Receptions and Parties at NAB 2016

How many times have you been to NAB? No cheating! This year will be my 18th, but one of my colleagues wins the record—he’s been to 26. (To protect the guilty, I won’t say more than her initials—DC.)

In our industry, NAB truly is the war of the wallet. For so many of my clients, it’s like shacking up for 3 months  of prep in a hurt locker, with the goal of having the biggest, fanciest booth and making the most noise they possibly can. Some companies are of the mind that NAB demands the bulk of their annual marketing budget to be taken seriously. Some feel having the fanciest, most impressive booth with a barista  and cameras on an in-booth live tattoo artist will produce the best ROI for their company. And speaking of war, I remember back in the 90s seeing a tank in Radio Ink’s booth. I’m not the only one who sees it as a war; BEA is running a “War on the Floor” competition for students to get creative with a video.

So, does all this money being spent on plushy carpet, fancy lighting, and fresh paint impress you? Does it win your business? Is what you see really what you get? I suppose that’s for you to decide. As for me, I’ve seen them come an go with and without money. Flashy booths and gimmicks can be cool, but I’m all about people.  Behind all the paid 80s celebrity spokespeople, the race cars and motorcycles, and the sticky free candy fishbowl at reception desks (man, who eats that?), there are some really passionate and hard working people at NAB. I can’t wait to see them.

What’s my strategy for NAB? See as many people as I can, and listen. Hear about the products they’ve been working so hard to bring Vegas this April, and the challenges in getting it working just in time for day 1, or at least day 2 (you know who you are). And after each day of back-to-back meetings, it’s good to catch up in a social setting; you’ll never know who you may be standing next to when you are having a refreshment, and that’s (usually) a good thing. Of course there’s a lot of private parties and hospitality suites (heck, Streaming Media even has one), but my favorite rewards for feeling my FitBit buzz like mad early everyday are the cocktail parties on the expo floor. There are lots, but if you’re looking for people that are doing streaming, I’ve put together a short list.

If you know of one I missed, please shoot me a note (joel@streamingmedia.com) and I’ll add it. Hope to see you there, and remember, the secret word for NAB this year is "banana." When the opportunity presents itself, you’ll know when it use it.

Livestream Happy Hour
Monday, April 18, 2016
4 - 6PM
Booth C1707

Volicon Cocktail Party
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
5:45 - 6:15PM
Booth SU 6521

Beamr & Vanguard Cocktail Party
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
5:30PM
Connected Media IP Theatre, South Hall Upper

Verizon Digital Media Services’ Rooftop Reception
Monday, April 18, 2016
6:30PM – 9:30PM
The Terrace at Omnia Nightclub, Caesars Palace
RSVP

Ooyala 'Party Till The Sun Goes Down'
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
4:00PM…?
RSVP

Wowza Booth Party
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
5:00PM - 7:30PM
RSVP

MediaSilo Happy Hours
Monday, April 18 & Tuesday, April 19, 2016
4:00PM - 6:00PM
RSVP

Now Accepting Nominations for the 2016 Best of NAB Awards

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06 Apr 2016