The Newbie’s Guide to CEDIA Expo 2012

If you’re new to the custom electronics industry or you’re simply attending CEDIA Expo for the first time, you might feel a little uneasy and overwhelmed. Don’t be. It’s a piece of cake if you know where to look.

Here are some useful tidbits and links for CEDIA 2012, whether you're a newcomer or just a little rusty. If you have more questions -- whoever you are -- ask the CEDIA experts in our #CEDIAcepro Blog Mob forum.

1. Bookmark CE Pro’s CEDIA Expo cheat sheet. It offers some quick links to everything from the exhibitor list to restaurants to classes to discussion forums and more. You’ll want to keep coming back. The short link is http://bit.ly/cedia12cheat

2. Sign up for the First-Time Attendee Tour. Available only for first-time attendees, the tour kicks off on the morning of the first day, Thursday 9-10 a.m. This will probably be the best hour you ever spent at a trade show if you’ve never been to CEDIA. Meet at the CEDIA Expo Social Media Lounge to join the tour. Please RSVP by Aug. 29 to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

3. CEDIA Survival Guide. This document provides kind of an at-a-glance look at the show, courses and special events. And it has some intuitive nuggets like, “Invest in good shoes.” It’s decent but we think our CEDIA Cheat Sheet is more convenient.

4. Get to know CEDIA. The CEDIA Association booth (2424) on the show floor, and the CEDIA membership booth outside of the Expo are great resources if you want to learn more about the organization and the show.

5. #CEDIAcepro Blog Mob. Look for the guys and gals in bright green. The CEDIA CE Pro Blog Mob will be wearing bright green armbands, and some of them will also be donning black fedoras. These industry experts will be roaming the show floor and they would be delighted to answer your questions if they’re not rushing to their next appointment. In the meantime, feel free to post your questions here. (short link: http://bit.ly/asktheblogmob)

6. Trade magazines. Definitely visit the publishers on the show floor. Naturally, you’ll want to come by the CE Pro booth (3645) and subscribe to our magazines for the residential and commercial markets (of course, you can subscribe online, too). But there are other publishers at CEDIA that would welcome your readership. Also look for magazine bins throughout the Expo.

7. CE distributors. If you’re new to the industry, you’ll want to get to know the distributors. They are tremendous resources for products and tech support. Here are just a few that you’ll find at CEDIA Expo 2012:

• ADI
• Arlington Industries
• Capitol Sales
• North American Cable Equipment
• Parts Express
• Powerhouse Alliance
• SkyWalker
• SnapAV
• Specialty Marketing
• Tec Nec Distributing
• Vanco
• WAVE Electronics
• WireCare.com
• Worthington

8. Business-related exhibitors. Don’t get so caught up in the technology that you forget the most important element of your industry training: business. Spend some time with the vendors who sell business-related products and services such as project management software, financing, marketing, training, etc. They include:

• American Express Open (business services)
• Bedrock Learning (education)
• BidMagic (project/proposal software)
• D-Tools (project/proposal software)
• Homeowners Marketing Services (Direct mail, marketing)
• Netsertive (Web services)
• PayAnywhere (credit card swipes for iDevices)
• Relidy (Web services, marketing)
• Revenew (Web services)
• Salez Toolz (CE sales software)
• Simply Reliable Systems (Project/proposal software)
• Square Inc. (credit card swipes for iDevices)
• Specialty Electronics Nationwide (Buying group)

9. Business classes. Likewise, make sure to investigate some of the business-related courses offered at CEDIA. If you’re like most newcomers to the industry, you overload on technical training and skip the stuff that can help you be profitable. You can find the CEDIA business classes here.

10. Network with your peers. Sure, go to the parties, but if you want a more structured networking environment, consider the Networking track featuring interactive roundtables. Also, CEDIA is hosting a lunch Thursday ($25 for nonmembers; free for members) called Around the Table: 6 Topics, 1 Hour, Infinite Answers.

11. Download the CEDIA Mobile App. I've never used a trade show mobile app before, but I just downloaded the CEDIA Expo app for Android. Much of it is not all that useful (requires downloading documents) but it's worth the price of admission (free) just to have the showfloor maps, exhibitor list and a few other goodies. I will definitely be using it at the show.

12. CEDIA News by CE Pro. Well of course we're biased, but I'm pretty sure that many of your peers will agree that CE Pro does the best CEDIA Expo coverage. We don't just post a bunch of press releases, but our editors are out there before, during and after the show digging up big scoops and posting timely information. Please check our CEDIA site often: http://www.cepro.com/cedianews

13. Do your research. The bias is creeping in again, but we think the best way to prepare for the show is by downloading our pre-show CEDIA guide here.

13. At a glance. You can find most of these handy links in our CEDIA Cheat Sheet, but it never hurts to repeat them.

CEDIA Expo 2012
September 5 – 8, 2012
Exhibits: September 6 – 8
Indiana Convention Center
Indianapolis, Ind.

Tradeshow Floor Hours
Thursday – Friday: 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Saturday: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Links
Food/restaurants
Online Registration
Forum: Meet the Trainers
List of exhibitors (all)
CEPro.com/cedianews
CEDIA Parties
Hotels
Complete CEDIA Expo brochure
Ask the #CEDIAcepro Blog Mob


Psst...Use #cediacepro to get the attention of CE Pro editors and the Blog Mob.