DEMA advice wanted - NHZ

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nwscubamom
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DEMA advice wanted - NHZ

Post by nwscubamom »

OK all you DEMA experts out there! Time to edumacate this newb about the show.

REEF is sending me this year - it's the first time I've EVER been - and truthfully, I've never really WANTED to go before. All the people I've needed to network with are 'local' or West coast, and I've done that just fine without DEMA's help in the past.

I'm not a dive shop owner, not a big dive travel nut (haven't been warm water diving in YEARS), not a gearhead, and not an active instructor either.

I'll be spending most of my time in the REEF booth - but what else should I be doing while there?
Are there any Must Sees?
Any strategies to the show?
What time does the show end each day?
Good places to eat?
Do your feet get sore?

Also, I don't drink - is that pretty much what everyone does each night? Should I just retire to my room and read a book - or go geocaching or something?
I'll be at the Hilton, with no car available.

Ideas from you seasoned DEMA veterans?

- Janna
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Re: DEMA advice wanted - NHZ

Post by LCF »

I've only been there once, but I did find the show fascinating. It took me two days to see it all, even though there's a lot of it that isn't very interesting to "just a diver". But I got to talk to the manufacturers of some of the dive gear I own and use, and look at up-and-coming products from a variety of folks. It was a nice opportunity to get hands-on with stuff like new fins. And there is a ton of travel information, some to places I hadn't ever thought of going. We brought a lot of brochures and stuff home.

There were some seminars I wished I'd been able to attend, like some of the DAN stuff.

Other than the show, for my money, the trip isn't worth it. I don't particularly care for LV, and unlike years ago, you no longer get good food with prices subsidized by the gambling revenues.
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Re: DEMA advice wanted - NHZ

Post by Sounder »

The show has lots of cool stuff, lots of gimmicky crap, and lots of totally-unrelated stuff that you wonder why it's at the dive show. The seminars can be fantastic or lame, but you just take your chances with the ones that interest you. In the evenings there are lots of events - the NAUI party, Rolex party, Technical Diver's party, PADI party, DAN party, here a party, there a party, everywhere a party party.

The parties definitely have alcohol, but you don't have to drink to enjoy them. Some also have food - often excellent food. As the night goes on, the population of the parties shifts more and more toward a drinking crowd so as that not being your thing you'll probably find that going to a party for a while and then leaving will be just about right. DEMA is exhausting - the kind of "exhausting" that doesn't really hit you until you're on your flight home and can't see straight - so getting a full night's sleep each night and eating well is key. Generally, I hit a few of the parties to meet with key people, then I hit the real parties - the unofficial ones my friends put together. This year I'm also going out for dinner with an old childhood friend who now lives in LV one night for a change of pace.

Food in Vegas rocks - amazing restaurants everywhere, but as Lynne said, they're not free/cheap anymore. The food inside the DEMA expo center is awful, unless you have a taste for cheap hotdogs and pizza that are over cooked, oily, and often cold when served. We always "cater" (bring in our own food and beverages) our booth for our meals so we can eat good-quality food that tastes good... at DEMA, food is fuel. Hydration is also critical - it's a desert, and despite the air conditioning, it'll dry you out. No need to preach to you about hydration.

Wear tennis shoes and dress comfortably. Seriously. Some gals are in heels and some guys are in dress shoes - the place is huge, and you will be walking a lot even if you stay most of your time at your booth. Ideally you're standing for most of the show talking to people... you'll see the people who aren't, and they're the ones who also often look bored, tired, and wondering why they're there because nobody has stopped to talk to them in over 3 hours. When you're talking to people, the day flies by - our booth is always packed and usually by the first time I can break away to the restroom it seems like it's 2pm already.

My favorite part is talking to people, catching up with friends I only see a couple times a year (friends from around the world), and meeting new friends. I like seeing what's new, in the categories of "cool new stuff," "cool improvements to already-cool stuff," "more lame crap to help you schlep your gear," "the wall of a thousand made-in-China snorkels," and "solutions looking for a problem."

One suggestion - pour over the lists of booths on Tuesday night after set-up and pick the booths you want to hit, and then use that as a check-list to ensure you see what you want to see... and be sure Liquivision is on that list!! There are way too many booths to just "wander" if you're manning a booth too, so be selective.

You're going to have a blast - it's a really good time, and can be as wild or as tame as you want it to be. By Saturday you'll be wasted and VERY ready to go home, but it's still definitely a good time. What booth number is REEF? Maybe we're neighbors!!
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Re: DEMA advice wanted - NHZ

Post by John Rawlings »

"I'll be spending most of my time in the REEF booth"

The REEF booth is normally pretty darned jumpin'! There's a LOT of people that want to buy their books - especially the newest releases. You'll spend a lot of time just dealing with that - and a LOT of your friends will be stopping by! For example, I want the latest Reef Creatures book for the Pacific!

"- but what else should I be doing while there?"

As soon as you get there find a list of the seminars and sign up. There are always some great ones available.

"Are there any Must Sees?"

Other than the seminars, not really. Each year is different with new products being announced and new manufacturers and operations attending for the first time. What was last year's "must see" may not even be there this year.

"Any strategies to the show?"

Start at one end and work your way down each and every aisle, after you've seen the entire floor, only then go back to the specific booths that you found of interest - that way you won't miss anything. Some of the coolest booths are often obscure and tucked in between some very unlikely fellow exhibitors. Also, even booths that you don't have much of an interest in will often have free give-aways or drawings. One thing to be aware of is that the map and the DEMA guide will have exhibitors listed by company name - many of which will not be familar to you. Some booth for "XYZ Corporation" might just have a product, photo, or trip that would knock your socks off, but you'd never guess it from their name in the guide. BTW - it isn't ALL warm-water stuff - the Dive Association of British Columbia always has a booth there and you'll see some old friends there!

"What time does the show end each day?"

I "think" that things wrap up at 6:00 PM, earlier on the final day - 5:00 PM.

"Good places to eat?"

None, really, in the hall itself. They have you trapped and you'll pay premium prices for even a hot dog. Many exhibitors bring in sandwiches and drinks for their staff, or send someone out on a run for pizzas or deli. At night and in the morning hit the hotel buffets. They aren't as cheap as they used to be, but they're still a good bargain if you have an appetite. the Hilton has a good one.

"Do your feet get sore?"

Oh, Lord.....YES! Padded insoles are a very very, very VERY good thing to take with you. Did I forget to say "very"? I'll be limping like a battle casualty half-way through the day because of my hip, and I won't know if my feet or hip hurt worse! Motrin will be your buddy for inflammation!

"Also, I don't drink - is that pretty much what everyone does each night? Should I just retire to my room and read a book - or go geocaching or something?"

I don't drink, either, and being around drunks doesn't excite me one bit. But, I would still recommend that you go to at least some of the major parties put on by PADI, NAUI, or some of the major manufacturers. They serve sodas and teas along with the beer and wine and have lots of appetizers, plus they will have drawings for all kinds of things. One year I tossed my business card into a box on the way in to the NAUI party and I won a dive trip for two to San Salvador in the Bahamas! You never know! PLUS, you also never know who you're going to run into! You can always leave if the party doesn't fit your style - I do so all the time! Some of those parties will actually be in the Hilton where you are staying, since it is the closest large hotel to the Convention Center.

Another option is the DEMA Awards dinner. You must buy a ticket for that once you get there, but I'm told that the food is usually amazingly good. The entertainment at the last one that I did attend in Las Vegas was simply outstanding - "The Rat Pack", a band with a group of imitators that sang and danced just like Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr. The food was absolutely PRIMO! It's the only DEMA Award dinner that I ever attended (a friend was receiving an award and asked me to come) and it was really, really good. I think that this year's is going to be at or next to the Hilton, but I haven't checked.

"I'll be at the Hilton, with no car available."

There is a monorail that is quite inexpensive that will take you from the Hilton to various other hotels and "the strip". Some of the casinos have fascinating displays going on for free right out front - if you can, at least go see the show at "Treasure Island" - a pirate ship and a naval ship (full-size!) fighting it out with cannons and sinking right in front of you as you stand on the sidewalk! Walking up and down the strip can be a real "education".....

I'll see you down there....sell me a book! (AND....take a good book with you for those nights when you want to relax your feet and not go anywhere!)

- John
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Re: DEMA advice wanted - NHZ

Post by Sounder »

Also - the hot tub... you will come to LOVE the hot tub. We can often be found having a team-meeting in the hot tub at the end of the day if we don't have a function to go to... sometimes we have to speak in code if we're in mixed company but, at least in Orlando, we've often had it to ourselves (and there are usually several of them). The hot tub is like my own personal physical therapist and zen grand-master all wrapped into one. I start the day in the gym and finish in the hot tub... it's key for my survival.

Oh, and if you can score a ticket to the Rolex Award ceremony (pssst... shoot me an email if you're interested!), the food is PRIME!!! It's typically a short ceremony in the same hall as a larger party - skip the food lines for the regular food (which is usually still very good) and get your gourmet grub-on at the Rolex party... then head over for the music, drawings, and shenanigans.
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John Rawlings
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Re: DEMA advice wanted - NHZ

Post by John Rawlings »

Janna -

Here's a link to a page that lists all of the exhibitors and seminars, plus a lot of other "stuff":

http://www.demashow.com/dema2010/public ... enuID=1133

The DEMA sponsored seminars are mostly about running dive businesses. The Exhibitor seminars are the ones that you really ought to take a look at.

- John
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Re: DEMA advice wanted - NHZ

Post by Blaiz »

uhmmmmmmm


what's a DEMA?
The student was ready.


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Re: DEMA advice wanted - NHZ

Post by renoun »

Blaiz wrote:uhmmmmmmm


what's a DEMA?
http://tinyurl.com/263gzmr
Last edited by renoun on Fri Sep 17, 2010 6:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: DEMA advice wanted - NHZ

Post by Blaiz »

Web definitions for Demas
Demas, mentioned by the Apostle Paul in the New Testament of the Bible, appears to have been a man involved in the ministry as a companion of Paul ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demas - Definition in context


wtf...?
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Re: DEMA advice wanted - NHZ

Post by ktb »

Diving Equipment and Marketing Association

I think . . .
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Re: DEMA advice wanted - NHZ

Post by Tom Nic »

Blaiz wrote:Web definitions for Demas
Demas, mentioned by the Apostle Paul in the New Testament of the Bible, appears to have been a man involved in the ministry as a companion of Paul ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demas - Definition in context


wtf...?
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

I think I hurt myself.... :smt051
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Re: DEMA advice wanted - NHZ

Post by Tangfish »

A 'DEMA' is a male DIVA. Here's an example:

Image

Oh, and Janna, I'll be there with John. So you have the option of drinking Ensure and going to bed at 8PM or drinking RedBull Vodka and staying up until 8AM. You choose!
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Who else is going?

Post by nwscubamom »

GREAT! OK, so Doug, John and Calvin will all be there. Is there an ADM booth? Liquivision booth is on my list...

Who else will be at DEMA? Raise your hands!

Found out that the REEF Booth # is 1901

- Janna
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Re: Who else is going?

Post by Sounder »

nwscubamom wrote:GREAT! OK, so Doug, John and Calvin will all be there. Is there an ADM booth? Liquivision booth is on my list...

Who else will be at DEMA? Raise your hands!

Found out that the REEF Booth # is 1901

- Janna
Excellent!! Yes, the Liquivision booth will be slammed. Look forward to seeing you.
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Re: DEMA advice wanted - NHZ

Post by Waynne Fowler »

Blaiz wrote:uhmmmmmmm


what's a DEMA?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adema

this may help.... maybe :partyman:
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Re: DEMA advice wanted - NHZ

Post by Dive_Girl »

I am also going to DEMA. I pack my days with attending seminar presentations with a few breaks to walk the showroom floor. This year I am a DEMA featured speaker, so I will be giving some seminar presentations as well. Two of my favorite things to do at DEMA is to catch up with industry friends and to meet industry greats such as Stan Waterman. A diving pioneer, photographer, author, film producer, adventurer, and truly excellent story teller. http://www.stanwaterman.com/bio.htm.
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Re: Who else is going?

Post by John Rawlings »

nwscubamom wrote:Is there an ADM booth?
Nope...ADM hasn't had a booth at DEMA for years. Unlike most other attendees, we are not selling products or locations. people didn't come to us, we had to go to them. We discovered that if we pinned ourselves down to a booth we missed out an a lot of the hob-nobbing and networking that goes on during the day throughout the display hall, so we became "wanderers"!
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Re: DEMA advice wanted - NHZ

Post by nwscubamom »

Nicolle, I am excited that you're one of the DEMA featured speakers!! I'm trying to decide which of the 4 presentations you're giving to attend (love some of these titles!):

- Courting your Client: Going from Blind Date to Marriage
- Kicking the Crap out of the Gap in the Generations
- Minimal Marketing Work: Maximum Marketing Effect
- Social Media: Making Sense of the Networking Conversation

I totally want to come see you speak! The cost for a seminar package is $70 for DEMA members, or $175 for non-DEMA members. Do you know if there is an option to just buy a ONE TIME TICKET for one of your seminars? Instead of the whole package?

- Janna
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Re: DEMA advice wanted - NHZ

Post by twitch »

:bounceline:
I'm going! :bounceline: I'm going!
:bounceline:
I'm going to be wandering and attending seminars throughout the day... i will definitely be stopping by to say hi though Janna!
:bounceline:

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Re: DEMA advice wanted - NHZ

Post by twitch »

Can you tell i'm a little excited?! :-)
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Re: DEMA advice wanted - NHZ

Post by Dive_Girl »

nwscubamom wrote:Nicolle, I am excited that you're one of the DEMA featured speakers!! I'm trying to decide which of the 4 presentations you're giving to attend (love some of these titles!):

- Courting your Client: Going from Blind Date to Marriage
- Kicking the Crap out of the Gap in the Generations
- Minimal Marketing Work: Maximum Marketing Effect
- Social Media: Making Sense of the Networking Conversation

I totally want to come see you speak! The cost for a seminar package is $70 for DEMA members, or $175 for non-DEMA members. Do you know if there is an option to just buy a ONE TIME TICKET for one of your seminars? Instead of the whole package?

- Janna
That thought had come to me as well that DEMA would benefit themselves to offer one-seminar passes at the show for $x amount. Perhaps unlikley to make it's way into this show, but I will suggest it. :)
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Re: DEMA advice wanted - NHZ

Post by derek b »

Any of you with your hands up on going, crazy enough to drive? I was offered a pass by a free dive company but not sure about the air fair.
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Re: DEMA advice wanted - NHZ

Post by twitch »

I spent under $200 on airfare. :-)
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