It is InfoComm time again. That wonderful part of the year where those of us that have been in and around the AV industry for the better part of the past 2 decades pack our bags and head to Vegas (or Orlando) for the one annual must attend show.
In addition to the educational opportunities and the must-see new products, one of the reasons I think all of us veterans (and industry newbies) like to attend InfoComm is that opportunity to see so many of our friends, colleagues (past and current) and clients. As we all know, InfoComm is a big, little industry and after a while you start to feel like you know everyone.
So now you have the people, the parties, the education and the products. There are so many reasons to attend InfoComm, however, in a world where YouTube and Social Media have driven more on-demand product releases and news, the face of the show is changing a little bit. Not to mention those same networks being terrific for keeping in touch. With all of us staying better connected and more aware of the industry buzz, does that mean we should be considering new and different ways to get the most out of the InfoComm show.
I believe this is precisely what we need to do, especially for those who in the past only came for the show floor and the after hour events. InfoComm has a wealth of other opportunities to maximize its value. Here are 3 things that I highly recommend InfoComm attendees do to make the most of the show.
Think Efficiency: Beyond just seeing the vendors and products you know and trust. Explore the floor for connections and vendors that may be able to drive greater efficiency, productivity and profitability to your business. No question that it is great to get that face time with those you know, but don’t miss out on discovery opportunities for ways to run a better business
Get Smart: InfoComm has a curriculum that includes hundreds of classes from some of the brightest minds in the industry. This is one of the things that I cannot recommend enough. Many people have come to the show for years and never taken a class. There is so much to learn about operations, sales, marketing and other parts of your business from those that have done it. If you are going to make the long trip, why not take some courses or gain a new certification?
Be A Bit…Visionary: One of the neatest opportunities for attendees of InfoComm is to do some trend spotting aka identifying what is coming for integrators. As we know in a world of on demand information, the big thing we see is already here, but the businesses that saw it coming months or even years ago are the ones with the biggest opportunities. Can you spot the biggest opportunities for the future?
InfoComm is a great show with so many opportunities for integrators, consultants, vendors and more.
How do you plan to make the most out of the show this year? We’d love to hear from you. In fact, why not stop by our booth C9147 (Herman) and let us know in person? We look forward to seeing you there!