BWF Takes on Vegas for the Consumer Electronics Show Part 2

In an earlier post I shared a few of the many highlights of the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show. In addition to that, here are a few of the valuable lessons I learned from my CES experience.

Lessons Learned

1) Always be Prepared for a Side Trip – No, I’m not talking about bailing a coworker out of jail, but rather a trip to somewhere like Kinko’s to deal with any last minute needs that happen to rear their ugly heads. It’s pretty much a guarantee that you will run into a circumstance such as needing to change a printed material, running out of fact sheets or being in dire need of blank CD’s. Yes, these unforeseen detours seem like catastrophes at the time, but remember to breathe and everything will fall into place. Also, the 24-hour Kinko’s on Paradise & Flamingo is adjacent to a Starbucks and is a pretty happening place. The only thing that would have made it better was if an Elvis impersonator came in to make copies of marriage certificates.

2) Don’t rely on WiFi – It’s a techie show, there has to be internet access and it’s going to be lightening fast! Well, that wasn’t exactly the case. If you’re going to be in a situation where you need to email something or require an internet connection, don’t rely on the onsite internet connection to help you get the job done. Luckily, we had access to the CES exhibitors lounge, but it lacked a reliable wireless connection. Instead, we had to be on the lookout for one of the few available Ethernet chords to connect to the internet. If I have to spend valuable time squatting for an Ethernet chord ever again, it will be too soon! Also worth noting were the granola bars and trail mix in the members’ lounge, which served as my sustenance for the 9 hour show days. Without them, I might not have survived due to the length of the vendor lines at all hours of the day.

3) Bring your Chargers – It might be stating the obvious to some, but bringing chargers for the arsenal of things you need for the show to the show floor is a must. Between the 9 hours minimum on the show floor, the after events and everything in between always have your phone charger handy and charge it when you get a free moment. There are outlets throughout the exhibition hall, and phone and camera charging proved to be one of the easiest things to do at CES!

Advertisement