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.

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.

Our industry is about fun and entertainment.  It’s about time someone connected the dots.  The market is getting younger.  Complainers need to get with the program and practice what they preach.  Lighten up, enjoy and grow.

It was a good marketing platform for them that distinguished them from everyone else.  I’m just glad but I didn’t have to work the booth.

Being a member of National Association of Home Builders, ASID and a CEDIA Founding Member I have seen and done it all and to me this was a creative masterpiece. Trade shows are boring, let’s face it. And keep in mind the industry. It should be fun. If you wanted to be in some lame industry like Insurance or accounting, then I can see that it could be too much for you.

For me, it was cool, different and a nice change of pace from sales guys in slick suits handing me 4 color lit like I have time to read it. It was all about people not product. Lucent Dossier is an internationally acclaimed art troupe and their performance was amazing.

In my opinion, SpeakerCraft has introduced this industry to a refreshing dose of energy.  As a long time CEDIA and ASID member, I found their presentation to be the most creative in the room.  If anyone were to stick around after the performance, they would have found a good deal of value being delivered by the staff.  These guys are terrific partners!

I didn’t care one way or the other. I already knew the company was “out there” so was not shocked. I dont care for their regular marketing campaigns so the booth came as no surprise. Like it or not, they had TONS of people in their booth. Question will remain as to whether it was worth the money or not. Looks like a wash. Didnt buy from them before and not buying now but not based on their booth.

The speaker business is the LAST business I would want to be in as a manufacturer. It’s a commodity and the choices are plentiful. Take away speakers from the show and it would be 30% smaller. No one company is superior as it’s personal preference in sound. Speakercraft at least got us talking about THEIR company. Can you even name ten others? Why bother.

Speakercraft if overpriced for our markets and their are PLENTY of good sounding companies out there that fit our bill. Again, I couldn’t care less what they had in their booth but hats off to them for getting mindshare. It can’t be denied that it worked. Against them or for them can be debated. Who cares. Good for them.

Greetings,

This whole thing is a reflection of the attitude of the company.  I have a good friend employeed by Speakercraft & this is just an example of their diversity of marketing.  The third Cedia I attended in Atlanta some time in the mid 90’s, they had a freakin’ circus tent.  last year, 2007, they had a carnival after the show that headlined a midget KISS cover band.  They have always been different, unique & annoying to me.

Everyone try’s to nail a sweet spot in the marketing world & Jeremy & the Speakercraft team are bold enough to try it.  As a 10+ year veteran of Cedia membership, they make me feel sleazy & un-important as a potential dealer.  They boast silly margins but the product really sounds like Speakercrap!  This years booth showed hardly any functional product, if they wanted to show me something they couldn’t.  If it is all about me, as Speakercraft was saying throughout the show, at least give me the respect to inform, educate & demonstrate your product.

I installed three different houses with this product in early 2000, & they all sounded like mud!  Everyone hears different so you make the call but I think the product being cheap is why the divert your attention with booze, midgets & circus shows.

Word!

SpeakerCraft has gone bananas.  I pay a lot of money for my employees to be at these shows.  I pay them to go learn about products and participate in demonstrations, etc.  Why in the heck would I have wanted anyone in that booth?  To see a rock speaker sitting on the ground?  Or a little 3” light speaker?  Or mode free that might never ship if it already hasn’t???  Whatever.  SC is a joke.

CEDIA says it’s permissible that Speakercrafts’ self promotion, and judging from the negative comments by many others, offensive “characters” be allowed to parade down aisles and conference areas, while Smokey the Bear is in violation of CEDIA Expo rules.

The United States Forest Service volunteered their time on Saturday to help dealers become more community aware and active to help future generations enjoy our great natural resources.

Inside that Smokey the Bear costume was a veteran Marine who volunteered for 3 tours in Iraq, including the initial push into Bagdad.

Their awareness message included how volunteer driven programs help abused children, some who have spent years in shackles, beaten, starved, burned and locked in a closet, heal and overcome the tragedy of their lives.

There was no “self” involved.  No promotion of any vendor or exhibitor.  Only high fives for Smokey, hugs, personal pictures with Smokey and high interest in serving a selfless cause.

  The Forest Service reward - Bannishment from visiting attendees and exhibitors.  Rob Hilliard of Trade Show Management when told the purpose of Smokeys presence, helping abused children, said, “I don’t care - I have done worse!”.

I explained to Mr. Hilliard I am a Founding Member of CEDIA, and our organization was formed to educate, inform and give credibility and acceptance as a bona fide trade. 

Saturday was a dark day for CEDIA, when Smokey was banished.

There is no need for this circus at our trade show. Plain and Simple.

Its a train wreck, and a ploy to hide their #### products.

In Atlanta, they will have rappers with gold chains and hookers. Anything to not focus on their products.

Jim (09/08 at 02:20 PM), How was it marketing Genius? You don’t like speaker craft. Are you going to start selling speaker craft now? Sounds like they sold you on something they don’t even sell.