Howdy from Texas,

Just wondering how many folks here are planning to attend NAB2013 (http://www.nabshow.com/) next month, April 8 -11. I'd like to meet as many of you as I can. If you haven't registered yet, you can get on the show floor for free by registering with one of these codes:

MP13 -- provided by Sound & Picture magazine

PR09 -- provided by Avid

LV4182 or LV4077 -- provided by Vitec Group

LV4924 -- provided by VidOvation

Will you be there? Speak up if you're going!

Great links but sorry Chris, CDT .. cash/distance/time, in that order unfortunately.

But like many others here I'll be relying on your good self for NAB News Notices. What news in that Dept?

Cheers.

We'll have a crew there as usual, and hope to be cranking out here on the forum each day, as much as possible given the difficulties associated with posting from the show floor.

See you there Chris. I'll be on the Sony Booth doing some 4K presentations.

I'll be there.

Yes, I'll be there with my posse.....like the last 3 years, we'll be shooting as many quick videos as we can and get them up on the web (our site, youtube, etc). Hopefully, there will be many new & cool things to shoot... we'll also be tweeting...maybe we can shoot Chris & his posse as he's shooting us! Staying at Paris & ridin' the monorail.....it will be great to see everyone.

Jim Martin
Filmtools.com

Thanks for the codes, CH. See you there!

I live here, so I will definitely attend! Let me know if anything I can do. Thanks for the pass codes

Alex

NAB credentials are starting to arrive! Got mine late last week.

I'll be there slaving away at the keyboard for the Kennelmaster. Hope to find some juicy bits to write about.

Look forward to seeing everyone again.

-gb-

Looking forward to seeing everyone! I'll be there in the Reflecmedia booth, stop on by and say, "Hello!"

This will be my 17th NAB (first as part of the official DVInfo contingent! - a fact I'm looking forward to very much!)

The show itself (and the many friends I've made over the years) is what makes the show worthwhile in an era where product announcements often hit your smart phone within seconds of being announced at the show.

My first NAB was March, 1987 in Dallas (where it snowed a bit). It's bigger now!

Will DVi have a get-together? The schedule has never lined up for me before. I'll try to book my travel to make it this time!

Hi Jon,

I sure hope you're coming this year, because DVi will indeed have a get-together, on Monday night. In fact that's the primary purpose of this topic -- to find out who here is attending and send those folks invitations. I can't just publicize it because the venue is not very large (let's call it "cozy" for grins), and I can only afford to offer a limited number free drinks. So it has to be a private invitation-only thing for whoever responds to this thread (just make sure your email address on file here is up to date)!

I'm looking at going, but still debating the advantage (as I'm not a professional, just a Hobbyist) and it would be my first time attending. I should know by the end of the weekend.
For me its a balance between spending the money vs. investing in new gear as that is the stage I'm at right now.

My understanding is that I can't buy gear at the exhibit itself (would of like to get a deal but just trying out new equipment is of great value to be), but there are a lot of contests/giveaways.
Any advice/walk-though/guide for someone visiting NAB exhibits for the first time?

Hi Graeme,

One strategy that was successful for me in my early days was to stay for the Thursday half day wrap-up.

It's POSSIBLE to go to booths (particularly grip gear) and make them an offer on a piece or two of equipment right before the show wraps up. The argument is that instead of having to ship the stuff back, you'll offer them a reasonable "cash on the spot" price. You typically have to get someone high enough in the company to approve the sale, and I always suspected that the sales manager or company exec would take my cash and use it to buy the booth workers a treat "off the books" but I have quite a few nice light stands and grip items that I've walked out of NAB on Thursday afternoon with at nice savings over retail that I snagged this way.

Just don't forget to consider shipping issues - but that's somehting that can be handled by stopping by a Mail Boxes Etc, or UPS store before you fly out of town.

Just a tip.

FWIW.

Any advice/walk-though/guide for someone visiting NAB exhibits for the first time?

DO NOT underestimate the importance of comfortable shoes!

This will be my fourth NAB and I always end up with sore feet. Even the booth folks are likely to be wearing running shoes with their suits... seriously.

Also, have a plan. Go to the NAB Show website and look through the various halls. I plan on one hall a day, generally.

Bring an additional piece of luggage to ship back all the catalogs, cut sheets and free magazines you will pick up on the floor.

Bring a water bottle and eat a carb and protein rich meal before you go. Food at the convention centre isn't cheap and generally isn't the healthiest of options.

Brace to spend twice as much time as you think you'll need on the floor.

The hall maps are deceptive - the halls are MUCH larger than you think they are.

Bring an additional piece of luggage to ship back all the catalogs, cut sheets and free magazines you will pick up on the floor.

Brace to spend twice as much time as you think you'll need on the floor.


I'll be packing light on the way in. On your comment of spending twice as much, my understanding was there was to over-the-counter sales allowed on the exhibit show?

You'll notice I said "spend twice as much TIME..."

As Bill mentions, some booths will Fire-Sale demo gear but it isn't a sales forum or swap meet... you go to see gear and chat with people.

Some of the very best conversations I've ever had around my industry were had on the show floor.

Ah I see I read that wrong.

I will be there; look forwards to meeting you all! Thanks for the codes Chris! I owe you a beverage of choice!

I'm looking at going, but still debating the advantage (as I'm not a professional, just a Hobbyist) and it would be my first time attending. I should know by the end of the weekend.
For me its a balance between spending the money vs. investing in new gear as that is the stage I'm at right now.

My understanding is that I can't buy gear at the exhibit itself (would of like to get a deal but just trying out new equipment is of great value to be), but there are a lot of contests/giveaways.
Any advice/walk-though/guide for someone visiting NAB exhibits for the first time?

I live in Las Vegas, so I sort of take it for granted. 1st day is exciting. The last day is good for picking up miscellaneous pieces of equipment from small vendors breaking down their stuff. I aways go home with something, but don't think you're going to buy a camera at half price. However, there is no substitute for having equipment in your hands as opposed to going online.

The B&H folks will be set up to take your order. Anything you want can be delivered by the time you get back home. Sony, Adobe and Canon are monsters, but don't neglect the smaller gems hidden in the corners. Attend the free seminars.

Make sure you network. You never know who you'll meet

I agree with wearing comfy shoes and clothes. It'll be hotter than you're used to and very dry. Stay away from the hookers if you don't want to go home broke, but I hear they are world class here. Lol!

Stay away from the hookers if you don't want to go home broke, but I hear they are world class here. Lol!

Sadly the Card Flickers on The Strip haven't been as talented as my first attendance in 2010.

There are LINES of folks "flicking" business cards of "dancers" willing to come to your door for a fee - they used to have a truly hypnotizing way of flicking the cards that made a strange noise and a certain flair of presentation.

Hasn't been the same the last two times...

Thanks, Chris. I'll do my best to be there Monday night!

According to my regular NAB Show email update, the last day to use free codes is March 22nd so if you are on the fence, you better hurry up and register!

Here's a few more show tips for attendees ..

Tips for NAB 2013 from a Convention Veteran…. | Biscardi Creative Blog (http://www.biscardicreative.com/blog/2013/03/tips-for-nab-2013-from-a-convention-veteran/)

Cheers.

Will be there again this year!
Last year I came to the DVInfo thing but didn't know anyone at all, and all seemed to be having jolly conversations, so I just kinda walked around then left... maybe I'll actually talk to someone this year if invited!
;)

Chris -- you'll definitely get an invitation if the email address on your DVi member account here is still good. Find me when you walk in, I'll probably be the only person still wearing an NAB show badge and I try to stay on my feet (and drink water!) most of the time. I'll give you a couple of drink tokens and introduce you to some folks. That gang last year was just happy to see each other again... as usual...

Can't wait, already some pretty impressive gear annoucements have been made and I can't wait to see/try stuff out at NAB!

If B&H or any other retailer has a show discount (5% or 10% off) on the Canon C100, please let me know. I'm in Rancho Cucamonga, CA (only a 3 hour drive to Vegas). If no other serious contenders from Panasonic, that's my next purchase!

I'll be there! On a somewhat random note, I'm splitting a hotel with guys monday-wednesday, but I need to stay until friday for flight efficiency reasons. If anyone is willing to let me crash wednesday and thursday night somewhere let me know!

Hey Evan,

One member of my press crew has to depart on Wed. morning but I had reserved his room for the whole week. You can have it for Wed. & Thu. night if you want -- it's on me. Nothing fancy; it's not one of the big casinos, just a quiet little hotel that's a short walk from the convention center.

I'll get you the details and all if you can drop by our little DVi get-together on Mon. night. I'm about to send out invitations by email to everyone who's responded to this thread (tonight, hopefully).

Oh that's awesome man! Thanks so much! I'm flying in on monday, not 100% on time yet but I'd love to make it to the party :) Thanks again!

Did those invites get sent out?

I have yet to receive anything, so I assume not.

Sorry about that. You wouldn't believe my life this week. Today for sure.

This time NAB is two weeks earlier than it was last year. Even if I had those two weeks, I'd still be in this position. There's never enough time!

Chris & Evan, please check your email. For everybody else on this thread, I hope your email address on file here is up to date, because that's what I'm sending to!

Thank you thank you! No worries of course, I was in no rush to get an email, totally understand the crazy :)

At last... everybody who has responded to this thread should have an email waiting. Hope to see y'all soon!

If there's anyone going that doesn't want to reply to this thread publicly, just shoot me an email: chris at dvinfo dot net.

Got it!
See ya next week!!

i'll be attending as well. Its going to be my first one. i'm excited.

Oh right THAT nab... I'm in.

Hey guys,

Coming in on Sunday, likely going to be able to sneak in on Sunday too for PM half. I have to leave by about 7pm on Monday though because of stuff that wouldn't move.

My new shiny will be wearing Solid Camera accessories in the Multidyne booth in Central near Sony all week. It will be trick.

Hopefully I will catch you Chris & Greg on Monday day at least for a sec? Will you guys be going in and out of press area?

Hey Nate!

Greg and I will be at the Sony press event on Sunday and on the show floor all day Monday. I'll shoot you an email. Let's be sure to meet somewhere!

Hey Chris,
Hope to see you in Vegas. Where are you going to be Monday night?
Regards,
Jack Hubbard

Hi Jack, I just the info to your stanford email. Hope you can join us!

It was awesome meeting with you guys tonight!
The wife made it back to the room still on her feet...

Hi Chris, it was great to see both of you there and thanks to everyone else who came by that night.

I'm still recovering!