OK. now I feel bad, because it was my comment at the beginning that got this all started. It "seemed" to me that exhibit space was down a bit, but I didn't even think about all the rooms across the hall that were filled. With those in mind, it probably wasn't down, but either way, the real question is whether or not there were enough vendors there to make for a great show. The answer is yes. I didn't hear anyone, anywhere, complain that there wasn't enough to choose from.
It "seemed" to me that attendance was down. I based that on one specific thing - the opening seminar "seemed" to have fewer chairs in it than before. I often speak on Day 1, and maybe it just "seems" more full from the stage than from the audience.
Again, the real issue is whether it was worthwhile. The answer is yes.
I belong to a private group of DJs that meets twice a year. We have about 40 in attendance, either no vendors or sometimes we allow one to come in a present something, and I spend a LOT more money for that than I do for our convention, and that's still worthwhile. So Mobile Beat is a no-brainer.
As to the specific number of vendors, I'm speaking for Mike here, which is a very dangerous thing, but since I'm pretty sure this wasn't his first rodeo, I think I understand his reluctance to put out a number.
Hypothetical "conversation"
"Last year there were 30 vendors. This year there were 31. We were up."
"Oh, really? But one of those was Mike Walter and he was really a speaker. And one was the ADJA, who is really more of a partner. So you were really down."
Or,
"Last year I counted 30 spaces. This year I counted 28, so you were down."
"But did you count the spaces across the hall?"
"No, those weren't in the exhibit hall."
Or,
"Last year we sold 28 spaces. This year we sold 26, but six were double spaces, so there was more floor space sold."
"So then you were down, right?"
The point is, people often use statistics the way a drunk wuses a lamppost - more for support than illumination. Why fuel that issue?
Frankly, I thought the show was going to be half of what it was last year, what with all the gloom and doom in the press. I think it's more important than ever to become lean mean marketing and performance machines, but sadly, most people do the opposite, which is to stop the educational process in down times. That's when it's most critical, but it's just not the way most people think, so I was very pessmistic going in.
As Mike Walter pointed out, in his usual positive fashion, this was the most positive show I've been to in a long time. Thinking about it now, I think the reason might be that more negative people stayed home while more positive people attended. (Lots of exceptions, but it only takes a small percentage to change the vibe.)
