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."

Duh.

[tekrat]

I've been attending "industry-only" events for decades. All you need is a business card, which as you know, you can have made at Staples for $20 or less. You tell then you're a "buyer" or something like that, and they let you in, no questions asked.

Heck, last time I attended CES you were able to pick up your badge AT THE AIRPORT in Vegas. Hows that for convenience? I was able to have a badge handed to me before I could locate my luggage.

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

[betterunixthanunix]

Considering that between 35% and 95% of the information gathered by the CIA is "open source" (perhaps this use of the term predates ESR?), I think it is a reasonable use of the word "spy:"

https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/csi-studies/studies/Vol49no2/reexamining_the_distinction_3.htm [cia.gov]

Re:Who wants to go?

[noh8rz2]

actually, it was more interesting when the adult entertainment expo was happening next door.

Missing the obvious...

[Anonymous Coward]

If only 1% of the attendees that go to these kinds of tradeshows are the "right" attendees and the rest are a bunch of folks fibbing their way in or otherwise finding the loophole, is that not demonstrating a desire in the marketplace for the other 99% who attend (consumers?) who WANT to attend this type of show?

In my opinion, maybe they are missing an opportunity to host purely consumer facing tradeshows as contrasted with "industry only" ones.

I for one think CES' policy has been beneficial - they've gotten a lot more consumers in the door than planned but it's usually good for business.

Re:The joy of CES

[Dahamma]

You are clearly not doing it right, then.

Last time I went (technically as an exhibitor, but I was mostly setting up and mantaining hardware for demos) I ate for free at 4-5 ridiculously expensive restaurants. The final night we managed to spend over $200 per person at N9NE, hit two different clubs, hung out with some really interesting/bizarre "attendees" of the *other* conference (AVN) at the Venetian, and somehow managed to stumble back to the hotel room at 7am just in time to catch a cab to the airport. THAT'S how you do CES...