SpeakerCraft at CEDIA 2008: Awesome or Annoying?
With the sluggish economy and the general blahs in the CE community, you'd think the outrageous show at SpeakerCraft would be a welcome respite for weary dealers, especially given the anticipation of another wardrobe malfunction (or was it?).
Was the display "an embarrasment" and "a joke," as AnthonyZ says on RemoteCentral.com?
Or was it "the single most creative booth event of the year," as integrator Lee Distad called it?
I think he meant that in a good way.
In the COMMENTS section below, please share your thoughts.


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145 Comments (displayed in order by date/time)
Setting the image aside, if the trade show is all about getting leads for new SpeakerCraft dealers, the booth was certainly jammed during every performance.
ATTN : FELLOW CEDIA MEMBERS,
I think this was one of the most UNPROFESSIONAL things that ever happened to CEDIA.
This is NOT the Orange County Choppers.
Jeremy is making fun of “our” profession with his retarded ideas.
I am dropping the line today, I will NOT be associated with this unacceptable behavior.
Please vote to make “our” profession a job of Pride and NOT a CIRCUS.
Do you think Bill Gates and Steve Jobs would do such a pull such a sladerous sham??? NO
Wake up NorTech, get him out NOW.
As Oscar Wilde put it: The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about.
This was the most entertaining and educational booth. If you listened to their message, you learned something. I applaud them.
I’ll need more information before I can “share my thoughts”. Please post more pictures and maybe even a video or 2.
Okay, what the heck is a “sladerous sham”? Heck, even if you meant slanderous, huh?
I guess there are people who will find fault in anything, the reality is, they brought a lot of people to their booth, they kept with their brand image, I mean, is anyone surprised to see this from Speakercraft?
And heck, if the comments are keeping score, we are signing up with Speakercraft, so I guess they are even.
The new wireless Mode keypad was pretty cool… You know, once I found the small section that had product.
It was fun to watch and we are in this business to install great systems, deliver fun and make money. The old folks that don’t understand are not bad they are just out of touch. Our business is music and enertainment, this booth was exactly that. The new iPhone control won best product at the show. I am specing the Time Mini into a BMW dealership and Speakercraft invented that too. Jeremy is a bit insane and brilliant, he knows it’s all about enertainment. I called him and he got me tickets once for a concert just by me asking.
Some people really need to lighten up! It looked like a pretty fun deal to me. They are selling speakers for crying out loud… not medical equipment.
Hey Phil @ 11:29, if you need more research, you can fill your boots with this blog post:
http://businessopinions.blogspot.com/2008/09/speakercraft-brings-burning-man-to.html
OH NO!!! Somebody did something different!!! AHHHH…. its SCARY, and I am a wheeny who doesn’t like difference and change…........ get that tattooed freak away from my suit and tie and my shoe-polish colored hair thats been falling out since the 70’s…..... AHHHH!!!!! SCARY…..
this is how you really feel, isn’t it? STUART, at 10:48am…... get a clue
I was at the booth, and while I DO NOT like Speakercraft, I will say that it was marketing genius….... and if you can’t see that, go back to selling 8-tracks and hi-fi….
I think you guys are missing the fact that they are doing a lot to help their dealers succeed in this down economy.
I thought the booth was great and very entertaining not to mention that it was made of mostly recycled materials. The show is for dealers not end users so what’s the big deal about having a little fun and doing something a little different?
Hello,
I am a designer checking out what Cedia is all about. If this is any indication of Cedia, ASID would laugh these guys out of the show.
I think there is no place for this in a professional convention type environment. I for one will try to steer way clear of these guys as much as possible. If any of their offerings come up on any project I am involved with, I will see it erased.
They should leave the gimmicks at home and give tangible tips, and solid “product” focused ideas to create a edge in this tough economy.
I am sure many could go out to find this type of “show” during off time, not “learning” time.
-Phil
ASID Member
WHAT is Speakercraft doing to help their dealers in this economy other than drowning their tears in beer?
I know of one high-volume speakercraft dealer who caters to the production-home market. Business is way down. speakercraft sent in a sales expert to help the dealer set up a telemarketing campaign to hit up thousands of existing customers.
Speakercraft also has been setting up small dealer conferences that focus on nothing but business.




It’s all brand with that company. I’m surprised the girls weren’t giving lap dances and there wasn’t a tattoo parlor in one of the huts.