Every year, thousands of people flock to Las Vegas to nerd out (come on, you know you do) over the new technology from some of the tech giants in media, you know… AVID, Adobe, ShowMGR, the list goes on and on. Exhibits are packed with people eagerly awaiting presentations from our favorite companies as they unveil the latest and greatest advancements.
While I look forward to the new technology, my favorite part of NAB is the networking. For some, networking has a negative connotation, so let’s just call it what it really is… connecting.
From the moment we arrive, there is this creative energy floating around the strip and when you tap into it, it’s energizing. I’m naturally a people person, so I really enjoy having one on one conversations with people to see what they are up to and what they are planning next.
After attending NAB the last few years, here are my top 5 connecting must do’s at NAB:
1. Do Your Research
This is an easy one. There is so much to do and see at NAB so I’m sure you already have a map of all of the booths you want to visit, but make sure you check out all of the parties and events that are happening outside of the showroom floor to increase your chances of connecting. I recommend checking out BroadcastBeat for NAB happenings.
2. Use Social Media
A no-brainer, I know, but worth mentioning! People are on the move almost as much as they are on social media. Want to know what your favorite people are doing? Follow their social media and they will have likely posted about where you can find them. If you want to see what we’re up to, you can find us at @TeamPeopleTV via Twitter and Instagram, we'll be live tweeting our favorite moments and want to know what you're nerding out on too!
3. Take A Break
Seriously… I know I said connecting is energizing, but after several days, it can be exhausting if you don’t take breaks. Make sure you take time for yourself between sessions to recharge your battery (both figuratively and literally). Once your phone is fully charged, come see us in the Silver Lot @ Big Daddy’s BBQ Food Truck on April 25th, we’ll be giving away 200 meal tickets (read: free food!) I don’t know about you, but relaxing and free food are two of my favorite things.
4. Bring A Pen… Everywhere
This may seem old school, but it’s so much easier to pull out a pen than fumble around with your phone. Is someone working on a really cool project that you want to collaborate on? Take their business card and write down the cliff notes version of your conversation. I can’t tell you how many great conversations I’ve had and instantly forgot who it was with as soon as I came home. If that hasn’t happened to you, kudos, you are superhuman.
5. Stay Curious
This is my favorite. When this many people from 160+ countries gather together in a city like Las Vegas, you are bound to speak to some interesting people working on awesome stuff. Ask questions. Tons of them. People love talking about themselves so take advantage. You never know who you may meet and what you may learn.