Attending an audio show


For the audio show veterans: what tips or "strategies" do you have for attending an audio show? In other words, how do you maximize your time there and still make it fun and spontaneous? I've been going to one for five years now and I always end up with stuff I didn't get to see or forgot to see. I do make a list of room I want to see. When I get hungry and I go eat I feel like I'm wasting time. How do you pace yourself? Do you follow an itinerary? I think the answer is staying overnight but that's for next year-- 
mcrib
Take a look to see if these folks are there and listen to their systems:

1.  Randy Cooley of Optimal Enchantment Audio.
2. Von Gaylord (speakers, electronics and cables).
3.  Harbeth. 

All natural and organic sound. 

Frank

All good advice.  However, many demonstrations will not play your supplied music.  They have a style they are trying to convey.  don't be insulted.  Just sit back and listen. 

I attended the RMAF last year and in my opinion, it was great.  Make sure you stay hydrated and bring snacks.  There is a great Cuban Restaurant nearby that served the very best Cubano Sandwiches.  Wow!

If you are there to hear specific components, then make a room list and got to them.  Sometimes there are people talking wayyyy too loud in the room with the salesperson.  It is very rude and they really need to take that discussion outside. 

Also, at the RMAF, I noticed that some demonstrators played some god awful music that did not highlight their systems at all.  but it is what it is.

I'm going to try to attend the upcoming show in Irvine this year.  Don't know why it's called the Los Angeles Audio show when it's in Irvine, but oh well.

RMAF?  I had a great time, met Vandersteen, Ralph, etc.  heard some really great systems, small company manufacturers that knew their stuff. 

Didn't know there were so many headphone and earphone manufacturers.  There were quite a lot there.  very confusing.  but the Stax demonstration was absolutely wonderful (and stupidly expensive).

enjoy

Bring a note book or use your phone if you’re adept at making notes with it.  Create a synopsis of what you liked or didn’t like on each room by name.  List components and cabling so you will have a record of things that might interest you later.  This was a very valuable asset after attending RMAF.
Oh, and bring your preferred headache remedy. I invariably have developed one as the late afternoon approaches.
All good advice above. I have only attended one show but each year and that is RMAF. I think one thing to keep in mind is that each room has a vendor that is there to sell. Be careful not to let them get control of your time. You may feel that you are offending them, but if you try to be polite they will consume much of your time on something you may have no interest in. I find that so many vendors will keep you in their room trying to close a deal, even if you never have shown any real interest. And before you realize that after a few of these rooms , you have lost hours of valuable time.
Have a game plan, go to the rooms that you have interest in and try to stick to it. Sometimes because the room is crowded you may have to come back. But make sure you get to see/hear what you want to. Then after you have completed your bucket list, go and check out whatever attracts you.
But most important, enjoy!!
@mcrib, bring with you a recording whose sound and music you are very familiar with. Use the same song or two to audition all systems (or speakers, etc.); that way you are comparing apples to apples.

The very last day is tear down day, so that morning is when you get to hear the systems at their most good or bad state, depending. If you go the day before and stay over night for the next morning the sales hype will be on it's last leg and you can get the designer to play something outside of his or hers pre-pick music. That gives you a day and a half to get to know the sound not just getting caught up in the shuffle. The first day of any show is a waste of time. No way are the systems any where near settled. In fact, if you read a raved review of the sound on the first day, look to see if those products are being advertised in that particular magazine. It takes months before a system starts to gel, so don't think that the sound you are getting at an audio show is anything remotely like the real sound of the system. Many audiophiles use the "show" sound as a reference. Well, back when there were 2 or 3 days of setup before a show, and when the hip designers played music all night long and invited you to join in, that was a real audio show. Todays shows are a cutout version of those days.

My advice is look for simplicity of setup. There are some folks who really know how to do a show, and after you've been to a few of them you start to zone in on their expertise. I could give you a list of names but then others would get mad at me. If your a gear junky I have zero advice for you. I have never been interested in gear, only sound. And I have never been interested in show sound, only those few magical people who somehow pull of miracles and pass a lie detector test. 90% of the companies there are after your money. 10% of the designers there are pure playback Gods. happy hunting and always make the show, your show

Michael Green

Always sit near an exit... :) 

Here's my tip: Listen to rooms from the outside. The one's with the best room treatment which will be most worth listening to actually sound great in the hallway too. So, make a quick pass listening as  you go, then come back and sit only for the rooms where you heard good sounds from. 

Best,

E