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MichaelP 08-13-2015 11:21 AM

Why the hell should i fly to a trade event.
 
WHY THE HELL SHOULD I FLY TO A TRADE EVENT?
Written for AVN by Michael Plant. CEO of QWEBEC Expo. July 28th 2015


Seeing potential clients and actual business partners and be seen by tehm is primordial for any entrepreneur. Especially in that digital age where everyone seems to communicate only through copper line (yes {still_exists}), optic fibers or Wi-fi. In today's global marketplace where everything goes and changes so fast, it is often a real challenge to stay on top or everything. We are all so busy responding e-mails, checking stats, having our Skype app flashing like a Christmas tree on December 24th at 11:30 pm ... The Internet entrepreneur faces these challenges even more since our actual clients are no longer two blocks away, but literally at the other end of the world, which means, your clients are just trying to catch up like you, while you're having your well-deserved five hours of sleep. Back in the day, I remember the only way to establish new contact fast was cold calling prospective clients...

Now with our crazy lives we all have between traffic to the office, leaving/picking up kids at school (yes, some of us have kids now), who the hell is sitting by his phone waiting for some vendors to cold call him to offer him the latest new best thing since sliced bread? Of course Nobody. Cold Calling is now a time waste and you're lucky if the called is even picking up the phone just to shout "(Insert Popular Webmaster Board Name here)!" back at you. Leaving a message? 'Forget About It', messages are very rarely returned. And, new Anti-Spam Laws makes it even more difficult to communicate with prospective clients you don't already conduct business with because you need their written consent to send them e-mails, but how you get that consent without e-mailing them first, Cold Calling them? ... Chicken or the Egg? The best way and age proven method of establishing solid business contacts is still the same Good Ol' Face-To-Face contacts. And, where you can see so many of these faces in a short time frame? TRADESHOWS of course!

Unless you have gazillions of dollars (and hours) to spend on Flights, Hotels, Transportation, etc... , to meet all those new interested partners, Industry Tradeshows are still the most cost and time effective way to meet new people, consolidate actual business relationships and also develop new ideas or business deals with clients. There is no other place and time where you have such a concentration of people interested to what you have to say and offer. They're all there at handshake reach, you simply need to put your hands out and say "Hello my name is....". My better half often says "A Split second can change your life", so God knows where this one will take you. We're always want to be the one who knows about everything new, this is your best opportunity to have regular and prospective clients see and maybe try your latest product, website, program or offers.

I often hear the 'There are too many shows now..' phrase. Well, I am probably a little bit biased (he!) But I always tried, without success to understand how there is can be 'Too Many Business Networking Opportunities"? Especially in our worldwide marketplace, most of us have FRIENDS/CLIENTS from all around the world right? We haven't established these durable relationships through ICQ/Skype, boards or e-mails ... We happened to meet at the right time, at the right place and at the right moment. It can take several events to understand who is doing what in which company and finally connect with the right person, because we met at four or five shows during the year and finally we happened to connect. If there was only one or two event a year like many other industries, it would take five years to truly connect with that person, instead of a few months. Sometimes, the one you spent months chatting with on Skype might be the nicest person in the world (after your significant other), but is simply not the best contact for you in a given company ... You're selling content management software, but this guy is buying traffic...

I remember back in 1996/99 chatting with some people over ICQ (makes me feel old suddenly), and the connections were OK, neither bad nor extraordinary. When I started to go to more than one show a year (Internext&AVN) and started to meet these guys couple every few months instead of once a year, the dynamics totally changed and my Business Network completely exploded. When I started QWEBEC Expo in July 2003 (for 2004), then I started going to almost all the shows my-not-so-deep-pockets were allowing me to go without having my bank manager go nuts and knocking at my door asking me for the house/cars keys ... Once again, my Network and Rolodex grew exponentially. Depending on your business or vertical, after a while, just showing up already does 40% of the job because almost everybody knows you. The other 60% is still very hard work and nobody is going to do it for you, you HAVE to be there, shake hand, give smiles and business cards, buy a few drinks here and there.

The See part is important, but the Be Seen is as important especially when you want to establish an 'established company' image among your peers. Media exposure is one of the so many free perks that comes with attending a show. Tradeshows events are now largely covered by industry's photographers like FUBAR, Mike B or Buster just to name a few that even those who missed the event for some reason, will see you and be remembered about your brand watching the photo coverages of the event. That Media coverage offers you and your brand a lasting recognition industry wide and give you so many opportunities to leverage your social presence simply by posting these 'Safe For Work' photos on your Facebook/Google+ and Twitter pages : ie ; XYZ Cash Team wants to thank all those we met at ABC convention in Timbuktu"... Well you get the idea. Of course if you have the bad habit of finishing your nights with lipstick all over your head, media socializing these photos might not be a good idea for your persona and brand ;) Another plus to attend Tradeshows are of course the seminars. There is something for everyone. Many veterans will often say there is nothing for them to learn from seminars. Think about Tiger Wood hitting 1000 balls a day…. I mean there are many little things we used to do that with our so hectic lives we don't do anymore. Sometime a little refresher can make a big difference in one's business. Sometimes, one will hear about an 'old same old' concept that will light that sparks to the next big thing in our industry. Often, inspiration hit you when you expect it the less.

A Nice Perk : Tradeshows offer a tax-deductible opportunities to visit countries we'd never fly to otherwise. Allowing us to meet the local like-minded industry people from that part of the globe who are not travelling as much as some others. Very Few other industry offers that. We do, to some extent 'Live like RockStars' ... Traveling around the world, Lavish Sponsored parties (well fewer than 1999, but still...), Nice dinners with very interesting entrepreneurs.... There is no place in the 'civilians' world which can offer that. That being said, I genuinely hope to meet you either in Montreal or at any other Industry Event near you. And, don't be shy, come talk to me, I don't bite… well… :)
Michael Plant has been in the Online Adult Industry for now almost 20 years. Started in 1996 selling Adult DVD-Roms over classified, to Web Design and Development for many Penthouse Pets thru Staff photographer Carl Wachter among other clients. Got hired as Affiliate Manager for Penthouse Media Group in 2007 until the merge with AFF, then Sales Director for almost a year at Crakmedia in 2012. Since 2003, Michel is the CEO and chief janitor at QWEBEC Expo, an internationally popular mid-sized Trade Event celebrating 12th edition in Montreal Canada from August 6-9 2015. Being at almost all trade events for the last 10 years, needless to say that He knows everyone, end everyone knows him.

arock10 08-13-2015 11:26 AM

Bro drinks

Relentless 08-13-2015 11:32 AM

I decided not to go to Montreal this year for QWEBEC Expo because I am in Seattle and it would be a really long flight. I have now had 3 different people tell me how great the show was and how much business they got done at the show, so I am already regretting not being there. Congrats on what was obviously a very strong show Michael and I've already added it to my calendar for next year.

the_donkey 08-13-2015 11:35 AM

It was definitely a great show - nice job Michael. Doing business in person always wins.

SilentKnight 08-13-2015 04:33 PM

We went to the first Bondcon in NY back in 2001 partially for our company promotion - but I was quite interested in meeting a lot of colleague bdsm/fetish photographers who's work I've known and admired over the years. I looked forward to putting faces to the names. We'd been invited as exhibitors and partially (graciously) comp'd for our hotel by the organizers. It was originally to be held in Connecticut - but then the 9/11 attacks happened and they moved the venue to Queens, NY to bring everyone together as a show of support and solidarity.

It was the first time I discovered that fellow colleagues knew of our work and were just as eager to meet 'n greet as we were. Honestly, that caught me rather off-guard...I wasn't expecting any sort of mutual admiration, lol. I genuinely thought we'd hear a lot of, "Umm...who are you again?" And then we got fingered to be on-stage panelists in front of several hundred convention attendees, general public, fellow producers, models. That was just...surreal.

I still considered ourselves a fledgling production company at that point - technically we were only two years old - although we'd been producing images for about four years. And all I could think to do was give my best, "Well...we started with just a shoe-string budget...and did everything ourselves" speech - with a few jokes and goofy anecdotes thrown in. The feedback I got later was many people related to us - a small ma-and-pa startup company that almost anyone could start with a modest budget. It wasn't my intention...but we seemed to project an inspirational tone for some.

It's been 14 yrs - but I look back on that first trade show with fondness - good memories.

Rochard 08-13-2015 04:53 PM

Cliff notes?

JFK 08-13-2015 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rochard (Post 20550245)
Cliff notes?

GO to shows ! :Graucho

SilentKnight 08-13-2015 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rochard (Post 20550245)
Cliff notes?

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m8...snt7o1_500.png

"Who are three people whose never been in my kitchen?"

MichaelP 08-13-2015 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilentKnight (Post 20550225)
We went to the first Bondcon in NY back in 2001 partially for our company promotion - but I was quite interested in meeting a lot of colleague bdsm/fetish photographers who's work I've known and admired over the years. I looked forward to putting faces to the names. We'd been invited as exhibitors and partially (graciously) comp'd for our hotel by the organizers. It was originally to be held in Connecticut - but then the 9/11 attacks happened and they moved the venue to Queens, NY to bring everyone together as a show of support and solidarity.

It was the first time I discovered that fellow colleagues knew of our work and were just as eager to meet 'n greet as we were. Honestly, that caught me rather off-guard...I wasn't expecting any sort of mutual admiration, lol. I genuinely thought we'd hear a lot of, "Umm...who are you again?" And then we got fingered to be on-stage panelists in front of several hundred convention attendees, general public, fellow producers, models. That was just...surreal.

I still considered ourselves a fledgling production company at that point - technically we were only two years old - although we'd been producing images for about four years. And all I could think to do was give my best, "Well...we started with just a shoe-string budget...and did everything ourselves" speech - with a few jokes and goofy anecdotes thrown in. The feedback I got later was many people related to us - a small ma-and-pa startup company that almost anyone could start with a modest budget. It wasn't my intention...but we seemed to project an inspirational tone for some.

It's been 14 yrs - but I look back on that first trade show with fondness - good memories.

You are so right! NOTHING beats real human interaction. We can invent all tech in the world. A good hand shake, looking in the eye and say 'DEAL!'... Nothing on earth beat this...

Every show I go, for the few first hours when I see again friends I haven't seen in Weeks, Months, Years, whatever... Damn I feel SO good. This really nourishes me.

And I do make a few new ones as well :thumbsup

AmeliaG 08-24-2015 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilentKnight (Post 20550225)
We went to the first Bondcon in NY back in 2001 partially for our company promotion - but I was quite interested in meeting a lot of colleague bdsm/fetish photographers who's work I've known and admired over the years. I looked forward to putting faces to the names. We'd been invited as exhibitors and partially (graciously) comp'd for our hotel by the organizers. It was originally to be held in Connecticut - but then the 9/11 attacks happened and they moved the venue to Queens, NY to bring everyone together as a show of support and solidarity.

It was the first time I discovered that fellow colleagues knew of our work and were just as eager to meet 'n greet as we were. Honestly, that caught me rather off-guard...I wasn't expecting any sort of mutual admiration, lol. I genuinely thought we'd hear a lot of, "Umm...who are you again?" And then we got fingered to be on-stage panelists in front of several hundred convention attendees, general public, fellow producers, models. That was just...surreal.

I still considered ourselves a fledgling production company at that point - technically we were only two years old - although we'd been producing images for about four years. And all I could think to do was give my best, "Well...we started with just a shoe-string budget...and did everything ourselves" speech - with a few jokes and goofy anecdotes thrown in. The feedback I got later was many people related to us - a small ma-and-pa startup company that almost anyone could start with a modest budget. It wasn't my intention...but we seemed to project an inspirational tone for some.

It's been 14 yrs - but I look back on that first trade show with fondness - good memories.


Did you go to the BondCons held in Vegas? Those were good shows. I think it's weird that Kink bought the show and just deep sixed it.

j3rkules 08-25-2015 02:17 AM

Here is how to join the bro club.

Nicky 08-25-2015 04:59 AM

Good stuff, someone from our team show up at almost all shows :)

Relic 08-25-2015 06:42 PM

Good post, did not read.

Mr Pheer 08-25-2015 10:57 PM

Most of the time people cant even get me to drive from NW Las Vegas down to the Hard Rock for Internext. You damn sure cant get me to fly to a show.

MichaelP 08-26-2015 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jerkules (Post 20560169)
Here is how to join the bro club.

What's wrong with the 'Bro Club'?

Business peole doing business with people they know and trust... Pretty much the same in 'real world' if you ask me :thumbsup

PS: Just because we dance in a blood pound every Friday the 13th which happens to have full moon on makes us bad people :winkwink:

Back in the day, people bitching about Studio 54 were only the one who can't get in :2 cents:

j3rkules 08-26-2015 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelP (Post 20561656)
What's wrong with the 'Bro Club'?

Business peole doing business with people they know and trust... Pretty much the same in 'real world' if you ask me :thumbsup

PS: Just because we dance in a blood pound every Friday the 13th which happens to have full moon on makes us bad people :winkwink:

Back in the day, people bitching about Studio 54 were only the one who can't get in :2 cents:

Nothing wrong man. I myself attended a few industry events, but now I plan a come back after a long break.

:thumbsup

The Porn Nerd 08-26-2015 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelP (Post 20561656)
What's wrong with the 'Bro Club'?

The Bro Club can't fucking spell, that's what.

:D

:pimp

Rochard 08-26-2015 08:51 PM

I remember a time before ICQ..... We used to use a program called chat.exe, and we had to look up our IP address every time we used it, email it to the person we wanted to talk to, and then they could enter in our IP address and ping us.

LOL.

rudimentalcom 10-16-2015 02:03 PM

Montreal still has these adult shows? I remember putting together maybe the FIRST one ever called the WebExpo at the W. Anyone here from that era?

MassTuber 01-05-2016 11:51 AM

I agree! I feel there should be a sticky thread with a list of trade shows and events.

MichaelP 01-05-2016 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rudimentalcom (Post 20606825)
Montreal still has these adult shows? I remember putting together maybe the FIRST one ever called the WebExpo at the W. Anyone here from that era?

Yep still going strong for 13 years now.. (see sig) :)

WebExpo : I was there :thumbsup

blogspot 02-23-2016 02:11 PM

I will have to attend an event some day

Maurelle Marquez 03-06-2016 04:56 AM

Well, Webmaster Access Amsterdam is on September 15 to 18, 2016 at the Double Tree by Hilton! We hope to see you there too! :)

MichaelP 07-13-2016 07:40 AM

^^^^^ Right Before, we have QWEBEC Expo in Montreal on August 4-7 2016. :thumbsup

I guess Montreal is the closest to Amsterdam you can find in North-America, in terms of culture, openness and DAMN HOT GILRS ! :)

yuu.design 08-02-2016 12:08 PM

good article bud!

MichaelP 08-03-2016 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yuu (Post 21077008)
good article bud!

Thank you Yuu. Hope to see you in Montreal this Week-End :thumbsup

Rob.Medcash 08-30-2016 09:10 AM

I think there's definitely a benefit in going to the shows. There's nothing like putting a face to the name and interacting with the people your working with. It's strengthens the relationship a ton!!

tristansx 12-28-2016 02:46 PM

interNEXT is the next one on the list


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