Top 10 Takeaways from My First CEDIA
I had heard the stories, but I didn’t believe them. It was only until we got into San Diego and walked through the convention center that I realized how massive of an industry-wide undertaking we were a part of. That realization, along with our CEO Alex Capecelatro being named Young Professional of the Year and Josh Micro being awarded Best New Hardware Product, rapidly brought our situation into perspective amidst the 20,000 CEDIA attendees.
With it being the year of voice control at CEDIA, our booth took on wave after wave of professionals eager to know more about Josh. It was the perfect storm as we were bombarded with integrators and manufacturers wanting to work together. Josh Micro had been the missing link, and with its unveiling making voice control more accessible, the flood gates were opened.
After a very busy week in San Diego, here are my top 10 CEDIA takeaways:
1.Hustle all the time and say hi to everyone everywhere. You never know who you’ll come across next. I literally gave my “elevator pitch” while on the way up to my room in a Marriott elevator.
2. Scan everyone’s badges at your booth and follow up after the show - it’s tough to remember every conversation from the week.
3. Keep up with social media to share with everyone who can’t be there - avoid FOMO.
4. Don’t forget to eat - it can be a physical and mental grind networking non-stop.
5. Set up as many meetings as possible ahead of time.
6. As a manufacturer apply for awards, winning them helps too!
7. Bring your own water bottle and stay hydrated.
8. Conserve your voice whenever possible, staying hydrated will do a lot to help.
9. Make time to visit other booths and see the other interesting exhibitors on the floor.
10. Wear comfortable shoes - your feet will thank you after standing all day.
BONUS TAKEAWAY: The party never stops - go to every manufacturer event for more networking opportunities! Bonus points if it’s an open bar or on a yacht.
I knew we had been working on an innovative product, but the recognition from the professional community brought our day-to-day into a new light. It was an amazing and stimulating experience to receive such positive feedback at CEDIA. While it was a crazy week back in the office, with many more on the horizon, we wouldn’t have it any other way.
Casey is a member of the Josh.ai Business Development team. Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Casey graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in Business Administration. A former collegiate athlete, he enjoys staying active and going on new adventures.
Josh.ai is an artificial intelligence agent for your home. If you’re interested in learning more, visit us at https://josh.ai.
