WEVA Expo 2005

[David Chandler-gick]

To answer your specific question, yes. Being “new” you can be a dry sponge and absorb so much…

As time goes on, you’ll find more “been there – done that”, but by that time it’s no longer so much about what you can learn as much as what you can experience. (And no. I really cannot explain any better than that.)

For me, it’s about meeting with friends and colleagues. It’s about sitting in on some new speakers and the tradeshow.

I’d like to go every year, but as it is, I go about every other and Vegas bores me. Between PPA, WPPI and WEVA, I’ve had enuff of Vegas for several years. I don’t miss it when I don’t go (even if I do miss my friends). If WEVA went back to the rotating city schedule they used to be on, I’d probably go more often.

-DJ
David Chandler-Gick
http://www.DavidChandler-Gick.com
Dynamic Media Group (www.dynamicmediagroup.com)
a deveraux film (www.adeverauxfilm.com)
Event Video COW Moderator
Contributing Editor eventDV magazine (www.eventdv.net)

[Tom Maloney]

I got tied of hearing the same people tell everyone how good they were.

Tom

[Matthew Watkins]

Mike,

Here’s what you get if you go to a WEVA expo.

A lot of people that tell you what you have to do to make it in the business, but don’t tell you how to do those things in the real world. And a very small trade show.

Yes you can sit around and talk to the people that do these things all year and most are all wondering how to do what the speakers tell you, but you can learn from ordinary people doing what you want to do.

I can’t see spending the money for that anymore.

I was a WEVA member for many years and went to the expos and finally got very tired of the same people telling me to basically keep spending money to come to all the WEVA events only to hear how great they were.

Save your money and if you want to go to a real trade show, go to NAB in April. Don’t waste your time and money with WEVA.

[Sully Sullivan]

Hey Guys,

Thanks for your input. I really wasn’t too excited about going anyway. I’ll save my time and money.

Thanks again,
Mike

[Peter Ralph]

I don’t attend WEVA but I have attended many “educational” conferences and have rarely felt the money or time were wasted. They have 3 functions – disseminating information, providing oppurtunities for networking, and (the BIG one), offering inspiration.

[Al Herr]

Everytime I think of WEVA I always think of that Groucho quote;
something like: “I won’t join any organization that would have me as a member.”

Al

and man it works; I have never joined.

[Ralph Hajik]

Hi David,

I was reading this post and I’m now glad that I didn’t spend my money joining WEVA. I went to NAB and enjoyed it very much, but you only stay for the first 3 days and leave. You have mentioned PPA, WPPI & WEVA. I know what WEVA stands for, bit not the others. What do they stand for and after I post this, I’ll do a search and see if I can find out myself. Thanks all of you for the information on WEVA. I know now that I won’t miss much.

Ralph Hajik
Westmont, IL

[Ralph Hajik]

Hi Dave,

I did my search and PPA (Professional Photographers of America) and WPPI (Wedding & Portrait Photographers International). There’s no need to respond, Thanks.

Ralph

[Doug Graham]

Well, I’ve never been to a WEVA Expo, but many people (especially those just starting out) have told me that it was very valuable to them.

In addition, I know many of the presenters through the forums, or their books, or their training materials. These are not academic ivory-tower types spouting gassy theory. They are people out there in the trenches making video, just like you and me.

I’m not touting WEVA. I was a member in the past, but not at present. Nor am I touting any other organization. Everyone needs to decide for themselves whether the money spent to join a group and/or to attend an event is worth it to them. I just wanted to point out that many have found the answer to that to be “yes!”

Regards,
Doug Graham

[Pat Kingery]

It also depends on where you live. The value of WEVA, NAB etc are far higher to those who live in the sticks, and don’t have ready access to B&H etc.My biggest gripe with WEVA is the time of year. August is always my busiest month