At the end of every Survivor show, the contestants vote off one of their members, one at a time, until at the end there is only one. The ASI, or the AMOA Expo for that matter, isn't quite a Survivor episode, but clearly every year the attendance attrition becomes more noticeable.
Through consolidation, bankruptcies or just industry departures to look for greener pastures, our industry continues to shrink. Members continue to vote themselves out of the amusement vending industry every year. We're seeing far more departures than arrivals.
All of the major players in the industry were in Las Vegas in March. From that viewpoint, the show was a great success. The presentation and show organization was great. My congratulations go out to the AAMA and the Glasgows for a well-run show. The pundits will debate for a short time the attendee head count. For my money, everyone that I needed to see and that needed to see me were in attendance. There are just fewer members of the amusement/vending industry today.
For me, this convention felt different. I found myself looking forward to who I was going to see this week rather than what I was going to see. This is an industry of relationships. Some say that they love this industry, or that the industry is in their blood. Probably because many in our industry are self-made and have great stories and strong personalities, we are an industry of special people.
I would miss this industry, sure, but it's the relationships that have been developed over the years that would be irreplaceable. The semi-annual conventions serve as career mile markers for those of us that can only be considered industry lifers. For better or worse, we've chosen this industry as our livelihood; and by the fact that we're still here, it continues to provide.
The convention feeling is so much different than it used to be. I remember previously the excitement of visiting every booth, looking for the next big breakthrough product. Within hours of the ribbon cuttings, the questions were always "What do see that you like?" or maybe "What's the hit of the show?" It was always easy to determine where the excitement was, as you generally couldn't get into the most popular booths because of the crowds. The evening parties were must-attend events, and gala events they were.
Today, however, there are no clear convention hits. Good product now creeps in like winter, rather than being thrust upon us and demanded instantly by our all-too-knowledgeable customer base as used to be the case. This stopped occurring after many industry "can't-miss" hits ended up being good lumber gone wrong.
I remember discussing with my father what to buy after one show. I was using as my reference point the convention product analysis article in the post-show trade magazine. It was written by a twelve-year-old "expert." My father looked at me with concern. "Let me get this right - we're letting a twelve-year-old tell us how to run our business? Our industry is in trouble." There were a lot of "experts" around those days, and I didn't see too many of them at the ASI 2002 show.
This show, as well as the AMOA show in the fall, has become less of a convention experience for me and more of an old homecoming week. Whether you've changed jobs or sold or bought companies, you can always count on seeing the same faces at the conventions.
I initially thought this was more of a reflection of my natural maturation in the industry. Then I noticed that I've grown up with most of these people, and they've grown up knowing me. The attendees form an informal bond among one another. We've survived. Some people you don't know, but you recognize the faces and it gets easier every year. There are very few new people entering the industry. Historically, the convention floors were full of well-dressed, big-money, new entrants. They moved with a swagger that generally accompanies foolish money. They have made their deposits and since departed.
Many of us entered the industry in the up-and-down decade of the '80s. The decade started with a boom, then quickly went bust. In the middle of that decade, new electronic technology brought us a new wave of redemption games and a new generation of cranes. Both of these additions were very healthy, as is evidenced by the fact that they continue to be staples of prosperity in the industry today.
I miss the bar at the Park Hyatt off Michigan Avenue in Chicago. In Las Vegas, when the show closes, the attendees head for various restaurants, hotels and bars. There is no central gathering place that I'm aware of. That is, unless everyone is going to the Beach House across the street from the convention center and not telling me. I haven't been to the Chicago Park Hyatt in over ten years, but I clearly remember the oval bar at the top of the escalators and to the right of the check-in counter. You went down two small steps and entered into the ritualistic stopping place between the show closing and dinner. As you ascended up the escalators, you could see the entire lounge and who was there. It was open, refreshing, and the place to be and be seen. You made your dinner reservations just a little later so you could meet at the bar first. If you found yourself in the rare moment with no immediately scheduled event, you went to the Hyatt bar. Someone would be there. I made many acquaintances there, and I'm sure many a business deal was made there as well. The hotel would be totally sold out with our industry members. We were the show in town (or at least that hotel) that week. You didn't have the plumbing distributor on your right and the retail fixture salesman on your left, as is the case in Las Vegas.
If you were in Las Vegas at the ASI show in March, good for you. Congratulations.
You're a survivor. I doubt there were too many attending their first industry
show. I know there are a few new suppliers and operators, but by far it's
the gathering of maturing, weathered, smart industry veterans who have one
way or another weathered the industry storms. It was very good to see you.
I look forward to seeing everyone at AMOA in the fall.