AMS, as I previously stated...
"What individual impression the person manning the booth may give is just that person's style of delivery."
Let me add "or lack of style".
That's really all it comes down to.
Want to test that theory? Spend 2 or 3 days walking the huge CES show. Some people will practically mug you, while others act like you're bothering them. I can't speak for your personal incident, nor wish to make a judgement here, I hope it was a freak thing.
We are appreciative and indebted to ALL of exhibitors for being there, even the ones who haven't had their coffee yet.
While at least 90% of the time I post here as a D.J., let me put my other hat on for a second, since I CAN. As many of you know, I was there as a representative of a vendor. Hopefully, I can discuss this from both sides, since I've BEEN on both sides.
Mike's right. While I'm in no way defending whomever Tim talked to from SKB, and agree it could and should have been handled better, I imagine I'm also guilty of having my own "style" (or lack thereof). While many people "get me" (and vice-versa), and I hugged many (customers, and non-customers alike), I'm sure some didn't like me. I do the best I can, but I would be fooling myself if I thought 100% liked me.
Examples (all happened at MBLV09):
While I'm DEFINITELY interested in showing products and helping people, when I have (at one point) FOUR GUYS trying to cram themselves, along with me on a tiny piece of staging, simply
assuming this is ok, I have to say something.
If, after 20 minutes of "test driving" one of our controllers, I've got other people who also want to try it out, I have to say something.
If a novice computer user physically pokes my Macbook Pro with his fingernail (which is the most direct way to create areas of dead pixels on an LCD screen), not once, but TWICE, I have to say something.
Mike: while I don't enjoy coffee as a hot beverage, Jitters (in the Riv lobby) makes a really tasty ice blend.
I really appreciate SKB the case manufacturer participating at Mobile Beat.
They do the same thing at NAMM. They don't want to drag the demo stuff home so they sell it off.
At NAMM, they take orders for dealers who will be buying retail quantities.
At MBLV, they are trying to build interest for their dealers in their products.
The SKB was super nice and super patient with me. Two years ago, they gave me about $50 worth of velcro because I strip out the foam in my cases and velcro all my gear in place.
They were listening when I mention what a pain scraping the glue off is.
Dan from Numark was working in the Six Star booth. He was great as well. He ended up selling the Mixmeister controller to a guy from Nigeria! (And Dan knows I LUV Mixmeister). The Nigerian guy asked first. No harm, no foul.
There is a distinction as Cap and others have mentioned. Retailers bring stuff to sell.
Manufacturers are bringing stuff to show off.
God Bless them for showing up and supporting the show!
Despite the fact that
some of the products Dan was showing are direct competition to ones I was showing - in the same booth, too! (I believe "knockoff" could actually be applied, but I digress), I liked Dan and had hoped to have him show me the Mixmeister controller, as well. While I don't use it "live", I really like the Mixmeister software (I use Studio, from time to time). I was hoping he had brought an NS7 to play, but... not yet. I too, missed that one.
For what it's worth, my experiences with SKB have been completely positive. I took a tour of their plant in Orange, California with several folks here, and found them to be very helpful.