What to do at NAB

[David Jahns]

Best timesaver in the world is to pick up a Subway or some other deli sandwich for lunch on your way TO the show. Subways are open early, Starbucks will have sandwiches.

Yeah, it gets a little squashed in your bag, but you can pop out to the sunshine for 10-15 minutes and grab a bite, while everyone else is waiting in a 20 minute line to pay $12 for crappy cafeteria food. The BarBQ trucks outside aren’t bad, but there’s always that long line to stand in. Times-a-wasting!

And definitely enjoy a nice meal or two in the evenings. It’s hard with all of the evening events, but worth it. Personally, I love Diego’s in the MGM…

David Jahns
—
Joint Editorial
Portland, OR

[Lance Bachelder]

A little coffee tip at the South Hall: there is always a HUGE line for the Starbucks outside the lower South Hall. If you’re just drinking drip coffee – head inside to food court – they have Starbucks drip and there’s no waiting! They also have tons of flavored creamers etc.

Lance Bachelder
Writer, Editor, Director
Irvine, California

[Ray Palmer]

I take a small pocket digital audio recorder with me. When I am in a booth and the vendor tells me what software version I should be running or what telephone number I need to call to talk to an Engineer, I have them talk directly into my recorder. Out of their mouth and onto digital storage. I don’t even attemp to remember or write it all down.
On the flight home, I playback and write up my notes.
It works great for expenses too. Takes away a lot of stress from trying to remember it all.

Ray Palmer, Engineer
Salt River Project
Phoenix, AZ
602-236-8224 office
Violence may not be the answer but it sure cuts down on the questions.

[Hector Berrebi]

few NAB tips 🙂

PPW (post production world) starts on saturday and has 5 packed days of so many lectures on so many topics your head will spin, you can pay individual days or all days deals, and its moderately priced.
you get to enter almost any session you want (not the certification sessions) and network with many people from virtually everywhere
I may be a bit biased as i’m giving 5 Avid sessions this year at PPW. but in past years i did paid to enter and never regretted it. i like that it starts the show 2 days earlier (on Sat) so it beefs up the week a little, and you get to see show floors getting final touch ups 🙂

there are many good, free (sponsored) lectures and sessions to see and attend, keep your ears and eyes open for them. for example, The Foundry always have interesting lectures at their booth, or last year, Autodesk gave a nice 4 hour hands on with Smoke, or Zacuto showing exclusive screenings of their camera shootout etc’
also non sponsored free lectures like the Post Pit, with changing speakers and topics.

make lists of what you MUST see and do it on your first and second days, never plan anything for thursday (half day).

don’t drink the nasty little energy drinks handed out for free everywhere, get a decent night sleep instead

if you must use restrooms … use the ones on less crowded floors, like upper north hall or something.
(though generally clean, rest rooms in crowded halls tend to be as crowded)

the book store booth at the north hall is excellent

AjA party is tough to get to if you don’t know anyone to get you in, though in that case you might not enjoy the party once you do get in (i think its a party to go to with people, not alone)
last year ASSIMILATE had a nice party too, AVID throws good ones when they do, and Bob’s gathering at the Hard Rock is always very fun. RED has a user’s party on sunday (details on REDUSER.net). and there is the Media Motion Ball too.
if you plan to go to the Supermeet. know that though it is a very nice gathering, lectures vary in quality, and it is mind numbingly long. especially due to the never ending raffle draw that takes (a very long) hour+ to complete. (in my opinion they should find a better way to do it).

i disagree about buffets being a cheep option (Tim)
try the Bellagio/Wynn/cosmopolitan for quite a unique LV experience (around 35$)

take your most comfy shoes for the days
and a good looking pair for the nights

bring at least one suite

and don’t “save” 10-30$ on a bargain room… its where you sleep and take showers (and hopefully more… wink) I always rather have a nice room than seeing a cheesy show or eating at an overpriced LV restaurant.

enjoy 🙂

hector

Hector Berrebi
prePost Consulting

[David Shulkin]

[Hector berrebi] “but in past years i did paid to enter and never regretted it.”

I went to the first year of DV workshops (I think that was what is was called 12 years ago) and then back to PPW this past year with staff. I won’t say I regretted it, but the bulk of sessions I participated in was just ok. Specifically the entire lineup of DP track sessions were feeble attempts of “shallow sales pitches” and info dumps. Absolutely disappointing (would not recommend).

However,if you are going I HIGHLY recommend Hector’s sessions – went to 2 of them last year – very useful and my staff LOVED them for their work. I also recommend some of the usual suspects – Trish/Chris Meyers (AE), Rod Harland, Harrington, Greenberg, etc.

[Hector Berrebi]

[David Shulkin] “However,if you are going I HIGHLY recommend Hector’s sessions – went to 2 of them last year – very useful and my staff LOVED them for their work. I also recommend some of the usual suspects – Trish/Chris Meyers (AE), Rod Harland, Harrington, Greenberg, etc.”

wow David, thanks 🙂
and i thought i didn’t have enough crowd in my sessions…

how nice of you to write that.

hope i see you again this year

come say hi if you’re there, its hard to match faces to names

hector

Hector Berrebi
prePost Consulting

[Mike Cohen]

Tim and others mention restaurants. In my hundreds of trips for work and two to Vegas I make sure to find some tasty food. Here are my suggestions:

Bellagio – go through the flower room and walk almost to the end of the hotel to Sensi – the kitchen is in the center of the restaurant surrounded by plexiglass. Good food with a free show.

Paris has a great breakfast buffet, but get there early and only if you are staying there or nearby.

Aria has a nice Tapas restaurant right off the lobby – though be warned, those $6 plates can add up!

NAB would be fun but perhaps another year for me.

Have fun and hydrate I tell you, HYDRATE!

Mike Cohen

[Spencer Carpenter]

Hi,

I’ve recently (last may) gone freelancing and am a video editor, post production person and am looking to spend a lot of cash this year on new equipment including oled monitor, video output card, colour grading control surface, mac pro etc.

Is nab the sort of place where you can pick up bargains and actually buy stuff there to bring home?

I live in the uk and it would cost me at least £1000 ($1600ish) to make the trip to nab and as much as I would enjoy it I’m fairly sure I can read up about everything afterwards from a research point of view.

If i thought I might save some $’s on my purchases for the year it would definitely help me justify it.

Thanks

Spencer

[Ralph Hajik]

Hi Spencer,

There’s a lot to do at NAB 2013. There’s training sessions, exhibits to view, talk to the experts about your wants and needs, etc.
Most of the exhibitors are there to explain to you about their newly released products that are available to you to purchase from their web sites and/or stores and some give you discounts. Some exhibitors are there to sell their products at NAB. Here’s a link for you to get started on your research of exhibitors that will attend NAB 2013:
https://www.nabshow.com/2013/exhibits/

Good Luck,
Ralph Hajik

Happy Travels
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