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I got back last night from the Orlando tradeshow. My wife and I drove 550 miles to get there to spend two hours looking at the stuff there. I got a few free things, but nothing worth driving that far for. The highlight for me was getting to meet Brian "the Brush" Briskie. He was at the SignGold booth. We talked for a good long while. He is an exceptionally nice guy, regardless of the image he tries to portray. He had an awesome panel that he had done for the folks from Sign Business magazine. Brian, Thanks for the time.
We went on Friday for about 1 1/2 hrs. I looked for you guys.
My husband and I kept saying we felt sorry for people like yourself that drove so far for that. We only had a 45 min. drive and I personally didn't think it was worth the $10 for parking. Maybe if you had something specific you went to look for.
We planned to hang out and go to the Bash to see if we could find some people but we were done so early we didn't want to hang around for 4 hours waiting for the Bash to start.
Sorry we missed you guys!
-------------------- Amy Brown Life Skills 101 Private Address Posts: 3502 | From: Lake Helen, FL, USA | Registered: Feb 2001
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I, too, just got back from the show in Orlando. I am at many shows and work in the EstiMate booth. I am also a sign maker and whenever I have a little break I walk the floor and look at almost everything that interests me or could be of help to me.
It is not possible for me to be completely objective about the show - since I have this dual role. My reason for this post is to ask the question of you (who express being disappointed, and say it was not worth going to): What did you expect to find, or get, that was not there? Were you mislead in any way about what would be there that then was not?
For the exhibitors shows are multifaceted. They mean paying a LARGE amount of money, travel and show floor time, dredging up tons of energy on increasingly tired feet. We do it to show and sell our wares and to be available to our existing customers. We only have control over our own booth and the environment we create there. As an exhibitor, I would like to know what we can do to avoid this kind of disappointment, because, after all, you are why we are there.
As a signmaker, who only recently was at another show, this one was small, that is true. There was little really new stuff. Like things to rock my boat, get me stoked, and fire me up. But the show was full of industry people who were willing and capable to answer questions, to share expertise. I was able to watch a vehicle get fully wrapped by a pro team of installers willing to talk about it in detail. Most anything imaginable in one way or another was either represented or findable. So in spite of the smaller size of the show, and the fact I have been to a number of them this year already, I came away enlightened on quite a few sign related subjects.
So, I'm just curious. The complaints are non specific and vague, and I wonder just what it would be to make you happier.
-------------------- Myra A. Grozinger Signs Limited Winston-Salem, NC
signslimited@triad.rr.com Posts: 1244 | From: Winston-Salem, NC USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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I just arrived home from Orlando, too. Gotta meet Myra, Mark, Brian and Christian (from DAL)...as well as had a couple pleasant talks with Ray Chapman and his son, Mike. I sat in on Raymond's design class...so, watch out, world!
As far as the question about the show. For me, a good show is a whole lot larger. I want to be tired when I get through to the last booth. This show had maybe 5 or 6 isles with booths along both sides...and I was 2/3 thru the entire show before coming upon the first one to do with the sign trade. The majority of the show was embroidery and engraving, glass blasting, etc.
Sorry I didn't get to see Donald or Amy there. It wasn't for not looking. (And usually I have a good enough vantage point not to have a problem.
OH...and I ran into Bob Gilliand there too. Even wore a "signlab" button for him.
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Myra, I was at the show all day Friday as you know and I'd have to say it was worth the three hour drive and price of parking.
I was able to check out some things I was curious about ..... and, in fact, rule them out as a solution for a particular problem I am looking to resolve in my store.
I was totally impressed with a new (to me) cutter that was being demonstrated. It will cut a 1/2" thick PVC board, up 10 feet long, in a single pass with no noise or grit. The same cutter does a beautiful job cutting one inch strips off the same board and leaves a cut edge that is as smooth and shiny as glass.
Samples were available from lots of suppliers of things I can now display and sell to my clients.
Noticeably absent were the big routing machines making lots of noise and the 20' wide imaging machines one sees at the major, major shows. Didn't bother me.
The main problem I had with the show is the literature and samples I carried away got heavy enough to make my feet hurt.
-------------------- Fred Weiss Allied Computer Graphics, Inc. 4620 Lake Worth Road Lake Worth, FL 33463 561 649-6300 allcompu@allcompu.com Posts: 427 | From: Lake Worth, Florida | Registered: Feb 2003
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It was nice meeting you as well. I enjoyed the time we had to talk.
I'm sorry if the majority of the show was a dissappointment. That's a drag to travel all that way and be let down. For future reference, I'm pretty sure that the various sanctioning bodies, (ISA, USSC, NBM) list on their websites, who will be vending. It might be worth checking out prior to any long trips.
Additionally, it was nice meeting Don Coplen, and getting the chance to discuss things at the show and the bash (Illegal disc duplication, the future of the trade, etc...Don's a pretty plugged-in guy). I briefly met Amy Brown and her husband in the aisle on my way back to the booth.
I was able to put faces to names with a few others as well.
Now I have long beach to look forward to...that's coming up soon as well. (please refer to the rumor mill for exact times, dates and places..wink:))
Keep on keepin on,
Brian Briskie
Posts: 465 | From: / | Registered: Jan 2000
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Dont start talking trash Donald. Whats wrong with you! Dumb bald redneck. You live an hour and a half away from the one in Charlotte NC. It is not any ones fault but yours you drove 10 hours away. Stupid.
But what do I know buddy Im just a LOOOOSER
-------------------- Ryan Young Indocil Art & Design indocil@comporium.net 803-980-6765
I highjacked Letterville!! Winter Muster 2004 Posts: 904 | From: Rock Hill, SC | Registered: Sep 2001
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Is this the ISA show? I went to the ISA show in Vancouver Aug 8th and was really dissapointed too! We were on holidays in BC and made a special trip into Vancouver to see it. I had to pay $15.00 to get in, as well as $15.00 for my husband and my two kids. As if my kids are going to get $30.00 of knowledge out of a trade show, but I could't just leave them sitting in the car!
Total bill to get in $85.03....the red bouncy ball on a string my kids got....priceless!
Suelynn
-------------------- "It is never too late to be what you might have been." -George Eliot
Suelynn Sedor Sedor Signs Carnduff, SK Canada Posts: 2863 | From: Carnduff, SK Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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Amy, Sorry we miss you and your husband. Hope to see you both in March.
Myra, I had always heard that the show to go to was the one in Orlando. I guess I just had my hopes too high. I did find out this weekend that the big show is sponsored by another organization. This one was the same size as the one Ryan refers to in his post that is in Charlotte,NC.
Brian, Hope to see you in Feb. & March. Planning to see you in June.
Ryan, Get off the internet and get to work since you are so backed up that you can't participate in the panel swap. Maybe you could work on Joe B's panel a little.
Suelynn, I couldn't even carry my kids into this show.(children under 12 yrs old not allowed) I have two that are too young to learn anything, but my oldest(11) could see how our industry is heading by going to the shows.
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Ahhh, sorry to say, I missed this one. Don (my ride) and his buddy, planned to crash the gates as the show opened. On such short notice, I had too many loose ends to sort out and catch a ride just after sunrise, Friday morning... I know, I'm pitiful...LOL Ryan, what are the dues, to join the LOOOSER's club!
There are two major Sign related shows, (I know of) which are held in Orlando, at the Orange County Convention Center.
1) Best In Graphics = The BIG Show. It's my understanding, the 'BIG' Show has changed it's name to; The Sign Business & Digital Graphics Show. (correct me if I am wrong) This show is the one you attended this past weekend. Admission is normally FREE.
2) ISA Show.
International Sign Expo 2004 Convention Events: April 14-17, 2004 Exhibit Events: April 15-17, 2004 Orange County Convention Center Orlando, Florida
Now, this is a HUGE show. Normally, there is an admission fee, with a discount to ISA members. In the past, I have recieved a free pass from one of my sign industry vendors. In recent years, free passes have been rather difficult to come by.
Formally, the 'BIG' Show, has been notoriously small in comparison to the ISA Show.
Myra, although the show this past weekend was not huge, in the past I have found it to be well rounded. Supporting a fairly decent representation of products and equipment available for use in our industry.
While at the last 'BIG' Show I attended, I inquired about the size and lack of representation of sign industry vendors. (I am curious in nature) I asked the opinions of Vendors as well as Attendees.
Is it suprising, the Vendors were delighted to be there, supporting their products, with the lack of competition? The small scale of the 'BIG' Show, allowed the Vendors to spend more time explaining their products and building relationships with potential clients, with fewer distractions. Hmmm?
I'll speak for myself as an attendee (past). I'll admit, I was disappointed with the small scale. I wanted more to look at and compare. But still, I didn't get out of there, without a wagon load of literature and samples. I also made a few good contacts and felt more at ease spending time, asking questions. (remember my curious nature)
Myra, having experienced the 'BIG' Show a number of times, I expect my experience to be much the same as my opinion above. My favorite part of this show, is the FREE BASH! I must admit, I was shocked at the elaborate display, shown in appreciation for being there. (hope it was as good this year as in the past) I enjoy meeting people who are in the same line of business as myself. I've sat at many a round table, during the BASH, and talked shop! For me, it's sorta like a Letterhead meet, without the projects.
About the show this past weekend; I don't think the organizers do enough promoting, to increase the number of Vendor/Buyer attendence. The only information I received was a flyer and a fax. Both were vague in detail, basically an outline stating; what, where, and when.
In comparison, the ISA starts promoting their show months in advance. I always receive detailed information in regard to Vendors, their location on the floor, seminars, who's speaking and what projects they are working on, places to stay, things to do, and on and on... Soon, I will also be receiving e-mail and snail mail from Vendors attending the ISA show, coaxing me to come meet them and see what all they have to offer.
Myra, what do you think? What do the promoters of The Sign Business & Digital Graphics Show have to offer in explaination of the small turnout? (both Vendors and Buyers) Is it meant to 'pull' the 'locals' in, rather than the international level of the ISA Show? Are the promoters happy doing what they've always done, getting what they've always got? I'm not hammering you here, please don't be offended. (remember my curious nature...hehe)
Cher.
-------------------- Co-Host: SANDCASTLE Panel Jam 'a Dixie Letterhead Reunion' Fort Myers, Florida
Cheryl Lucas a/k/a "Shag" on mIRC Vital Signs & Graphics, Etc. Cape Coral, Florida 239-574-4713 VSignsNgraphics@aol.com Posts: 987 | From: Cape Coral, FL USA | Registered: Aug 2000
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It sounds like you've got a pretty good grasp on what the shows are about.
Indeed, the Sign Business and Digital Graphics show is the former "BIG" show. As a rule, these shows are smaller in scale, but not generally in their usefulness. They are, I believe, INTENDED to be smaller, regional shows. Hence, they hold 3 events per year, on the west coast, east coast and in the midwest. (This year, it was Indy in April, Orlando in August, and Long Beach in September.)
Being a smaller, more concentrated show, can be advantageous. There were no crane companies, or half-million dollar pop-up LED trailers here...primarily it was vinyls, substrates, wholesale distributors, banners, plotters, printers, software companies, etc. Generally speaking, these are the companies that are more likely to sell to the "average" commercial sign shop.
Personally, Orlando was a great show for us at SignGold. We found our customers and distributors had more time to spend at the booth with us. I accomplished a LOT in terms of working with existing distributors, establishing a relationship with a new distributor, and addressing the concerns of several SignGold users.
Additionally, I had the opportunity to speak to a group of about 25 attendees at Wed. night's seminar.
As a sign shop owner as well, I can understand the disappointment of not seeing certain manufacturers at the show. What I would suggest, is call, write or email those companies that you would have liked to have seen there...sometimes a little prompting from their customer base can convince them that vending at such a show can be a good thing.
Not to sound like a broken record..but several of the companies many people had hoped to see, were attending Letterhead events that same weekend, and couldn't be at the show.
The ISA show, to be held in Orlando in April 2004, ( the 2003 show was in Las Vegas this past April) is a substantially larger show in terms of SIZE and the number of vendors. Here is where you will find the cranes, mobile billboard systems, LED screens, and the like. It is also where you'll find attendees coming in from around the globe.
The third major player in trade shows, is the United States Sign Council. The USSC show, held the weekend after Thanksgiving in Atlantic City each year, is a large show, but also has LOTS to offer to the average size shop. The "BULLPEN", where you can literally wander in and play with paints, materials, and substrates donated by many vendors, is a must-see. Throughout the USSC show, signmakers spend countless hours creating signage for a pre-determined not-for-profit organization. These too, are with donated materials and time. Several "panel jams" are held, with completed panels sold to raise money for charity.
As I mention earlier in this post...you can check out the websites for these shows, and see who's going to vending, speaking and teaching.
Well....that's my take on the show thing.
Keep on keepin on,
Brian Briskie
Posts: 465 | From: / | Registered: Jan 2000
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Just now saw what has been going on with this post. I think it is very positive, and I like that is has turned into an education on the topic of Sign Shows. I don't really see that I can add anything to what Cheryl and Brian both explained better than I could.
An answer to your direct question, Cheryl, about what the promoters of "The Sign Business & Digital Graphics Show" said concerning the general turnout, is that I got the distinct impression that they would have also liked to see more exhibitors. I would venture the observation, that the general downturn of the economy is not without its ripples throughout the industry, and that until this is reversed things are not exactly the way we are "used" to. The cost of promoting business, in this case the supplies and tools to our industry, must be enormous in the face of the competition. And shows are expensive to the big guys and the little guys.
-------------------- Myra A. Grozinger Signs Limited Winston-Salem, NC
signslimited@triad.rr.com Posts: 1244 | From: Winston-Salem, NC USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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The first show I went to was in Atlanta about 5 years ago maybe. I don't know who was promoting it, but it had everything. I took my daughter to it and she was only about 6 yrs old. She was amazed watching the routers, the mobile van painting system. It would paint the side of a van by traveling back and forth spraying the van. It was awesome. I have never seen one of those again anywhere. I would like to try the ISA show or Atlantic City show once just to watch the events in the bullpen.
Dennis, My mom has come to grips with everything. We don't talk about such things around her anymore. I didn't hear you pipe in about the Civil War. ARE YOU COMING OR NOT?
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You had to go and schedule it on the same weekend as a Lightning home game against the Capitals. I'll try to come anyway. Darn you Yankees. Claim to be Southerners all you want. If you're 500 miles North of me you're a Damn Yankee. Actually anybody North of Ocala is one.
-------------------- Dennis Goddard
Gibsonton Fl Posts: 1050 | From: Tampa Fl USA | Registered: Apr 2000
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I've gone to most of the shows on the west coast. First show was a BIG show in Long Beach and I was totally impressed. It seemed like the biggest thing out there. I didn't go to just see stuff I went to take classes and learn. The next yr I went again and ended up purchasing my equipment. (Got laid off my "real" job and decided to go into the sign biz)
I went to a regional ISA show in Portland and was disappointed - why? it's size was quite small and I didn't take any classes. Like you Don I was in and out in a few hours (minutes) and was kinda bummed after seeing the BIG show this seemed like a few locals having a picnic.
I attended the Big show in Ft Worth and talked with Myra & Mark. I had time one afternoon and Mark showed me his Estimate software and answered many questions. I ended up purchasing it and everytime I go to a show he remembers me and we chat for a little while.
I went to the ISA show in Vegas this spring and met Brian the Brush, took more classes and was overwhelmed with the BIG Stuff there. Super wide format printers, huge LED scoreboard type things, cranes, etc. It was really cool.
I make it a point to take classes at every show and yes the regional ISA show in Vancouver was so small you could have fit everyone in a minivan (well not that small...) but I did get a chance to meet a few new "LOCAL" vendors I had wanted to meet aske them all sorts of questions and take a fun class while meeting the host of our Splash in Nanaimo letterhead meet (Susan & Mike - I hope thats right) next month
Of course like anything else you get out what you put in. Strike up a conversation with someone, you might learn all sorts of things and maybe they have an answer for that problem you've been dealing with for the past 6 months or you might have an answer for them and feel good about giving your advice.
I'm ramblin now but you get my point. Keep it alive...
-------------------- Brian Diver PDQ Signs Everett, Wa
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Dennis, I could understand you not coming if you were working at a real venue like baseball, but do you really think anyone will notice if you are not at a hockey match. Will it sweeten the pot any if I can get John to bring his water-cooled electric chainsaw?
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If you can get John to stand in a tub of water holding an electric pounce, you've got a deal. Probably the only thing that would stop me is finances.
-------------------- Dennis Goddard
Gibsonton Fl Posts: 1050 | From: Tampa Fl USA | Registered: Apr 2000
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Don (my ride) and his buddy, planned to crash the gates as the show opened. ![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
On such short notice, I had too many loose ends to sort out and catch a ride just after sunrise, Friday morning... I know, I'm pitiful...LOL Ryan, what are the dues, to join the LOOOSER's club! ![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
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There are two major Sign related shows, (I know of) which are held in Orlando, at the Orange County Convention Center.
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