AWFS Las Vegas 2015

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Fair logistics--anyone in the know? Can anyone explain how it works, as you would to a 5 year old?

I find the website nice but a little over-crowded. I just want to know if I need a formal plan of things I want to do/see, if every presentation has a fee, or if I can just show up, get a schedule, play it by ear.

Thanks... can't figure out if I'm a little retarded or if the info actually is too ample to angle into at ease.

Kilgore Trout

Member

Never been to Vegas.... But I manage to go to most Atlanta shows. Atalanta is supposedly larger, but I think the same strategies apply.

Wear comfortable shoes and plan on walking all day. For two days, or more.

Get a list of the vendors you want to see and mark them on the map before you arrive. You might even be the type to prioritize into 2-3 categories as most important, least important, etc. This way you can easily scan your map to know which way to go once you are done with one.

Wandering is OK, but random and unproductive if you have specifics you want to see.

If there is something specific you want to see and have specific questions, contact the vendor ahead of time so you can set an informal meet time. Often, booths are so crowded that you can't see what is offered, or talk to anyone knowledgeable.

Allow plenty of time. There will be wait times, and there will be distractions galore. Allow enough time to indulge your curiosity and look around.

Once you are in the venue, it is all free as far as demonstrations, etc. Lots of stuff under power, so it can get loud. There are lots of brochures, samples and things, so you may even want to carry a small back pack to keep both hands free.

I like to go alone so I do not have to indulge or deal with anyone else. Once, I was sent to Atlanta with a foreman, and just before we were to leave, the owner, his son, a manager and an accountant decided to go also. They all ran a large concrete company, and those type shows were known for scantily clad 'presenters' and hard core partying.

Boy, were they in for a surprise. They were like a bunch of 4 year olds after a half-hour -'"what's next, why are we here? When can we go....." We stopped at an auto lathe booth that was handing out 24" baseball bats as souvenirs. They all waited to get one, and I spent the rest of the day looking over my shoulder and seeing this slightly redneck group all slapping their bats into their free hands, asking me how long I was going to take, where is the good stuff, etc. Worst trip ever.

Gary Balcom

Mel,
I'm wondering the same thing. I'm planning a short visit there. I was just at IWF in August; wondering how much will be different in such a short time.....

Larry

K T pretty much covered it. I grew up in the construction business & went to the road show in Chicago a couple of times. KT got that one right also. As for carrying stuff @ the shows, try to avoid it. Have them scan you badge and send the information you want. Do schedule meetings in advance. Try to talk to the technicians when looking @ bigger equipment, much better than a salesman. Prices of European equipment should be down now due to currency exchange rates. Las Vegas is a zoo, every con man/woman you can think of. Much cheaper hotel rates are available away from the biggies on the strip.

Gary Balcom

Is it easy to get around? If I fly in, do I need to rent a car to make it to the show, or is a taxi or public transportation easy enough?

David Waldmann

Member Member

"Classes" must be registered in advance and most have a fee. But, I took one two years ago that has so far saved me over $20,000 in taxes. That justifies First Class for a few years...

As far as vendors, all good points given so far.

Mike

Gary, you wont need a car unless you want to leave Vegas. And thats just what I did a few years ago,have no use for Vegas, so I took my wife, I did the show thing and then we headed to the grand Canyon,took a helicopter ride and went to the dam on the way back to Vegas. If you do have time in Vegas, try to see circus soleil show,absolutely awesome
, we also seen Carlos Santana the next night. The rest of that stuff does not interest me..

Alan F.

Gary,
Shuttle to and from the airport, get a hotel close to the show or on the monorail.

You are in the dessert so walking outside in the afternoon is a dry heat, usually over 100 degrees up to 115 so bring a water bottle if you will be outside.

Plan to see specific vendors, make appointments in advance.

Lot of places to eat at night, plus if you are into it the whole casino / club thing.
Some of the shows are worth seeing, some of the casinos are worth walking around just to see all the variety.

A-

jim

I live and work in Vegas. If you want to see millwork with no budget go to the high end casinos. Some are just gaudy, some are well done. As mentioned there is an inexpensive monorail that runs north and south. Reserve your room. I don't know how many rooms there are but Las Vegas will sell out. Hard to believe as there are more then 40,000 rooms. I asked a friend of mine who worked at a casino that had more then 4000 rooms. How many times a year are all rooms sold out? He looked at me and said, 3 or 4 times a week. Weekends are expensive, while the same room can be a bargain in the middle of the week.

I find the information and technical knowlege to be of great value. I can get "my" question answered. And also I learn things I would not have known to ask about. There are some advantages to living in shallow make believe world. Oh yeah, don't gamble.....just give your money to someone you know and care about........just jim

Mel

ahhhh laymens terms. Makes everything easier. Thanks folks! I'll be there. No specific goal. I'm a newb and I want a good smell of the industry-- eavesdrop on some questions, sign up for some talks.No expectations, but I'm getting tired of camping and still need to spend my vacation somehow! Admittedly looking forward to it.

Larry

Excellent advice Jim "Oh yeah, don't gamble.....just give your money to someone you know and care about......." They didn't build those over the top places on winners.

Alan F.

Larry,
Those over the top places are all built from winners, (the house).

And when you see a slot that pays 98.7% hats not 98.7 for every hundred, more like 987,000,000 for every 1,000,000,000

A-

Larry

So they only keep $13 million!
Long ago when the book "Beat The Dealer" first came out, I was floating around the Pacific on an aircraft carrier and had time to read & memorize a lot of it's tables. Two of us did. Back in San Francisco harbor we took week end trips to South Shore. Each put $20 in our pot and played Black Jack. The dealers were so fast we couldn't count cards fast enough. Next tactic, One stand back & count, signal the player. It worked, briefly, until we got shown the door in about every casino. They had no sense of humor at all!

jim

The casinos have cameras overhead and else where watching you, the dealer and all things money......

Santa Ana

Carlos Santana - the one hit wonder from over 45 years ago - why would one pay to see such a no-talent hack?

Last time I was in LV I rented a car and drove to Utah - the sights are much better there. Natural splendor, not the burned out husk of a degraded civilization.

Mike

One hit wonder? Your either joking or messed up. He played 2 1/2 hours non stop and every song was a hit. Going to see Buddy Guy tomorrow night, I suppose you would say he doesn't know how to play a guitar ?

Alan F.

Well if you want to see sights that are out of this world you could take the drive on the extra terstial highway and visit with some of the aliens in Rachel

Rachel, NV Extra Terestial Highway

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Alan F.