10. If you can do only one day, make it Thursday. Sadly, most of the top executives will have left their booths early, but the folks who remain are some of the most knowledgeable. By the afternoon, they’ve probably done some competitive browsing, at least to see the products getting the most buzz. Ask them about what they’ve seen. Also, the sales folks’ demos will be short and to the point as they’ve repeated them hundreds of times by Thursday. You’ll get just the highlights.
9. Write a report when you return home. This is a great idea for sharing with your teams. Those left behind will appreciate the info and those who were with you will be impressed that you were really working during the event. It will also guarantee you a spot on the future travel squad. (This is also why Tip #5 is critical.) You can also monitor CDC Gaming Reports for topics and booths you might have missed. If you’re too busy to check during the show, you can catch up at www.CDCGamingReports.com for the reports titled “From The Floor.”
8. Make every party you can. These social events are terrific sources of information and can establish the foundation for lifelong relationships. The major vendor parties are the best if you can get invited, but some of the smaller gigs are also epic (just ask Hard Rock’s Dan Ingster). Related tip: Drink and have fun in moderation. It’s a long show and being hung over on Wednesday morning isn’t a good look.
7. Find your sales reps and see if you can get them in front of the boss or CEO. Tell their leaders how great a job they’re doing for you and your company. This will go a long way in building a stronger relationship with the rep. You can skip this step if your rep is awful (and if so, what are you doing in that booth anyway?).
6. Business cards still work in this new world of text, Zoom, and WhatsApp. Ask for them. It’s too easy to forget an email address or phone number when you’re back home. Not only do most business cards today include the cell number, but they also show the email address. (And here’s a tip within a tip: Don’t try to guess the email of any Konami employee. They use an Enigma-type code. Likewise, use “lnw.com” instead of “l&w” for Light & Wonder.) Be sure and take at least 100 of your own business cards; that way you’ll have enough to make it through Tuesday afternoon.
5. It’s pretty late in the game at this point, but you should try to make appointment times with the major suppliers. They’re extremely busy at this show and if you just drop by, you put them in a difficult situation. They don’t want to ignore you, but they have made previous commitments to others. And in a related tip, if you have three days, skip the major vendors and big booths all day Tuesday. This is the time to work the fringes of the show to see the new and emerging vendors. The big booths are completely packed with folks who have a job title with just three initials and who are looking more to shake hands than examine products.
4. Take notes. Sure, you think you’ll never forget that wonderful new bonus feature or software upgrade. But after three days of demos, a few cocktail parties, and thousands of products; the memory can get sketchy. There’s no excuse in these days of cell phone notepads. Another tip is to ask other attendees you meet what they’ve seen that interested them. It’s all too easy to miss some important product in a show this large.
3. Don’t pick up every piece of literature you see. Your luggage going home will quickly exceed the weight limit. However, make a note of any pieces you find valuable and ask the rep to send a copy ASAP. This will save room for multiple copies of the show guides (if they have them this year) and one of the vendor indexes from Casino City Press. They’re invaluable months from now to help you recall a vendor or locate an important phone number.
2. Pick up as many of the unique promotional items that you can carry. These should be distributed freely to your team members and family left behind. Light-up bouncy balls are always a hit with the kids and/or grandkids. And who doesn’t need yet another bag, battery power supply, USB stick, ballpoint pen, notepad, deck of cards, beer opener, or keychain each with a big colorful logo?
1. No matter how the show has evolved, it’s still all about the shoes. Every year, countless pledges are made to never wear new shoes to G2E again. Thousands of bad backs, blisters, and broken arches testify in mid-October about all who failed to heed this warning. Change out your footwear often if you can. Thursdays are for sneakers. Anyone who objects is just jealous.
