Who Goes To CES?

itwbennett writes "The Consumer Electronics Association stopped letting actual consumers attend the gadget extravaganza years ago, but even so, plenty of attendees can't exactly be described 'industry affiliates'. IDG News Service turned up a motorcycle stuntman, a restorer of 8-track tapes, and a lot of folks who were there just for fun."

Having worked at a few CES booths...

[Kenja]

Those that go there are they with a product to hawk and the money to rent the space at the show. Nothing more really. Lots of crap-ware there from groups trying to get some quick bucks from investors or resellers.

Re:Duh.

[bhcompy]

Well, for E3 they're supposed to verify your company actually exists and is in the industry. Some years they try to enforce these regulations, most years they don't. In my experience, if you prepay they're check you, but if you get your ticket from a 3rd party, they don't check shit when you register.

It's been the case for years...

[TaliesinWI]

Was able to get into the Winter CES in Chicago back in the early 90s just because I was a register drone at Babbage's (computer software and video game store for you youngn's.) I think they had me down as "buyer" even though I had nothing to do with what the company stocked. Hell a buddy of mine who built PCs in his basement got in with a "technician" badge. As long as you didn't show up with children in tow and could ask reasonably coherent questions they were mostly happy to deal with people that were a half step above "Joe Q. Public."

Re:CES also had some unofficial [Apple] spies...

[Anonymous Coward]

And steal what they can before other products hit the market. So they can "revolutionize" whatever they put on the market next.