From the Nab Show Express to InfoComm Connected. Will the forced social distancing due to COVID-19 lead fairs to go digital, making them become something quite different? We just have to wait.
This time it is not a motto to give us courage in times of difficulty, when the points of reference in our sector are lacking, this time it seems to be true: even from the darkest crisis, at least one opportunity will arise.
It is not the first time that we’ve heard about virtual fairs, but the competition of live ones has always been too strong for virtual shows to be truly successful. But today it is no longer so: while the work in the times of COVID-19 is becoming a mega laboratory for smart working, and it has been discovered that with Webinars you can learn everything, absolutely everything, the same is going to happen for fairs (and perhaps soon for events too.)
So, the NAB, which should have been held in Las Vegas, has changed its skin: it will be called NAB Show Express, will take place on 13th and 14th May, and will be virtual. The organisers assure that the experience will be exactly the same as the live one, and that indeed it will be possible to customise your visit to the fair, attending the three macro channels: one dedicated to technology, one for training, product presentations and interviews and finally that of the ‘Talks’, each of them will be available on demand, for a total of 100 sessions. Needless to say, we will not fail.
InfoComm USA is also attempting the virtual route: after announcing the postponement to 2021, InfoComm Connected has been announced, which will take place from 16th to 18th June … this is the link to participate in the AVIXA survey to help shape the choices and the format of the programme for the working group: www.infocommshow.org/virtual.
There are only a few weeks left.
