5 Tips for a Breakthrough InfoComm

Thomas Wolfe tells us “you can’t go home again,” – but why would you want to? The InfoComm trade show is, in many ways, home for me: I started my career in the tech industry as a conference coordinator for InfoComm back in the aughts. When I head to Orlando this year, though, I’d be horrified to find the show frozen in amber: and thank goodness, I have no fear of doing so.

Change can seem gradual in the Pro-AV industry (remember when we were all debating the likelihood of AV/IT convergence and fretting over analog sunset for about a decade?). When you take a step back, however, sometimes the continental shifts are more apparent. Things look different to me now, working with a broad range of tech clients, than they did when I was deeply embedded in the world’s leading Pro-AV industry association. I’m watching how sharpened concerns about health and wellness intersect with technology adoption and live event design, and how the ubiquitous AI layer over enterprise communications and collaboration is driving data center network bandwidth demands and energy usage. New problems, new solutions, all changing really fast: and some of the most effective approaches will emerge from surprising corners.

I’ll be heading to InfoComm with a curious gaze, looking for the “new.” Of course, my position within the agency of record for industry innovators like like Crestron, Vanco, and 22Miles gives me an unfair advantage: I have an inside line on some of the most exciting trends and reveals to come for this year’s event. But I’ll also be looking to make discoveries—and if you’re looking for the same, I’m happy to share my plan of attack.

1. Head to the back of the hall, and walk the periphery. The little booths in bad locations are where you find some of the most interesting technology at InfoComm: first-time exhibitors; small companies with a single, brilliant idea; start-ups testing the waters. I’ve seen technology from standout 10X10s go on to be featured on K-Pop world tours, major studio film productions, global art installations, and my very own office. These small companies often don’t have the resources or experience to secure sponsorships, submit award applications, or conduct media outreach, but they deserve recognition, and one of them is probably sitting on the exact weird solution you need.
2. Look for industry cross-pollination. Inevitably, ideas that have caught on with consumers influence the workplace and vice versa. We’ve seen this with HDMI and USB-C; streaming media sources; BYOD and the absorption of personal devices into enterprise ecosystems; biophilic lighting—the list goes on. These spots of convergence between the personal and professional often incubate big trends: It will definitely be worth seeing what InfoComm newcomers (but CEDIA mainstays) like Sonos and Nice are bringing to the party.
3. Join a tribe of other curious people. You will have far more “a-ha” moments at the show if you’re sharing insights with others. If you don’t have an existing cohort to discuss your favorite finds with, there are literal show floor tours organized by interest you can jump on. Personally, I’m going to be breaking down the show with the AV Superfriends, a podcast by and for higher ed technology managers. They bring a refreshing degree of brass-tacks, “how will this make my campus better?” boots-on-the-ground perspective to the tradeshow’s buzziest announcements. They’re also the reason I quietly snicker to myself every time I hear the word “compute.”
4. Ask the smartest people in the industry what’s next. They’re all at the show, and many of them have set aside dedicated time specifically to share their insights. The AVIXA conference program and extensive show floor programming are elegantly, painstakingly designed to be exactly what the industry needs today. The keynote panel, 2030 Vision: the future of AV, is should be killer: Crestron’s Brand Hintze, Christine Schyvinck of Shure, and Eric Hutto of Diversified represent three brands that have led the industry for decades while never shying away from evolution. Personally, I have the honor of getting to grill industry luminaries Julie Legault, Raymond Kent, Pratik Chanda, Roopam Jain, and Dave Hatz directly as moderator of the sessions Leveraging Technology for Live Event Sustainability and Trend Forecast – Enterprise IT, but I promise, there will be plenty of room for audience conversation as well.
5. Get social – and I don’t just mean taking lots of #AVSelfie pics, though absolutely knock yourself out. I mean, take advantage of the golden opportunity to make real, personal connections. This is the whole industry’s homecoming, and the show is packed with events designed to help you form new connections who will support you for the rest of your career. This year, InfoComm is hosting a show-floor-wide Happy Hour on Wednesday and Thursday—but I’m especially looking forward to the expanded Meet Up schedule coming next month for some curated networking opportunities.

There’s a lot more to discover on an off the show floor – and I feel it’s my responsibility as an attendee to also bring something new to InfoComm: new questions, new ideas, new friends, and a new willingness to push the boundaries of what “Pro-AV” means and does. And of course, I’ll also be debuting a brand new song at AVRaoke – get ready, #AVTweeps, because I’m coming home.

Rachel Bradshaw

Vice President of Account Services