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Doc Searls On Fixing Tradeshows

Posted by timothy on from the they're-about-getting-swag dept.

zachlipton writes "Almost everyone seems to have a love/hate relationship with tradeshows, the giant geek, suit, and vendor gatherings put on by a handfull of corperations. Doc Searls writes in this month's LinuxJournal on his suggestions for fixing tradeshows. The problem, as he puts it, is that traditional shows make two assumptions: 'what matters most is helping vendors sell stuff to customers' and 'knowledge flows top-down, from speakers to audiences.'"

2 of 76 comments (clear)

  1. As long as REAL knowledge flows... by Vo0k · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Remember presentation of Windows 98?
    BSOD while presenting the new "features"?
    Products speak for themselves, you don't need to talk about them, just let people have a "test drive" and it's enough to give them a clue. And vendors will learn ALL that is wrong if they just watch people on their "test drives".

    (yep, one of parts of BOFH, plug-in the high-voltage laptop into SCSI port because the port supposedly is meant to withstand it and be capable to communicate this way. If you're down some $10.000 on demo equipment you will learn not to lie to customers next time.)

    --
    Anagram("United States of America") == "Dine out, taste a Mac, fries"
  2. Re:My boss used to send me, thinking it was a "per by Forge · · Score: 5, Insightful

    For those of us who consistently work 12-20 Hour days (including most weekends) it IS a perk. Especially if it's on the other end of the island so you have to be put in a hotel and your basic needs are covered (free food).

    Even if you stay at an all inclusive it doesn't cost that much extra to take your girlfriend along.

    Trade shows are in fact a substitute for vacation time if chosen carefully.

    Note that no mention is made of new products or educational speeches. Relax and have fun if that means listening to Linus and ESR hurry through a Panel Discussion so they can get to Duns River Falls, cool. If it means going uh-ah-whoa over the same junk they showed last year. Irie. If it means grabbing free stuff from every booth in sight. Enjoy.

    For me they are a "Perk". Even on the occasions where my company is presenting and I have to help set up the booth.

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    --= Isn't it surprising how badly I spell ?