PLASA at Olympia - new venue

[Stuart91]

The guy in front of me had every nook & cranny of his rucksack searched while the queue built up,

 

Glad that they didn't try that with mine - it would have taken hours.

[CallumP93]

I must have been lucky on Sunday! I popped in on the way to a install job with my Peli full of tools and was only subjected to a check from the sniffer dogs and then let on my way. I paid for the cloakroom to store by bag and tool box but maybe getting a bag picked up on is worth it in locations where the cloakroom is much more expensive!

 

With regards the the show, I was in and out within 1 1/2 hours as there wasn't anything particular I wanted to see and was only there as it was on the way this year. I did think however it was a bit too bright for some of the lighting stands, with a lot of the stands electing to cover the top t provide some darkness.

[PeterT]

My dad got his Swiss army knife through (it was in his pocket) however they had my screwdriver with bits (Aldi special a La Big Clive's favourite) off me as I forgot to take it out of my bag, took a picture and away it went. When we left I asked for it back, so security blokes radios up to the office, security lady comes down and escorts me back through the show, up to the attic to collect said tool. The daft thing was she then left me to my own devices to walk back through the show with my screwdriver that they took off me to stop me taking it into the show in the first place!

 

Daft! :blink:

[Stuart91]

I do wonder if there is a fresh risk assessment done for each event in Olympia, or if they just roll out the same security policy for everything. It's notable that the security is the main thing that people are talking about, both here and on the show floor.

 

It's a pity that the exhibitors seem to be thinning out somewhat. The move to Olympia certainly made the show feel busier, and it was doubtlessly good to be out of the soulless shed that is ExCel. But there were a few missing faces that I would otherwise have liked to have caught up with.

 

I also got a couple of emails from companies ahead of the show, saying basically "we're not exhibiting but we're going to be around at the show, so let us know if you want to fix up a meeting". At least one had exhibited last year.

[Jivemaster]

Walked in straight past security, it's hard to find each stand when they have stand numbers in the book but no numbers on the aisles or stands. It's hard to find upstairs when the stairs are hidden -is there a lift anywhere? one stand upstairs had had already migrated downstairs by 2pm Sunday -to a friendly stand.

[Stuart91]

Upstairs did seem a bit deserted, especially the corner that had the universities and associations clustered together.

 

One stand I spoke to did say that they were getting decent footfall from people leaving seminars, but they were almost directly adjacent.

[Andyb]

I thought it was a great show this year.

 

It would have been even better if the ambesphere stand was a little smaller and some other big brands exhibited like Martin pro and sennheiser. There should be a cap on the maximum stand size to get more stands in. That said, I understand it is still obscenely expensive to exhibit.

 

I went on Monday and wish I could have easily spent a few more hours there. For me it was about the people rather than the new equipment.

[Jevans]

One exhibitor told me they felt the stand size might go down next year as more people might want to exhibit.

[Simon Lewis]

The purpose of trade shows in the internet age is hard to determine. The various shows have their strengths, weaknesses and characteristics, with some companies happily exhibiting at (say) PLASA North but shunning the London exhibition. The rise and fall of their different fortunes is also apparent for all to see.

BPM/PRO has been interesting to watch over the past three years - with the PRO part somewhat weak in year 1, optimistically expanding last year but perhaps looking slightly thinner this year (although the audio demo space was pretty useful). The BPM bit is best not considered, unless you like the bedroom DJ version of Dante's Inferno.

 

The cost of exhibiting at these events can be exorbitant - especially when the total cost of preparation, staff time, hotels, disruption to business and cost of demo stock is considered. One large stand at Excel totalled £400k - which is a lot of money to recoup in sales just to "have a face" at an exhibition. Of course, many firms attend every show, with the attendant cost involved.

 

Personally, I thought there was a good vibe at Olympia, despite the cramped setup conditions, creaky goods lift, hidden stairs, restricted floor space and eye watering prices. We were on the gallery, hawking our degree in sex and drugs and rock'n'roll, and we felt it was worth our while being there.

Should the show begin to grow again, there are other halls that could be used. The more central London location was welcome, and the slight curb in the "my stand is bigger than yours" war was good to see...

[MikeH]

Thought the show had a really good buzz to it, and most of the exhibitors we spoke to felt they had a good show. Having exhibited at Plasa Focus Leeds, and being booked for the Showman's Show to get a good spread, we decided against the main show but are pretty certain we'll book for next year now.

[Junior8]

I do wonder if there is a fresh risk assessment done for each event in Olympia, or if they just roll out the same security policy for everything. It's notable that the security is the main thing that people are talking about, both here and on the show floor.

 

I have to cover events at Olympia about eight times a year and it seems a pretty standard procedure these days. I never take anything bigger than a netbook bag.

 

The purpose of trade shows in the internet age is hard to determine. The various shows have their strengths, weaknesses and characteristics, with some companies happily exhibiting at (say) PLASA North but shunning the London exhibition. The rise and fall of their different fortunes is also apparent for all to see.

 

I was the BDC covering a show yesterday which is next year going out to ExCel due amongst other things to the pressure on floor space in London with the loss of Earls Court. I dislike ExCel intensely and a few years ago vowed never to go there again - a vow made much easier by the move of Toy Fair back to Olympia but there is no denying from an exhibitor access point of view and for getting in and out it is much easier. But you make a good point and on the way back I was trying to think of which shows I'd attend for their usefulness rather than just because someone was paying me to go. Of the twelve or so I cover across the year I'd say one for interest and another for the catwalk show.

 

 

 

 

[Malcolm Gordon]

It's hard to find upstairs when the stairs are hidden -is there a lift anywhere?

 

hidden stairs,

I'm confused, there was a large staircase in the middle of the hall next to the White Light stand, which presumably was the organisers' preferred way for visitors to go upstairs.

 

I also enjoyed the vibe on Monday. It reminded me of the ABTT.

[Stacker]

I haven't been going for years and years, but have been since the Earl's Court days.

Didn't think much of it this year, there felt like a good turn out but that could have been because the venue was smaller.

Shocked Martin weren't there, in any capacity (was rather interested in the Rush stuff, for about 5 minutes!)

BPM/PRO was ok this year, maybe I'm getting bored of these trade shows, since going to Prolight in Germany the last 4 years, nothing in country seem to compare! It's massive!

[Simon Lewis]

I'm confused, there was a large staircase in the middle of the hall next to the White Light stand, which presumably was the organisers' preferred way for visitors to go upstairs.

 

Coming through the exhibitors' entrance, our stand was on the opposite balcony - so it made sense to use the stairwells in the corner of the building. However, there were numerous times when I had to retrace my steps to find where the stairwell actually was!

 

 

 

[Chris Beesley]

Having stood on the Prolight stand for both BPM/PRO and Plasa (crazy idea to have them on following weekends!) this year I would say both shows work as they still have slightly different markets. Having them on back to back weekends however is bonkers! Back onto PLASA... we only exhibited at Excel on one occasion and found it to be a waste of money, however this year the show for us was great. Some of this may be due to a shift in the range we had on display, some may have been the visitors. Just a shame they couldn't blackout some of the "greenhouse"