For some time now I’ve been making it a point to attend the NAB Show and this year is no exception. It’s an experience that is tough to fully describe until you actually see for yourself. There are tons of content to browse through and you can speak with many professionals involved in the development of the products that interest you.

You can find the ins and outs of current/upcoming software or get your hands on the latest video & audio technology. Along with that, there are many demonstrations from practically every vendor you see. This is definitely the place to be for discovering the future of our industry and to find better ways to help achieve those business goals.

You could spend a bit of money to attend some of the conferences but it really isn’t necessary unless there is something that highly interests you. An “exhibits pass” is free for industry professionals. All you have to do is register early and they will send you your badge and you are good to go. (Click the "read more" link below for the rest of this article)

I met a few of my photographer friends there and went only for one day through the exhibits area. Although this show is geared toward the video industry there was still lots for them to see, particularly lighting. I personally was interested in the acquiring new tripods and possibly a Glidecam. So I checked out the Bogen/Manfrotto booth as well as the others that had similar products of interest.

The experts at Glidecam Industries, Inc. were extremely helpful and allowed me to test out their products hands on. They even threw the same camera I use (Sony HDR-FX1) to the glidecam and they gave a good understanding how to use it properly. I was very impressed and this is just one example of why I enjoy coming to the NAB show.

All the companies that I use or have used products from (Sony, Panasonic, Canon, Adobe, etc.) are there to show what’s the latest and greatest. They even allow for many hands on demonstrations for us to see how good (or bad) their products are. It’s a great benefit for the consumer because it allows you to make a better decision on future purchases. Although, I think it’s also good way for these companies to sell you on how wonderful their product is and hoping once you get your hands on it, you’ll be more compelled to buy.

Upon walking through the aisles of numerous vendors, it’s easy for some of the smaller companies to get lost in the shuffle. However, I feel those vendors have a lot more to offer. They tend to give great one-on-one overviews of their products and have creative ways of getting traffic to their area. Some even hold contests for cool items, like an iPhone or hire a fairly known celebrity to make an appearance.

Rap fans were excited to see “Chuck D” from Public Enemy there signing autographs at the Killertracks.com booth. This helped them introduced some of their production music online. Every turn, there are always giveaways and prizes just so that you will remember them once you leave the show. Overall, I find the show to be a great motivational and learning tool to help your business. Unfortunately this year, two big companies, Apple and Avid, took a break from the NAB. But even without them it was still an informative event. Next year should be even better when they return. Check out NABshow.com for more details.