The first Rental & Staging Roadshow, held at Altman Rentals in Yonkers, NY (a stone's throw from New York City), on July 25, was a huge success. The Roadshow was a chance for rental and staging professionals in the Northeast to get technical and product training, and business planning/and management seminars. It was nice to get together again with some familiar faces-so soon after InfoComm-and to meet new folks.
Even as InfoComm continues to grow (you saw how InfoComm in Anaheim this year was the biggest InfoComm ever, and continues to be a must-attend event on the staging industry calendar) you can't always see equipment in action at trade shows, and you can't always take all the staff you need to take. This staging business is just too crazy. June is the heart of the summer show season. And-regardless of the season-the staging business has a lot of you on the road at shows. It just doesn't lend itself to the same cycle of show attendance/product introduction/product evaluation that characterizes other AV markets. So the need for hands-on demos with gear, and for business and technical seminars in your own area is greater than ever. Stagers, unlike other AV market players, are the end-users of equipment.
So it was gratifying when 150+ plus busy stagers came to the shores of the Hudson River in July for the first Roadshow. (We'll be returning there next July... but more on that later.)
Rental & Staging Systems magazine produced the Roadshow. Primary Sponsors for the Roadshow were Barco; Unique Business Systems/R2 (rental management software); A-Line Acoustics; Video Roadshow; Agenda magazine; and of course Altman Rentals, who did a superb job (under the energetic leadership of Randy Altman) hosting the event at their facilities on the banks of the Hudson River.
The Roadshow also featured manufacturer training from Barco, IntelEvent, Unique Business Systems, Christie Digital, and Sony Electronics-as well as tabletop exhibits from a number of equipment providers.
The Rental & Staging Systems magazine Roadshow held July 25 was the first in a series produced by Rental & Staging Systems magazine, working with InfoComm International, to bring product training and business and technical seminars to the rental staging community where they work, in intimate, hands-on settings. Upcoming stops in other U.S. cities will be announced soon by NewBay Media, publishers of Rental & Staging Systems magazine.
But the next Roadshow is set. It will take place in L.A., at the Los Angeles Convention Center, Dec. 5th, 2007. The Rental & Staging Roadshow will again include two consecutive tracks: one on business and management, and the other track on technical issues in staging, which will be presented by InfoComm.
The Roadshow technical and business tracks will address key issues for industry rental and professionals, with a focus on the corporate event market. Tom Stimson will once again preside over classes for the business/management track, delving deep into issues such as how to make your staging company more profitable.
InfoComm International will again provide the tech track for the Roadshow. In addition to the sessions, there will also be manufacturer demos, exhibits, lunch, networking sessions, and much more. Admission is free, but space is limited. Get more information, and register today at: http://www.rentalandstaging.com/roadshow/
And Rental & Staging Systems magazine is also offering the opportunity-to a select group of equipment suppliers-to sponsor the Roadshow. Sponsors will have the unique opportunity to demonstrate their new product offerings and build their brand, to members of the rental staging community in an intimate, hands-on setting.
