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Home » Audio » LSAF » LSAF 101 (Thoughts and ideas for new exhibitors)
| LSAF 101 [message #88164] |
Tue, 12 June 2018 08:43  |
Barryso
Messages: 203
Registered: May 2009
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Master |
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One of the things that dawned on me at this year's show was the relative ease at which the experienced folks handled the hurdles. They get through the obstacles so much better than the newbies.
This is an Exhibitor 101 thread to throw ideas and pointers to the folks that don't have years of experience showing off their wares at audio shows. The first posts are mine and, honestly, I've never hosted a room at an audio show. But I've been a regular at the GPAF and LSAF for a long time now and grew up working in my family's retail business. My father taught me that in retail you have to sweat the details.
So you may not agree with some of my notes. That's fine, just keep the conversation civil. Please add things you think can make it easier for newbies at the show, too.
Signs. The hotel won't allow you to put much of anything up on any surface, particularly if you might do damage to the paint. Solution? A free standing sign like Wayne has outside his room. You can always find Pi Speakers as their sign is visible from all parts of the 2nd floor.
More signs. Before you scribble something you'll hang for the weekend go downstairs to the hotel's business center and print it on the hotel's laser jet. It's free and it looks more professional than a hand written sign. Just give yourself a bit of time as the computers are sometimes cranky.
Yet more signs. Your room probably isn't going to be open every hour of the show. Put a quick, hand written note on the glass near the door ( remember the paint!) with a reasonable estimate of when you'll get back. If there is no sign a lot of folks will just give up on your room but if they know you'll be back soon there is a much better chance they'll circle back for a listen.
Wifi. If you are going to run computer audio you're going to have to setup your own router/network and avoid using the hotel network. Bring your own router and be ready to set it up.
Water, soda, candy, beer. Offer your guests some hospitality. Even though many folks won't take anything it's still a nice gesture.
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| Re: LSAF 101 [message #88165 is a reply to message #88164] |
Tue, 12 June 2018 08:46  |
Barryso
Messages: 203
Registered: May 2009
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Master |
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Carts. If you can bring your own cart and/or dolly you'll be way ahead of the game. You'll save a lot of time and grief if you don't have to wait for others to be finished with the hotel dolly as many vendors seem to tear down at exactly the same time. At that point you'll see a bunch of vendors standing around doing nothing as they wait for the wheels. If you have own wheels you get to leave when you want.
CD player. Yes, it's old fashioned and out of date but if a potential customer can't hear a couple of their own cuts on your gear they aren't going to be able to make any serious decisions about your gear. They'll leave thinking it was nice but won't connect the way they will with their own tunes. When you get to hear your own music and it sounds absolutely amazing you really get FAR more serious about the gear.
CD player, part 2. Tidal is a great service but it's jazz and classical selections are severely limited. You won't be able to play anything but standards and that isn't going to satisfy someone who wants to hear something a bit less mainstream. Hate to be really blunt about it but if you don't play the music a guest wants to hear you're really just sitting in a hotel room all weekend playing tunes for yourself. You may enjoy it and your guests may enjoy what they hear but your chance of selling anything shrinks dramatically.
Someone who hears a great system is likely to say "Yeah, I heard system XYZ and it sure sounded good".
Someone who hears a great system with their own tunes is more likely to say "Yeah, I heard my favorite Abba tunes on system XYZ. It sounded soooo freakin' good. Now I REALLY want it.".
Perhaps I'm beating a dead horse here but you want folks to connect with your system and the best way to do that is to play their music. Dylan, Yes, Mozart, Brubeck, Thelonious Monk or Weird Al. Doesn't matter if you like it - they do. The music that makes them happy will make them happier if it sounds sensational playing in your room.
CD player, part 3. Tidal plays perfectly well before Saturday when the hotel's Internet connection isn't being taxed but come Saturday it gets a bit dicey. There are a lot of rooms trying to stream a lot of music on Saturday and there are a lot of demos where the mood gets thrown by the choppy connection. You're better off playing the music off a local music server (or CD!) and just using Tidal when a customer requests something you or they didn't bring to the show. It'll keep the mood right and the music flowing.
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| Re: LSAF 101 [message #88166 is a reply to message #88165] |
Tue, 12 June 2018 08:48 |
Barryso
Messages: 203
Registered: May 2009
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Master |
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But wait, there's more. 
Volume. There seem to be two camps of audiophiles, those that have to listen at a million decibels and those that listen to music at a low level. Hard to figure who is who in those groups but if your room is always really, really loud the folks who want to hear your gear at a more modest volume will not enter. Change it up from time to time to give everyone a chance to come in and enjoy.
Introduction. When someone comes in the room give them one or two lines explaining what is special about your room. Dynamics? Smoothness? Price? DIY? Slam? They probably don't know what makes your room special so you should be able to express it very quickly. One or two quick lines gives folks an introduction into what makes your gear special without going into an annoying sales pitch. Do it right and it adds a bit of depth and understanding to the demo. Limit it to 20 seconds.
Sure, the gear is supposed to speak for itself. Trouble is there are way too many rooms and it gets really confusing after you've been in a few. Honestly, you can go into some rooms, listen, leave and not remembering much. As a vendor take 20 seconds to help leave a good, long lasting impression.
Let's use Bob Brines as an example. It didn't take long being in his room for him to let you know he had great single driver speakers at a very affordable price. Quick, simple and to the point. Very low key. It also helped that he really did have great single drivers speakers at an affordable price. The bottom line is that it was always easy to remember why Bob was in the speaker business and why he was at the show. And after that very brief intro Bob would play music and let you decide for yourself if his speakers made you happy.
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| Re: LSAF 101 [message #88174 is a reply to message #88164] |
Wed, 13 June 2018 12:41 |
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Wayne Parham
Messages: 18783
Registered: January 2001
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Illuminati (33rd Degree) |
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This is an excellent thread, Barry! Thanks so much for taking the time to write it up!
For those of you that don't know, Barry is an attendee that has been coming to the Lone Star Audiofest since the very first one in 2005. Actually back then, it was called the Great Plains Audiofest and was in Tulsa. We moved the show to Dallas in 2007 and renamed it to LSAF. So but anyway, my point is the list of suggestions from Barry comes from the view of the people that visit the rooms. It's extremely useful feedback, in my opinion.
I'll add a few things to Barry's list of suggestions. These are more from an exhibitor's perspective:
- Make a list of things you intend to bring. Put on the list your obvious items like source equipment, amps and speakers. Your source media. Spare tubes. Cleaning supplies. Signage. Refreshments. Et cetera. Make the list well in advance of the show, like months ahead of time. You'll think of other things over the days to come, and add those to the list. That way, when it comes time to pack up, it's easier to be organized.
- If possible, come early and setup ahead of time. In the early days, we all showed up on Friday and setup. So no rooms were open until late Friday. It was really a Saturday show. But more and more, people started opening up early Friday. I started coming Thursday night to setup so I could be open all day Friday. This has become the norm. Most exhibitors show up Thursday, and some even come on Wednesday. When you show up a day early, if gives plenty of time to load-in, setup and make any adjustments necessary.
- Early in the year before the show (like January), send me your company logo and URL and ask to display it on the LSAF website. You can send it to info@lonestaraudiofest.com. You can also send photos of your equipment. I don't always upload vendor-supplied equipment photos, but I often do and add them to rotating displays on various pages. I always upload company logos and URLs on the "exhibitors" page and on the scrolling banner at the bottom of the landing page.
- Every year, usually in January or February, either me or one of the regulars here starts an "LSAF 20xx" thread. This becomes the official LSAF thread for that year. Introduce yourself on the thread and upload a photo of the equipment you plan to bring to the show. Describe it in as much detail as you'd like. This is the main source of information for other media and ezine outlets to draw from. And there are a lot of people writing reviews, so it's in your advantage to have the information conveniently available to them. It gives the the ezine reviewers an easy way to get information like exhibitor names, equipment lists, model numbers, etc.
- Mention your attendance at LSAF on other audio websites too. There's a Facebook page and threads on most every popular audio messageboard. Introduce yourself on any of those you participate on regularly. Don't overdo it though - Some messageboards aren't friendly to drop-in visitors. I think it's a good rule of thumb that you can (and should) announce your intentions to be at LSAF on your company website, on the official "LSAF 20xx" thread here on ART and on any messageboards you regularly participate on but refrain from posting on sites that you rarely visit.
- Each year, my wife takes photos of every exhibitor's room and uploads them to the LSAF website. This always is posted in the official LSAF thread here on ART, mentioned above. We make these available to ezine writers and other reviewers. But as I said above, it is helpful for you to also write something about your setup on the official "LSAF 20xx" thread.
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| Re: LSAF 101 [message #98044 is a reply to message #91220] |
Sun, 13 October 2024 10:55 |
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Wayne Parham
Messages: 18783
Registered: January 2001
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Illuminati (33rd Degree) |
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Changes for THELSAF:
The Lone Star Audiofest has merged with T.H.E. for the 2025 show. As a result, there is some new information that guests and exhibitors will want to know.
First, exhibitors don't book rooms directly with Embassy Suites anymore. So don't call the hotel and tell 'em you want a room at LSAF 2025. Contact Daryl Sansevero at daryl@theshownow.com to book your room.
Second, guest admission isn't free anymore. But don't be too upset - the ticket price covers parking, and so the cost is actually cheaper than it was when it was free. Yeah, I know that sounds weird, but it's true. 
In the past, guests entered LSAF free but the hotel charged fifteen bucks for parking. Now, the tickets are ten bucks but parking is free. Two-day and three-day passes are even cheaper. Pretty cool, huh?!!
Third, exhibitors, if you're used to bringing tripod-mounted signage like we have for the past several years, that is still fine. You can still set it near your door like we always have. But do mention that you plan to bring your sign when you contact Daryl to book your room. And you might check with him about other signage options too. There are some neat offerings available.
Providing beverages to your guests is always a welcome treat, but do let Daryl know your plans in that regard too. We encourage hospitality, and things like bottled water, soda and even some other more trendy beverages are allowed and encouraged. But don't bring your mom's pot-roast, no matter how tasty it is.
If you have questions, please reach out. We'll probably be cool with it.
Last thing, this year we have more exhibitor options than just suites. For exhibitors booking one of the large room downstairs as an exhibit space, or those getting a booth, table, or anything other than a suite, please note that those options do not include a sleeping area. You can book a suite, if you want, but we also have other non-exhibiting discount sleeping rooms available.
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