351: Trade Show Overload--Finding Value Beyond the Booth

Chris Netto joins The AV Life Podcast this week for a candid discussion about the evolving AV trade show and road show landscape. The panel examines lower attendance at major events, the rapid growth of regional roadshows, rising exhibit costs, and the need for clearer return on investment. They agree that meaningful conversations, meals, and follow-up meetings often create more value than booth traffic alone.

The conversation also explores the convergence of residential, commercial, IT, broadcast, and higher education AV; the growth of studios and video-first communications; and the importance of audio, lighting, acoustics, and network design in AI-enabled spaces. Finally, the group calls attention to project managers, technicians, and other behind-the-scenes professionals who are often unable to attend industry events despite being essential to successful AV projects.

Topics discussed:

• CEDIA attendance and the state of major AV trade shows
• Growth and saturation of regional AV roadshows
• Event scheduling conflicts and audience fatigue
• Trade-show costs, exhibitor budgets, and ROI expectations
• The value of relationship-building over booth traffic
• Reaching underserved secondary and regional markets
• Commercial and residential AV market convergence
• AV’s expanding presence at NAB, EDUCAUSE, and broadcast-adjacent events
• Corporate studio growth and video-first communications
• Network, lighting, acoustics, and audio requirements for AI
• Professional development challenges for project managers and technicians
• Making industry events more accessible to behind-the-scenes AV professionals

The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at higheredav.com.

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