the openings to some great business was done...and that's what it's all about.
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