Stats ********
************* **** ******* ******** ***** *** performance ** *** ****, ** *** chart ***** *****:

Unhappy **** ***** *******
*** **** ****** ************ ********* *** simply *** ****** *******:
- "** *** *** ** *** ******* 'big' ***** *’** **** **** **."
- "***********. ** ****** **** * **** with ** ********* *********, *** **** few ***********. **********, ** **** ***** up ******* **** ******** *** ********** some ********** *********. ***** ****** ***** have **** **** **** *** *** time *** ******** ********** ** ***** to ***. ******** ***'* **** **** next ****."
- "*** **********"
- "************ **** ***** ***, *** *** never ***** ** **********. **’* *** only ***** **** **** ** ** able ** **."
- "*** * *** ** ******* ***** 1st ***"
- "**** *** *** ********* *** ** many ******** **** ******** ********* *** limited ***********. * ***** **** **** many ***** ********** ** ****."
- "**, *** * *** ** ***** traffic ***** *** *** ***"
- "*** ********** *** ********. ** **** as * **** *******, *** ** expensive ***** ** **** * ***** show. *** ****** ******** * **** like *********."
- "*** **** *********, **** *** ******* compared ** **** ****. *.* ******* 10 ****** *** *** ***!"
- "*** *********.... **** ****** *** **** traffic"
- "* ******* *** **** ***** *** very ***** ****** ***** ** *** 1, ***** **** ** *** * and ****** ** ********** *** *"
- "**** *******, **** *********, **** ********"
- "*** **** ******* ***** **** *** opening *** ******* *** ***** *** disappointing."
- "********** ******* ** ******** ** ** an *****."
- "******* *** **** **** **** ********. Three ***** ** *** **** *** is ********* * *****."
**** **** '***********' **** *** **** as **** ****. *******, ** *** the **** ***** ** ********** - a **** ****** ***** *** ******* with ************* ****** *** ****** *******.
'*****'****
* ****** ** ************* ****** *** the ***** / ******** ***** ** attracting **** **** *** **** **** (Chicago) *** *************** ****** **** *********:
- "*** **** *** ****** **** *** more ** * "*****" **** *** the ******* **** **** *** *****. The ******* **** **** **** *** no *********."
- "*** ** ***** ******** *** ******** was ***** *** *** * *** of ******** ********* *** *** ******** goals ** * ************."
- "** *** * **** ******* ** a *****. * ** **** ** well, ******* ** ****** ********* **** the **** ** ** *** ** our ******."
- "******** ** ********* ****** ** ** more ******** *****, **, *******, ***** Lakes ******. *** ******* *** *** very **** ** *** ** **** cars. * ****** ** **** ****** in *** *** *** *** ******* back **** **** *****."
Happy **** *** ****
* ******** **** ***** **** *** show, **** *** **** ***** ***** the ******* ** ********:
- "**** *********. ****** *********** **** *** clients. ********* ********* **** **** ** the *****."
- "*** ***** **** ******** **** ** a ****** ****** *** **** **** with *********"
- "***** ** *** **** *** *****, I ***'* *** ** *** ******, but ******** ** ************ **** ******* and ******* ** *******"
- "**** ******* **** *** **** *** better **** ********** *************."
- "*** ***** ******* *** ****** *** us ** **** * & *. Yes *** **** ** ******* **** it **** ** **, *** ** was *****."
- "**** ********* **** *** ******* ** people"
- "** *** **** **** ******* ** partner *** ***-**** ************* ** *** booth; *******, ** **** *** **** quantity ** ******** ** ***** *****"
- "*** *** **** ****** **** ** had ***********. # ***** *** ******** however ******* *** *********"
Declining ************
**** *** **** * ***** (**** - ******, **** - *** *****, 2019 - *******), ************ ************ ******** in *** ******* *** ********, ** the ******* ***** *****:

Exhibitor ***** ******** ** ****
**** ** *** ****** ** ***** for *** **********, ** ** ** existential ***** *** ****. ***** *** organization ** * ***-******, ********** *** security *************, ** ** ************** ****** by *************. **** *****'* *******, ****** by ************ ********* **** *** ************, subsidize *** **** ** *** ************ as *** ******** ******* ********* ********* ****** ***** **** financial ****** (***)*****:

** ****, **** ******** ** *********** the ********** ** *** ** *** overall ************.
Shift ********
******** **** ** ****** ** ** exhibition *** **** **** ******** **** Monday *** **** **** *:** ** 6:30pm, ** *** ***** ***** ****:

*** **** **** ******** ********** *** changes.
2 **** ****
**** *** ****, ************* ********* ** our ****-***** ******** ***** **** ***** suggesting **** *** **** ** *** to * **** ******* ** ******** the *** *** ******:
- "**** ** * * *** ****."
- "**'* **** *** * * *** show. **'* ****** * * *** show."
- "***, * **** **** ***** ** more **** ******..."
- "*** ****, **** ** * *** day ****, ***** *** ** *** needed."
- "**** ****** **** **** *** *** day ********** *** ****** *********-**** ******, where ********* ***** **** **** ** visit *** *******."
- "* **** ***** ** **** *** this ****."
- "** ***** ** * **** *** be ******* ****. *** **-* ** a ****** *** ****** ***** ** a *****. *** ****** ***** **** is *** ****** ****."
- "**** ** **** ** ** *** have *** *** *** **** ****!"
- "* ***** **** ******** *** *** add ******. **** **** ***’* ****** support *** **** *** ***** *-*/*."
- "******** ** *******. *********** **** ***** days ***** **** *****."
- "**** ********. ** ******. **** ***** enough *** *** ****."
- "**** **** ***** ** ** *** days ** ****. ****** *** * waste ** * ***, *** ******** was ********** ****."
- "*** **** **** (*******/*********) ** ********** - ** ***** *** ** **** concerned **** *** ********** ** ****/***** to ******* ***** ***** **** ****** than ********** *** ***** *** ************ and ******* ** *** ******* **** floor."
- "*** **** **** ***** ** *******. Any **** ** * ***** ** time."
- "*** **** ** ********** *** *** exhibition."
Travel **********
* ******* ****** ****** * ******* about *** ******** ** ****** ** setup ***** ****** *******, ********** ***** (overtime) *** ********** ** *********:
- "*****, *** ** **** ** ****** on *******."
- "***, ********* ******* *** ******* ** set ** *** ******."
- "***. **** **** *** ******** ******* for ***** **** **** ** * busy **** ** **** *** *******. Weekend ****** ***. * ***’* **** it."
- "**** ***** ** * *** ****. Monday ** ********* * ****** ***. Moving ** ** * *** ***** require ******* ******."
- "* ***** ** ** * ******** idea. *** ** **** ** ********** different *** * **** ****. ** will ******* ****** ** **** ** a *** ******* ** *** *******, and ******* ** *** ****** ***** at * ******* ****."
- "****** ** * ***** *** *** needs ** ** *** ***."
- "*** ***** ** ** *** *** displaying *** **** ** ****** *** booth *****, **’* *** ****** *** these ****** ****** ** *** ******** weekend ****."
- "*** ****** ** **** ***** ** Monday ****** ** ********* * *** earlier ** ** **** ** **** a *********** ***** *** *** ******. It **** ******** *** ********* ** be **** **** ***** ******** **** the *******, *** **** *** ********."
- "**** ******** ** *****."
- "**** **** ********** **** ** ** finished ******* ** *** ******?"
- "******'* ****** ***** **** ******* ************* from *** ***** **** *** ****** over-time **** *** ***** ********."
- "*** ***** ***** ****. ** *** is ***** ** ******* ** ** burn ** ***** *** ** ******** two ******* ****. *'* ********* ********** of ******* *** ********, *** ***'* keep ** *** ** ********'* ******** time."
- "***. **** **** **** ** ** to ****** *** ***** **** *** weekend."
**** ********** ********* **** ** ***** themes ******** **** **** ****** ********* being *** **** *****:
**** *** ** *** ***** ***** show **** ****. ** ********* *** expense ** ********** (**** ***** ***** to ** **** ** *** ******* which ***** **** ******** ***.) ** also ***** **** ********** **** ** come ** * *** *******. *** reality ** **** **** ****** **** do *** **** - **** *** Wed.
******, * *** ***** ***, **** eliminated ****** ** ** ********** ***. The ****** ******* ***** *********** ** weak *****-*** ******* *** **** ****** for *** ************* ****** ** *** up **** *** *******.
ASIS ********
*******, **** ***** ****** ********* & Business *********** ******* *** ********* [**** no ****** *********] ******** ** **** that **** ***** *** '*********** *******' and **** ***** ** **********:
[**** ** ****** *********]
* *** **** **** *** **** this ****** *** ****universally ******* ** ********** and attendees alike. We hosted in-person town halls this week for our members/attendees and our exhibitors where we walked through this plan for 2020 (and beyond) in detail and the new schedule is being praised across the board. We **** *** ***** * ****** *******. [emphasis added]
**** ******** ** ********* *** ** touch *** ************. **** ** ** organization **** ********* ******* ** ** enemies, ** *** *** *********, ** their ********* ********* ***********.
Better *** *********, *** ****
*******, ** ** ***** *** ****** afternoon ********** ** **** *** *********. For *** ******** ** ********* *** are ********* **** ******* ** ******* North *******, **** *** *** ** Monday ***-*******, *** ***** *** *** exhibition's ***** ** *:** **, **** 3 ***** ** ***** **** ** Monday, ***** **** *** *****, ** for * **** *** ** ******* and *** **** ******* *****. **** will ** * ******** ****** *** attendees, ** ** ****** **** ***** (1 ******* ** * ***** ******) and **** ********** (* ******* ** 3 ****).
Wednesday ********** ** * ****
** *** ***** ****, *********'* ********** could ****** **** (**** ****** **** this ****). ********* *** ******* *** 3 **** ** ******* ******* **** (3:30 **). ** *** ****** **** attendees **** ********* ** ****** *********, this ***** **** ********* ** **** like ******** *** **** ****.
** ********* ******* **** **** *******, this **** ******* ***** ************* *** will ****** **** *** **** ** now ****** **** * * *** 1/3 *** ****, ****** **** *** 3 **** ********.
***** ********** **** **** ******* ** be ****, *** ***** ** ***** - * ****** ***** **** ******** the ***** *** ****** ** *************.
Outlook *********
********** ******** ****** **** ** ******** to **** **** **** **** *******. While **** ** ***** **** ****** among ******** ******** *********, *** ***** struggles ** ******* *** ***** ** IT, ********** *** ********** ******** **** its ***** **** ****. ***** *** if **** *** ***** ****, ** ongoing ******* ** ********** ** ******.
Comments (41)
Undisclosed Manufacturer #1
They didn't hear a single concern as there was nobody there to give one.
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Undisclosed Manufacturer #3
Has anybody ever studied how show location affects attendance, or is that just still based on guesswork?
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Undisclosed Manufacturer #5
As a note, Tuesday and Wednesday for this year and also for 2017 and 2018 (maybe even farther back) went until 5:30pm, not 5:00pm as indicated in this article.
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Undisclosed Manufacturer #6
Years ago, I was told that Las Vegas adds 15% attendance compared to other venues. Orlando is another top attendee location. If ASIS/GSX is becoming a "local" show as indicated in the article, then maybe they have to keep moving it around but lower expectations?
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Anthony Firmani
Was this show the same time as Cedia? Last week? Has it been the same week in the past?
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Undisclosed Manufacturer #7
As a exhibitor, I responded to IPVM's survey and GSX survey so they did hear some feedback that aligns with the survey results of IPVM
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Undisclosed Integrator #8
It is inconsiderate and unnecessary to have it open on Monday. Chicago is an expensive and congested city to travel and stay in.
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Undisclosed Integrator #9
I don't understands how a Monday afternoon is better for attendees. Is someone only wants to be at the show for 1 1/2 days, couldn't they fly in Tuesday morning, go to the show Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday, and leave Wednesday night? If the attendees aren't smart enough to figure this out, they probably wont' be smart enough to realize they aren't being forced to attend the whole show for its entirety regardless of the days scheduled
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Undisclosed Manufacturer #1
Find it hard to believe Chicago's actual attendance was the same as Vegas, which questions the dubious pre-registration reports.
With all the tech on the show floor near the main entrance, you'd think an AI company could leverage that with people counting or turn on those bloody turnstiles on the first day and get a real number of entries. Be easy to track as most manufacturers are on the floor before the show opens anyway. I think location does matter. Does anyone really want to go back to Atlanta again for another trade show and more VIP customer events at the aquarium? Have heard ISC West is the only stable show NOT declining globally! Which begs the bigger question is how relevant trade shows are becoming? I don't see a lot of new people, ie millennials, attending. That would make a good survey.
If ASIS wanted to be really bold, they could determine how many of their members also attend ISC West, and if the numbers are a higher percentage, just park GSX in Vegas. Manufacturers will not care for Vegas two times in a row, but I'd rather do that than Chicago, Philly, or Atlanta, and could see them long term stopping some of the bleeding as I believe their success is fighting for market share of the same declining pie.
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Undisclosed Manufacturer #10
My company last attended in 2017 (Dallas) and prior to that probably exhibited at every show going back to 2003 or 2004 (assuming there were conferences back then). I was actually the one that convinced them that three shows in 12 months in Vegas was overkill and that we should skip the 2018 ASIS show. We noticed that not exhibiting at the show made no difference in sales and I think we are probably done exhibiting at ASIS for good. As a BDM, I see value in attending and spending time with my customers (the rare few that now attend), but I don't need a large booth to entertain them. If they aren't already aware of product and industry updates, I should probably update my resume. Grabbing dinner or lunch with them while at the show is more than sufficient. Also, cities like Chicago, Atlanta, Philly, Anaheim and Dallas just aren't draws. Probably better off in places like New Orleans or Nashville.
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Clint Hays
I wonder, especially with it being in Chicago this year, if people pick to go to ISC East over GSX as I doubt many end users attend both shows.
If you are going to factor in the time and cost for a show that's not ISC West, what makes you pick one over the other if they are similar locations? I don't know if the trainings factor in more than location but I'm curious on how people decide which event to attend.
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Edward Knoch
We always have a substantially larger crowd at GSX and ISC (East and West). I really hated having it in Chicago - hotel, transit, parking and the general mood of that town was a definitive detractor. They’re really not equipped to handle shows of this nature. Nashville, Vegas, Orlando - anywhere but there and now we have to deal with Atlanta - with even worse accommodations, flights and services. All I can say is - Joy.
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Ross Vander Klok
As an end user (now getting up in years) I have decided there are only two places I will be traveling to for conferences or training, Orlando or Vegas. That is it.
I am not a huge Vegas fan, but it is easy to get to and to get around in. Most often I can just walk to everywhere I need to go. Orlando is easy to get to and all the other attractions make it nice to stay for a few extra days and get a mini-vacation out of it. If I was forced to I would do Nashville or maybe San Diego, but I would not be happy about it.
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Undisclosed Manufacturer #12
Considering the overall "all-in" cost of $300, $400 or more per square foot, manufacturers must consider the ROI for shows like this. It is unfortunate that manufacturers become suspect by their absence in major industry shows but, it gets to a point where shows like GSX and ISC East are as previously stated, more of a regional show and may not be worth the investment.
Las Vegas last year was a horrible choice because everyone had already been in Las Vegas for ISC West. Chicago was definitely weak in attendance and with far fewer booths than prior years.
Admittedly, we did have success with the few end-user prospects we met and I would have to say they were very high quality. Other than strengthening relationships with a few Integrator Partners, most booth traffic was end-users and not Integrators.
So again, it is a matter of measuring the ROI if any?
It would be interesting for IPVM to conduct a survey and determine the average "all-in" cost of having a booth at GSX and if there is a measurable ROI to be had from attending?
Last comment: Many manufactures had significant problems/conflicts with McCormick Center union labor when setting up their booth. (as we did) Seems you are required to hire electricians to plug-in Cat-5/6 cables and mount/display surveillance cameras or they will kick you out of the show! What a great PR for a return to Chicago! No Thanks...
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Undisclosed #13
Regarding Unions controlling everything you might do, it's not just Chicago. Philly comes to mind from 2013.
Cheap hotels? Chicago isn't cheap, ever.
ASIS can try whatever they want, but the reality is there is really only time for people to attend one show per year, and that is ISC West. It's not the cost of the show itself, it's also the lost productivity while away. Rarely do the products change enough between ISC and ASIS to justify two trips. Waste of time for everyone involved, but if you are fearful of losing a client because you didn't exhibit at ASIS, you likely didn't have the solid relationship you should have.
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Undisclosed Manufacturer #12
Union Control - Our experience was rudeness and threats of being kicked out and off of the show floor. On another exhibitor, they cut the power to their booth for failure to comply with Union demands and then charged them a hefty fee to restore it, many hours later.
We haven had this problem ever in other venues. Seems crazy that a low voltage manufacturer cannot get up and install their own cameras, or is that just me?
Our opinion, we won't be back to Chicago!
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Undisclosed Manufacturer #6
Another consideration is that our workloads have changed, and evolved to beyond traditional work hours. I rarely can book a lunch meeting one on one with a customer these days (they claim they don't have time for an extended lunch), and everyone is emailing until the wee hours. Today I received an email from a customer time stamped 12:15 AM. With this in mind, perhaps we all think we cannot spare the time to attend too many shows, and must pick just the most beneficial event, which in my mind is ISC West.
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