Oct 30

Written by: Jeremy Glowacki
10/30/2007 4:00 PM 

I hate to say I told you so regarding CEDIAs Spring EXPO news, but I just had a bad feeling about it from the beginning. Despite their best efforts to properly serve the interests of association members -- both electronic systems contractors and manufacturers -- theres simply a limit to how much our market can absorb in terms of trade show expense and time away from the office.

I cant exactly come out and say that Im pulling for CEDIA to succeed, but the success or failure of the industrys preeminent trade association does have a direct impact on the success or failure of my magazine. As much as I tried to understand the rationale behind Spring EXPO, I just couldnt come to terms with yet another trade show in the busy calendar year, let alone the cost of sending any of my staff.

Perhaps CEDIA will gain momentum with its Electronic Lifestyles Forum, which does have potential. It remains to be seen if architects, designers, and builders will, in fact, attend an event that isnt brought to them, on a silver platter, to one of their own trade events. From what I hear, thats just about the only way to grab the attention of these professionals, especially when discussing technology of any kind.

I will speak with CEDIA president, Utz Baldwin, later today to find out more on the associations scheduling change, so until then all I can say is that, unfortunately, I saw this coming.