T.H.E. Blog @ The Home Entertainment Show

We circulated a proposal the other day among the exhibitors. Now we’re expanding the discussion here. Keep in mind that this is something that CES cannot consider doing at its own show. Also bear in mind that the proposal is currently in the comment stage. It won’t be implemented in any form absent a consensus among the exhibitors. Also, next year, both T.H.E. Show and CES return to the more “user-friendly” schedule of Thursday - Sunday (Jan 8 - 11).

The proposed ideas and the comments have been abbreviated. The comments are copied here in full, except for the names of the exhibitors.

We would like your opinion on a proposal to make a slight adjustment to the way that The Home Entertainment Show is used by you - the exhibitors and potential exhibitors - to promote and expand your business.

Proposal We are thinking of including “Audiophile Invited Guests” just as the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest does. We would designate Sunday (the closing day) as both a “Trade and Public” convention. Through high-end retailers, installers and distributors throughout the Las Vegas valley, we would invite “in” discriminating Audiophiles within the community, as well as through our extensive Audiophile database world-wide. This has never been possible in the past. Las Vegas was too small. But now, with the exploding population of two million and growing, it will not be difficult to promote T.H.E. Show through local Jazz Stations, Classical Music outlets, etc. Keep in mind, this invitation won’t be found at Best Buy or Sam’s Club: only the most educated and sophisticated “ears” will be approached.

Proposal - Part 2 Related to this, we further propose that there be an auction or sale of equipment on closing day. This, of course, is beneficial on several different levels. To you, the exhibitors, it means perhaps “selling your demo equipment” rather than absorbing those ever-increasing freight costs. We have spoken with the Nevada State Tax Bureau and this is OK with them, as long as taxes are filed on sales. (The Record and CD folks in the Parthenon ballroom can tell you how easy this is. It’s a small form, estimating total sales, calculating taxes and mailing it into the bureau.)

Finally… As I mentioned earlier, this is NOT a “done deal”. We want to hear from you. If you think it’s a great idea, we’d like to know. If you think it’s terrible, we would like to know as well. Our minds are fairly open and, as always, we welcome your “constructive” suggestions and thoughts.

And here are some of the many replies we got in response:

I think your idea is a great idea! It adds value to the show. The added visibility is probably enough for our small shop to justfiy attending as a exhibitor where previously we could not have justified the expense. Please follow thru on this!

I very much like the idea of inviting the consumer public on the last day. I think the selling of equipment is a given, especially if the consumer public chooses to attend. I do not like the idea of heavily promoting the idea of buying the show demo. We occasionally will sell a demo piece direct at show; however it is frowned upon by some dealers. I would not have an auction, which seems very unprofessional for this type of show. I think the fact that the consumer public is in attendance, the buying of demo gear is just a natural thing that happens, however not a good thing to promote.

Simply put, I think these are wonderful ideas on both counts. We are all for it.

Richard:
All good ideas, but I already told you that.
You must have thought of these ideas while sipping on my wine, yes???
By the way, if you want more publicity, why not make it an option for the manufacturers to donate part of their sales proceed to local charities?

how about a pre-show party with rooms open wed eve. ? and ending the show sat.? overlapping CES and doing a schedule of wed eve. through sat. you asked ; )

a lot of people get in early and this would be a chance to get em before they hit the CES etc. and while they’re fresh.

i kind of like your idea of turning sunday into a public show but i wonder if we’d really see much more serious traffic than there is now? also by sunday who wants to deal with the general public, ‘kicking tires’….????? most of us really want to interact with the press, and international distributors and US dealers, pretty much in that order. there are a lot of regional shows and most of us don’t come to vegas with those expectations. i found a lot of ‘non official’ people already made it to my room and i question if sunday as a local show would help much in that regard.

Outstanding ideas. Las Vegas has a very small High End market and having
the opportunity to buy gear is great.
All the Best

I think this is a great idea….the more the merrier.

As far as proposal #2, that can be optional for each manufacturer/distributor. Some sales have transpired over the years, albeit under the radar.

Perhaps not the greatest idea.. any chance of adding a day or two before or after the CES show? starting or ending earlier?
I, for one, want to spend time at both shows and transportation to THE SHOW is a pain from the Venetian. I’m always guilty and torn where I’m going to be. We have dealers in both shows…

Another thought, might escalate the costs, but what about a hotel on the strip, within walking to the Venetian.. can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.. i know, sacrilege, you’re thinking… it’s a tough one…

I suspect that this kind of swap-meet might be good for your internet manufacturer/retailers (direct sale), your software guys, etc - but I don’t think that any of the larger distributors or manufacturers would want to take part too openly because it may spook their dealers and lose them overall market share.

CES is becoming less imperative as the costs increase, the ROI decreases, and regional shows like RMAF fill in the gaps. As I wrote to Richard in my last email to him, an April regional show in Napa Valley that mirrored RMAF would be more productive, less expensive, and less stressful and distracting than CES. High End audio deserves its own shows - we’re just lost in fat-folds of the CES juggernaut.

I believe the proposals are sound. The only problem with Proposal 1 is that the last day tends to be pretty slow anyway and a lot of companies break down early. However, being a weekend-day, this will improve things.

I believe Proposal 2 will help Proposal 1, by giving attendees a reason to stick around. We participated in an auction that was done via Audiogon several years ago at T.H.E. Show and it was effective.

I offer this feedback regardless of whether we will show only at CES or also attend THE Show.

I agree with your proposals completely ! As a system Designer/Builder you could help the installer side of the equation with a third option ! By letting Hi End Audio/Video equipment makers and Installers/Designers combine their talents to showcase high quality systems in each demo room , giving T.H.E. SHOW the most complete look at how 2ch stereo or highend Hometheater systems theater can be visualized in the home environment !! Even in small rooms , installers could show how to best install a high quality play back system ! That way everybody wins ! Your first two proposals are perfect , but my third option could give you the real world advantage on CES for now on ? Thanks for listening to one of your friends

I’d suggest, if I may be so bold, to make the first day trade and the remainder being public days. Also, the ‘auction’, or rather sell day on the last day is brilliant! Shipping costs being what they are and all… So that is my vote ?

BTW, you guys rock!!!

Hello all, although we done actually manufacture finished goods, we understand the plight of the show with regards to being more innovative.. I think this idea works very well indeed. Another option you may want to consider is what we do at our show in Montreal, The Festival du Son et Image. The mornings from 8am to 12noon are for industry only plus one dedicated day, the Rest of the time is for the public at large, the Festival charges the consumers around 5.00 a day? or a package deal for all of them, our show here is packed!!! mind we don’t have a competing show next door.. but the end result is great numbers and excellent sales for many of the manufactures either via show discounts as well as so many of them today sell direct anyway..i f you want more information let me know. Always glad to help.
Thank you for you enthusiasm and support.

Firstly, [we] had nothing but positive comments regarding their experience as exhibitors at T.H.E. SHOW this year….

One thing, Nevada State all fine and dandy but there is No Way that folks like us from outside the U.S. could ever participate in anything that means we are leaving any cargo/freight/dutiable goods behind. In order to bring our exhibition materials to the US, now it goes way beyond the inconvenience of a T.I.B. (temporary import bond). Litigious does not begin to describe the experience and the procedures. Each CD and piece of printed advertising is considered and counted and valued on our documents. Even if we did two Commercial Invoices and only one T.I.B. we would be stuck if the items not on the T.I.B. did not sell. Really tough these days.

I think the first proposal is an excellent idea. The added exposure to the audiophile community could be quite positive.

As for Part 2, I’m not so sure. For some (the less hi-end products or those from other continents), it might be of benefit. However, I attempt to minimize the appearance of equipment “dumping” on-line. It hurts my product’s reputation, and I think it hurts the Hi-End marketplace in the long run. I think the folks who are into selling their demo gear do it anyway. Actively promoting it is going too far, I fear. Just my 2 cents.

I think that Invited Audiophile Guests on the last day of THE show makes good sense. The attendance needs to grow, and this is a good way. I am not sure of the wisdom of an auction or discount sale of equipment on that day though.. We don’t want to look like a bargain basement.

My two cents.

The last thing as an exhibitor I would want is a bunch of consumer tire kickers on the last day. I’ve just busted my ass for three days and by noon on the last day I am staging the load out. Also, an auction would not be a good idea as would undermine distribution with authorized dealers.

I definitely appreciate your willingness to innovate and try new things.

As for allowing private audiophiles into the show – as far as I’ve been able to tell in a decade of exhibiting, they’re already coming. I don’t see much of a barrier for anyone to get into any show they want, as long as they have a modicum of determination and perhaps some creativity with fabricating a business name (I’ve seen some of the same DIY guys at CES since I first started going). I’ve always liked consumer oriented shows like RMAF and the Stereophile shows, because ultimately you’re selling to the public and it’s nice to expose them to a product they may not otherwise see. There are always a certain number of time waster types who just want to peek under the hood and waste your time, but like I’m saying – they’ve been with us all along.

Now, if you think this will boost attendance some, then I’m all for it. If we can expose our industry to truly new recruits, then I would think everyone would (or should!) be wildly enthusiastic about that, because the insular clannishness that this industry sometimes exhibits is part of the reason it has struggled. I think inviting the people to the show who are perhaps non-traditional customers – that is, people with the wealth and taste to appreciate high-end audio, but not necessarily the prior exposure – would be a great idea.

I think the way the audio industry has fractured across so many physical venues (and the attendance problems it creates) is the only thing that really bums me out about CES. I think we’re getting better sound and actually have the luxury of allowing people to quietly listen when exhibiting with you, but our sound was so good this year that it seemed a shame not to present it to more interested ears. The Venetian was mobbed by contrast (I made it over this year to scout it out), but layout and lousy rooms made the traffic too much of a good thing.

So, I’m fundamentally all for strategies to drive more traffic, as long as they don’t appear desperate or unbecoming to the image that high-end, high-performance products should have. For instance, I would never advocate showing next to the Adult industry crowd, no matter how much traffic it generated. It’s basically the whole “casting one’s pearls before swine” concept – whatever is done needs to be done tastefully, IMHO.

As for the auction, I tend to think that this wouldn’t be terribly relevant to producers of $100k systems like us, but I’d love to be proven wrong! I see this as being successful for tweaks, CDs, and other more affordable accessories than for big-ticket gear. I can’t think of any objections I have to it though.

Thanks for your time and efforts to promote our industry!

Many more replies were received, and they all amounted to simple affirmations of which this message is typical:

Everything sounds good to me, please include me in the consensus as “Yes” to all proposals.

If you have your own comment, simply scroll to the top of this message and click on the word Comments right beneath the title. Or Click Here.

Here is a top-ten list of extravagant home theaters.

The Star Trek room is very good…

but I think my favorite would have to be the Bat Cave:

Look at the complete list of ten.

Tired of being pushed around yet? Come. Join us. Relax. Eat. Party. And, see “the best” of Audio and Home Theater in over 80 different exhibits presented by almost 200 great companies from around the globe.

Today, Tuesday, is the perfect day to visit. As always, T.H.E. Free Lunch is in the St Tropez Courtyard from 11:30 - 1:30. Exhibits are open from 9:30 - 6:30 now through Thursday. Shuttles are running from both the Venetian area (Casino Royale next door) and the Convention Center area (LV Hilton next door) from 8:30AM - 7PM.

Go to www.theshowlasvegas.com for more details or just give us a call: 1-702-242-4545.

The Parthenon Room at Alexis Park is “wired” for the Audiophile Press… and covered with Rare Record and CD display wholesalers. (Buy right there. No “up” charges)

And tonight, starting at 6:30PM in the Alexis Park Lounge for “jazz and Dixieland” with Music Director for “Sinatra,” Vincent Falcone along with six other astounding musicians including Bonnie Graham, LV singing sensation. Next door, in the Athena, don’t miss Stockholm’s Koolest Kats: the Ludvig Berghe Trio starts at 8PM presented by Supra Cables.

Yes, it’s time to come home. And, exhibitors, give serious thought to where you truly Want to be in 2009.

Have a great show,

Good news. We have just received confirmation that T.H.E. Show will be video-taped this year, thanks to Arnie at AudiogoN. He just sent the following. We suggest you contact Arnie, personally, within the next week to set up appointments. His email and phone are listed below.

We’ll see you soon!

Audiogon will be covering T.H.E. Show in great depth this year. In addition to professional photography of every exhibit, we will also be shooting Video.

We imagine capturing a few minutes in your room while you are explaining/demonstrating your latest creation, and we hope to schedule a sit-down video interview with folks who really want to use the power of the Internet. The interview will be mostly free-flow with perhaps a few questions being asked by a knowledgeable audio veteran (namely myself, Arnie).

Thus, I would like to ask that you contact me before the show if you are interested in this concept (sit-down video interview), so that we may set up a time that would be convenient for you. The interview could be done either in your room, or in Audiogon’s room at St Tropez 1704 which might be more comfortable and have less distractions.

Please consider this idea to maximize your investment in THE Show; by creating something that will promote your brand long after THE Show, and in a manner that truly captures the power of the Internet. Note: I am not asking for money, just for some of your time So please do let me know if you are interested and we will do our best to make it happen.

Look forward to seeing you in Vegas,
Arnie Chinta

Exhibitors and other guests of the Alexis Park can pick up a phone marked “Hotels” in the baggage area at the Las Vegas Airport. Bell Trans will take you to Alexis Park for $4.

Exhibitors and guests of St. Tropez should dial 702-369-5400. When the recording begins, hit “0″ to speak to the operator and they will arrange free pickup by their own shuttle (24 hours).

For those staying at Knights Inn, you can also call the St. Tropez. These hotels have the same owner and share the same shuttle service. This shuttle will also provide you with free transportation over to the St. Tropez for THE Show.

For the return trip to the airport, just ask at the front desk.

For Exhibitors (and others) we provide this convenient guide to nearby restaurants and shops. Print it before you come - we think you’ll find it handy. It concentrates on what’s available right at the corner of Harmon and Paradise.

New since last year, there is now a Korean restaurant in the shopping center with the CVS drug store. (Korean cuisine is my favorite) There are also German, Japanese, Mexican, and Vietnamese restaurants close by.

Delivery is available from a Thai restaurant (the King and I, which we recommend very enthusiastically - Phone 702-739-8819) and don’t forget you can order room service to BOTH hotels from the Alexis Park’s restaurant.

There are additional notes on shopping, such as for electronics and how to get to the Target store and the Mall.

Bon apetit!

Exhibitors, we encourage you to place your company’s news release onto the Home Toys web site. It’s easy, and it’s free.

This is a good way to help to spread news about what you plan to exhibit at The Home Entertainment Show. Home Toys has long been a big promoter of T.H.E. Show.

Reminder: What you want to say is that you are exhibiting at T.H.E. Show, Alexis Park and St Tropez, Jan 7-10, During CES. You want to avoid the words “at” CES or it will only cause confusion.

Here is the direct link: www.hometoys.com/news/services.htm

Exhibitors, please log in to your account in THE Show web site and provide the names of your people so that we can prepare name badges for them in advance. It’s really, very simple to do.

1. Log in
2. Scroll down your Account Summary page to the Name Badges section (it’s right above the Show banner)
3. Beside each exhibiting company’s name click the button Edit Name Badges (this way, each name goes with the right company)
4. Enter the names - and you’ll see a preview image of each badge, like the one shown here

We much prefer you to request too many than too few badges (we always need to make more during THE Show but please help us to keep that to a minimum).

Past exhibitors, please note that your badge information has carried forward from previous years. If the badge information has not changed then you don’t need to do anything. Still, it would be a good idea to take a look at what badges you currently are requesting.

Your exhibitor name badges will be delivered to your exhibit space before THE Show opens.

With printing mostly out of the way, our next big concern is the Furniture Removal Forms and the Name Badges for the Exhibitors.

Exhibitors, if you have not already done your furniture form, please do so. Just log in and on your Account Summary page it will tell you if the form has been received. If you have more than one room then there will be a notice about the status of each room.

Click the link, print the Acrobat PDF file, fill it out and fax it to us 24/7. If faxing is a problem, then call or email us to tell us your wishes.

There is a top-price for each style of room so if your itemized bill exceeds that amount then you still get charged only the maximum. It’s a huge job moving and storing all that furniture so, honestly, the prices are very reasonable.

And remember, beds are alway moved for free HOWEVER you still must actually inform us that you want the bed(s) to be removed. Some people want them to remain in the room and we cannot guess. Please provide us your completed furniture removal forms no later than Dec. 31.

The Source Book 2008 is in the hands of the printer, Franklin Documents so the next thing for us to worry about is the brochure, which is almost finished. If you need printing to be done for THE Show then we recommend that you contact Austen at Franklin Documents. He’ll be making daily deliveries at THE Show and you’ll find him very easy to deal with.

One thing I think (and hope) that everybody will notice is that the hotels overview diagram in the directory includes mention of the “Crosswalk of Death.” That was my own idea. Richard was not as keen on the idea as me, but eventually I prevailed.

They installed a new crosswalk last Spring just about squarely in front of the St. Tropez, so it gives real easy access to the Hard Rock.

Only problem is… the drivers don’t seem to show any respect for it at all. We’ve watched cars whiz right past the frightened pedestrians without even slowing down. There has been at least one death there already - an employee of the Alexis Park right in broad daylight.

I figured nobody would remember if I just stated “Use Caution” so I came up with something just a little more dramatic. Now at least if somebody dies there I’ll be able to say that I really did do my best to warn people.

The city really ought to do something about the situation, but I don’t know what exactly. Go ahead and use the crosswalk just - whatever you do - don’t assume that the cars are going to stop for you.

Exhibitors, if you’re going to want anything to be added to your room then you will want to look at the Exhibitor Information Page.

Pipe and Drape is available from Just For Show. Contact Jennifer Wood. Past exhibitors will have dealt with her before.

Furniture Rental is available from Angles on Design. Speak to Kevin Camden - again he is somebody that past exhibitors are probably acquainted with. One slight twist: Exhibitors at Alexis Park, if you want tables and chairs please contact THE Show directly and we will make the arrangements for you with Alexis Park.

Plants are available, as in years past, from Amalgamated Plants. Please phone (702) 361-1275 for information.

Jacuzzi Covers If you’re in one of the rooms at St. Tropez that has a jacuzzi and you want a cover for it (more exhibit space that way) then the way to get one is by so indicating on your Furniture Removal Form. The cost is $75.

We’ve been very, very busy finishing up T.H.E. Industry Source Book. (Too busy to blog, too busy for much else at all) Here is a preview of the cover:

Montagna Hi-End Systems is looking for somebody to share their exhibit space:

Speaker Company seeking Other Speaker Company seeking Other
I look for in free use, for demonstration in the St. Tropez Hotel, suite 1301; from the Jan 5 to 10 2008:
N. 1 Cd player 24 bit/192K with cables of signal and remote command.
N. 1 Monitor for Pc Lcd 21″ or 19″.
Thanks. Giorgio Montagna - North Italy

T.H.E. Show is just a month away now and it’s time to get serious about the preparations. The first deadline approaching is to Reserve your Ad Space. Full pages are available, but we’ll be glad to have more 1/4 and 1/2 page ads to break up the standard exhibitor listings - priced from just $200. Contact us.

Exhibitors can list up to a total of 10 companies in each room - these may include independent companies who share your costs or they may be companies which the primary exhibitor represents. Each exhibitor and co-exhibiting company gets a Company Profile Web Page and also free a listing in the print directory, T.H.E. Source Book. Make certain that your companies’ entries are compete and up-to-date for both print and web! It’s got to be done by December 15!

If you want your company logo in your printed entry, it’s $50. And the logo is free if you buy a display ad. Don’t forget - December 15!!

But you have until December 20 to get us the actual ad itself, only just be sure to order it by the 15th

I’m the web site administrator (among assorted other titles) and I’m ready to be of help to our exhibitors in any way that I can - call me: Chuck Cavanaugh (702) 242-4545

The last of the various room styles now has the Furniture Removal Form in place. Exhibitors have only to log in and they’ll see the proper form linked from their Account Summary page. Please fill out the form and fax it back to THE Show before January 1.

There are itemized options, you can keep and remove exactly the pieces of furniture that you want. Or you can select ALL furniture to be removed. If you want no furniture to be removed then please tell us. Beds are always removed for free, but you must still use the form to request that.

There is a maximum price set for each style of room. The single room styles never cost more than $250. The double-room styles (separate bedroom) never cost more than $300. The deluxe suites never cost more than $350. These limits apply in BOTH hotels. Notes about some rooms at St. Tropez: the adjoining rooms style has a maximum set for each of the two rooms (total = $550) and the optional Jacuzzi covers cost extra (only some of the rooms at St. Tropez have a Jacuzzi).

On a related topic: Yes, you are welcome to sleep in your exhibit room if you want to. This is not a problem. Many exhibitors choose the 2-room style and keep their bedroom door closed while exhibiting in the front room, and sleep in the bedroom at night. Very common practice.

The nearby Embassy Suites Hotel has rooms for $219/night during THE Show. You could try asking them directly for this rate, by identifying yourself as being an attendee at THE Show - but it doesn’t always work. What does always work is if you send us your information and then we will handle the reservation for you.

Only remember, don’t ever send a credit card number by email (not to anybody) because it’s not secure.

Our contact information appears on this page: embassy.theshowlasvegas.com

Here is a reprint of the interview by Richard Beers, President of T.H.E. Show.

As T.H.E. Show or THE Home Entertainment Show enters its 10th year, we anticipate many milestones being reached and surpassed within the next 2 years.

As you know, CES moved out of its long-time home for high-end audio, Alexis Park Resort last year and relocated to various locations within The Venetian Hotel and Casino, the Sands Convention and the Las Vegas Convention Center. The reaction, from what I have heard and read has been “mixed.” Some individual rooms “up in the tower” were a hit, for some, but still there remained complaints about long elevator waits, limited hours and extra fees. As everyone knows, the rooms in the Sands Convention Center connecting to The Venetian had many complaints including enormous sound leakage problems between rooms.

We at T.H.E. Show, upon hearing and observing all of these difficulties decided to expand our convention, signing a long-term agreement with Alexis Park, in addition to retaining our on-going contract with the St Tropez Hotel. We can now offer individual exhibit rooms, convention space, large Board Rooms, as well as reasonably priced accommodations, all within a short walking distance.

We also made the decision to keep the majority of exhibits all on Ground Level… offering a “flow-of-traffic” plan that makes “getting around the exhibits” much easier than in the past and certainly much easier than roaming the meandering and splintered lay-out they have to live with at The Venetian.

[complete interview]

We hope that everybody (or at least, everybody American) had a very pleasant Thanksgiving Holiday.

It’s time now to make a final decision about the upcoming T.H.E. Show. So many people have yet to make a final decision! Please don’t hesitate to call us and we will be glad to help you to make the best choice among the available exhibit rooms.

How would you like to share a Presidential Suite and present your Turntable or CD Player together with Quintessence Audio’s $100,000 speaker system? More details coming soon. Contact Quintessence or THE Show if you may be interested in sharing this exhibit space.

Here’s a long tirade about how awful movie theaters have become, and making a case for why it makes more sense to invest in a home theater. Here are the bits relating to home theater:

Compare all that to the options now available to me at home. I didn’t have to rob any banks to fund my massive TV and thundering sound system. It wouldn’t kill me to save up for a customised DVD projector with a 12-ft canvas screen and perfect clarity; I have a quote on one for just over $2,000. This would transform my living room into a private screening salon just like any studio mogul’s, except that my guests can smoke, drink, make out, pause the picture and yell at the screen. NetFlix enables me to programme my bills as perversely as I wish without even leaving the house. And since I’m the boss-feller, the DVD dictator, the moviehouse Mussolini, I can unilaterally ban popcorn, which to my nostrils has a far more offensive odour than fags [cigarettes in Brit-speak] or vomit, and immediately eject idiots who leave their cellphones on.

Honestly, with all that available, why should I ever hit the multiplex again?

Complete article: Going to the movies feels like a chore. So why go, when I could transform my living room into a private screening salon?