What trade shows have you been to?

The RV thread got me thinking. What trade shows have you been to that were either cool, or just had you scratching your head?
I've been to the Detroit Auto show in a professional capacity a few times, and some boat shows as well. Those were what you would expect. But I went to the biggest school bus show in the country a few years ago, in Reno. We got there a day before to set up our booth and it was amazing how excited people were about school buses. I C had a new bus coming out, it was being revealed at that show. Man, this huge school bus came in under wraps and people were trying to get a peak at this bus. I remember this woman got a little peak behind the curtain and was excited BEYOND belief. I'm pretty sure her husband got lucky that night just because she saw that school bus.
It was a very strange week indeed.

I went to Lake Tahoe. Stunning.

I've been to the International Lineman's Rodeo a couple of times.

I've been to the big powder show in Chicago a few times, and can't count the number of times I've been to the Toronto MRO shows and conferences. The powder show was HUGE.

Been to the Chicago Auto Show enough that I don't know how many times, been to a Bow-and-Arrow show, been to Guitar Shows (although that is usually just vintage stuff), been to a few Boat shows, a Boat and RV show, a fishing show at Bass Pro Shops, and probably something else that I'm missing. All were more or less what you would expect. There was free jerkey at the Bow show.

None.

I've been to the Detroit Auto Show every year since I moved to Detroit. (This year will be #4.)

I used to run the Marketing Department of a leading hydraulic seal distribution company and I coordinated our exhibiting at tons of shows.

ConExpo (later ConExpo/ConAgg) x 3 - Vegas

IFPE (International Fluid Power Exposition) x 2 - Chicago

Bauma (Construction Show) x 2 - Munich, Germany

Intermat (Construction Show) x 1 - Paris, France

Hannover Fair (Industrial Show) x 2 - Hannover, Germany

Construction Show x 1 - Mexico City, Mexico

Fluid Power Show x 1 - Monterrey, Mexico

Hydrauics & Pneumatics Shows x 2 - Charlotte, Philadelphia

Canadian Fluid Power Association x 3 - Toronto, Montreal

ICUEE x 1 - Lexington, KY

and probably more smaller shows than I remember.

Great memories from all of them. German food/beer (and translators ), Mexican taxis, getting to drive on the Autobahn, seeing crazy huge construction equipment up close, taking the Chunnel from Paris to London and so much more.

Comdex Chigago

I actually worked Automation Fair in Milwaukee a long time ago. That was one of many factors that led to me quitting Rockwell.

Went to SEMA this past year. ZOMFG was it awesome. Definitely a must go for anyone who can.

This group would dig World of Concrete in Las Vegas. The size of the machinery on display is amazing. SGIA (Specialty Graphics) is also neat because it is sensory overload. All sorts of printing going on and signs everywhere. Plus rental cars on the floor getting wrapped and unwrapped 2-3 times per day. Pack Expo is also neat to watch all of the automated machinery. It's neat to see mechanical things that you don't normally come in contact with and be able to stand there and take in the mechanics of it.

A few Manufacturing shows

Neocon about 6 times.

Detroit and Chicago Autoshows a few times..

One or two:

Promat (Material Handling)
Modex (Logistics)
WEFTEC (Water Environment Federation)
AWWA (American Waterworks Assoc)
IMTS (International Machine Technology Show)
Stormwater (Stormwater)
Propane and Gas Show (Self explanatory)
IAHSCMM (Surgical Supply)
AORN (Surgical nurses)
OTC (Offshore Technology Conference)
IFAT (Municipal show in Germany)
Kitchen and Bath Show (Took my wife, big mistake)
Mining Show (The biggest Terex trucks arrive on several train cars!)
Process Expo (machines for cooking and prepping food in an industrial scale)

And I'm sure there are a few more I am forgetting. I used to always hit the World of Wheels and the Auto Show when they come to town.

I've been working at the National Plastics Exposition since the early 1990's though attending since the 80's. It's a tri-annual show held at McCormick Plasce though recently switched to Orlando. Lots of cool machinery for around the world. I've also worked the Design Engineering shows held in Chicago in the mid-to-late 90's.
I've attended the MD&M (Medical Design & Manufacturing) shows in both southern California and New York a couple of times. I've attended various mold making shows held in the greater Detroit area for years.

glueguy wrote: This group would dig World of Concrete in Las Vegas.....

I was in Vegas when one of those was going on... wasn't sure if it was for real or some sort of mob cover thing...

Might be funny for someone to do mockumentary type movie on weird conventions (as in Best in Show ). People getting all excited hyping and getting worked up about all kinds of strange things.

There used to be a Bicycle Retailer Wholesale (not open to the general public) show in Philadelphia. I think it was cancelled about 15 years ago. I managed to get a badge to get in a couple of times. Once through a buddy who was running a parts buisiness and then when my long time LBS had an extra badge for a day. It was neat to see everything in one place, but after awhile it lost the novelty when you aren't there buying anything. I recall the vendors complained about too much "public infiltration/time wasters" and that was one reason the show was canceled and now everyone just goes to the big show in Las Vegas every year. Plus, being in the LV area allows for a large test ride venue.

We go to the New York Auto Show, but that is a consumer show and thus has a different vibe. Like browsing a huge showroom. Unfortunately, if you actually have a question there isn't really anyone who knows anything to answer it.

I can't imagine getting worked up over school buses... but I guess it takes all types.

Oh... and after reading pinchvalve's post, I remember I've been to a couple of lighting and pharma-process shows for work. Utterly forgettable.

Used to go to AES - audio engineering society 2x year - one international, one on the east coast good show to meet a few rock stars and tv producers
NAB - national association of broadcasters - giant vegas convention
presenting at society of surgical oncologists in March
did a presentation at the association of community cancer centers last year assn of international cancer research
american society of breast surgeons
society of integrated oncology
Chicago auto show - but skipped the last couple of years

SEMA thrice (I was at the booth when the SEMA crew enacted the clothing restriction.)

IBEX

Miami Boat Show (I include this as an industry show even though the public is allowed to attend)

International Workboat show

SEMA Trucks, SUVs & Off-Road Atlanta

Tomorrow I will go to the Underwater Intervention show.

tons of shows......the biggie is:

AHR Expo - Dallas, Texas (HVAC-R Show) - Also called the ASHRAE show. This will be my 14th year - Ugh.

The coolest was the Candy show in Chicago -

Closest thing ive been to was a vendor show for my work (big box auto parts store). It was cool to see and talk to folks from the companies we buy from. I was rather surprised that 99% of them really knew their stuff, not just a friendly face in the booth. I'd love to go to SEMA someday.

SEMA five times, GRAPH Expo once, Association of Medical Illustrators once, and way back in the day the National Tire Dealers & Retreaders Expo with my Dad.

The most fun one I've been to is Transworld, which is a Halloween, Haunt, & Attractions trade show. A friend of mine owns a company making high end props and costumes for haunted houses and theme parks, and I got to help work the booth and walk around in the costumes scaring the crap out of people. This is me playing a life size game of Operation while wearing an 11' tall costume.

Conquest351 wrote: Went to SEMA this past year. ZOMFG was it awesome. Definitely a must go for anyone who can.

Yeah, I forgot about SEMA. I was there twice as an instructor. It is amazing on every level!

In reply to 16vCorey:

"Hi! My name is "NEW"

I was at dozens of trade shows when I worked at McCormick place

Marriage-con and Boat Show is my favorite.

jg