Here in the Northwest the snow is melting, the sky is blue—spring is right around the corner. And with spring, thoughts always turn toward….NAB.

Will you be there? :)

(Hey, how come when I try to type simply "NAB '08" in the title it goes lower case on me?)

Hmm…should I have just asked, “Who here is going to NAB?” or are folks waiting longer than in years past to decide?

Sorry if I jumped the gun. I had an email chat with Rob L. a few days ago and got all excited about going to see some old pals again.

I'm 99% going! :)

I'm 50% going. Decisive huh!

Mike

I'm going, got my flight and hotel all set.
Looking forward to this year.
I have an interesting story about last year's trip.
I get there get off the plane 10 am vegas time, and I've got something like 20 messages.

So I'm standing there just off the jet way, and I find out our adoption went through, and oh by the way she's due to deliver that saturday...so low and behold I turn to the agent and the gate, explain the story and turn around and get on a flight the next day to go home.

So therefore I'm actually looking forward to attending the show this year.

Gotta tell you NAB will never be the same.

Best story about winning in Vegas I've ever heard!!!!!

Congratulations----Mike

You know what's funny about that is I was there that 1 night, played roulette and won $400.

I'm sure I'll give it back this year.

That is a cool story, Mark. Hope you get to the convention center this time around. As for gambling, I stink at it, so I just give $5 to Mike and he wins for me. :)

Dylan, I’ll feel better when that 1% comes in. Gotta have my pool mate! This year I’m using sunscreen….if there’s sun!

I am down to 50% chance of going. I have not missed one NAB since 2000, however with both Avid & Apple not exhibiting I'm not sure. Last NAB had some interesting releases Panasonic 500 and Sony's XDcamex, what are they going to release this year, not much i'm afraid. If I do go it will be for 2 days maxs.


Castillo
http://bluebarnpictures.com/blog/

Seven consecutive years—wow. What about the parties, I mean, networking? That alone can make the trip worthwhile! :)

It's all about the parties and social networking for me anymore (every NAB since 1996; just a lightweight).

Which reminds me -- David -- if you have only two days, make it Monday and Tuesday!

I'll be attending my first NAB this year, really looking forward to it!

Got you beat, EIGHT YEARS in a row. 1st year drove up from Phoenix arrived at convention center blew my mind away (was a student at the time and felt like a kid in a candy store) saw everything then drove home only to plow into a coyote at 70 mph. Since then I stay a few days and not try to do a 24 hour marathon.
Parties, friends and hey its Vegas .

it's all about the parties and social networking for me anymore (every NAB since 1996; just a lightweight).

Which reminds me -- David -- if you have only two days, make it Monday and Tuesday!
__________________

Monday and Tuesday?! Don't forget the SuperMeet on Wednesday. Biggest party in town and Apple will be there in full force.

http://www.lafcpug.org/nab_2008

okay, i talked my craps and blackjack friends into going along, to keep me company, so i will be there. let's see how much new gear i can buy with my winnings!

okay, i talked my craps and blackjack friends into going along, to keep me company, so i will be there. let's see how much new gear i can buy with my winnings!

Woohoo, Meryem's going to make an appearance.

-gb-

Woohoo, Meryem's going to make an appearance.

-gb-

of course, if i get a hot streak going, you'll have to come find me...

most thrilling vegas moment: down $2,000, went home up $300....that was a long exciting weekend signifying next-to-nothing...

of course, if i get a hot streak going, you'll have to come find me...

most thrilling vegas moment: down $2,000, went home up $300....that was a long exciting weekend signifying next-to-nothing...

There's way too much going on for you to be hanging around in the casinos. Bring comfortable walking shoes for the convention center as it's quite large.

-gb-

perhaps. i really have no clue. las vegas gives us flower-sniffing nature types the willies, hence the need to sink into the gambling quagmire, keeps me from looking too closely at other humans' creepiness when i am self-involved with my own. when in rome....

where are good places to stay? anyone?

didn't chris publish some sort of NAB survival guide awhile back? anyone have a link? i tried a search, but it might have been too long ago....

Needs some updating, but here it is...

http://www.dvinfo.net/articles/buyersguide/nabtips.php

okay, i talked my craps and blackjack friends into going along, to keep me company, so i will be there. let's see how much new gear i can buy with my winnings!

I just figured out how to pay for my new EX1! Perfect, I'll go to Vegas with $100 and come back with a new camera!


What could go wrong?

just don't forget to wear your lucky shirt, dylan, that can make or break the entire deal!

I hope to see all my DVINFO friends at the 2008 rodeo which will make my tenth NAB. WOW, things have come a LONG way in ten years.

BUT one thing, it's harder to find Chris these days. :-)

One of the last times I was in Vegas I hit a royal flush on a poker machine and won 4,000 . . . nickels.

I wish I could go this year but circumstances dictate otherwise. At least we were able to attend our 50th Birthday Bash with 300 of our classmates last October.

PS: I still got the cool pen from Chris. Thanks!

Rats! I remembered what you said about the every-other-year thing, Dean, so I was looking forward to chatting with you this year.
About the pens, I had to give mine to a friend as a peace offering for not taking him to any of the parties. :)

TWBP (There Will Be Pens).

BUT one thing, it's harder to find Chris these days. :-)It's a game. If you can find me on the show floor, you get a DV Info Net pen.

Ah, the thrill of the hunt!

Hint: Find Chris at the FCPUG SuperMeet, April 16. He will be with me at the bar.

About the pens

I'm still using mine all the time too!!!

I'm still using mine all the time too!!!

Me too, but it gets more light time than ink time.

-gb-

Yes, the pens make the whole trip worthwhile, don't they. :)

But you didn't answer my early question, Edward. Will you be there???

Hint: Find Chris at the FCPUG SuperMeet, April 16. He will be with me at the bar.I will be with him *under* the bar.

Rats! I remembered what you said about the every-other-year thing, Dean, so I was looking forward to chatting with you this year.
About the pens, I had to give mine to a friend as a peace offering for not taking him to any of the parties. :)

Lorinda... "Rats" is right. NAB in Vegas is always an educational and fun time. But it looks like April's gonna be nuts now that we're getting our fishing show back into production after a year-long involuntary hiatus. We got only one full-time cameraman: me. And one full-time editor: me.

So maybe it's an every other other year thing... :-)

Once we're back on our feet I'm hoping it'll be an annual pilgrimage. Assuming, of course, that all the other companies don't follow Avid and Apple and bail out of NAB.

Assuming, of course, that all the other companies don't follow Avid and Apple and bail out of NAB.Should that happen, Dean, DV Info Net folks will simply convene in Honolulu. I'm down for that.

Oooohhh….yeah…..I like the way you think. Sounds like a blast! We might find you *under* a tiki bar there? :)

“You just keep thinkin’, Butch. That’s what you’re good at.”

How about a dvinfo meet one night somewhere in Vegas?

With so much going on, nights are kinda hard to arrange... I was thinking about one big morning get-together for anybody who wants to drop by and say hello. Last year it was just me and Scott Anderson but the year before we had a pretty good crowd. South Hall cafeteria Monday morning? Or Wednesday? (Tuesday morning is out for me -- will be sleeping in).

Then there's always the FCP SuperMeet on Wednesday night...

I'll be there and at the VASST/Sony Creative Software Party ( for anyone who uses Vegas here ). My 3rd NAB this year and I've worked all 3 of them. One of these years I'll go just to go, but hey, when I work for someone I get paid to go, and I can usually still sneak off on the last day to see what I really wanted to get a look at :).

Dave

With so much going on, nights are kinda hard to arrange... I was thinking about one big morning get-together for anybody who wants to drop by and say hello. Last year it was just me and Scott Anderson but the year before we had a pretty good crowd. South Hall cafeteria Monday morning? Or Wednesday? (Tuesday morning is out for me -- will be sleeping in).

Then there's always the FCP SuperMeet on Wednesday night...

I'll vote for Wed. morn!

I'll vote for Wed. morn!
Put a “late” somewhere in that sentence and it’ll look a little better to me. :)

I'll vote for monday, I'm leaving on Wednesday.

Have to be Wednesday morning for me, I'm not coming until Tuesday.

(ain't this fun?)

Anyway, on Wednesday night I'll be holding up the wall next to the bar that Chris and Michael Horton are under.

I'll be there covering the expo for '16:9' magazine. Really looking forward to finally meeting some other DVinfoers. It'll be my first NAB and first time in Vegas... so I expect things are going to get interesting!

By the way, does anyone else have a certain topical Elvis song playing on loop in their head?

Hi Mark, certain topical Elvis songs play in loops in my head all day long. Only occasionally is one of them ever "Viva Las Vegas" unfortunately. At any rate, I'm up for doing the morning meet & greet at the South Hall cafeteria on both days, Monday and Wednesday, just to see everybody (telling ya now though, Tuesday morning will be a no-show for me).

Well this will be my 21st consecutive NAB....OMG I'm getting old ! :)

I vote for Tues...'cause I leave on Wed.....but would love to meet some of you folks. Here's hoping... !

Well this will be my 21st consecutive NAB....

Too bad they don't have it in Dallas any more. Would be nice to sleep in my own bed during the convention.

-gb-

If you are just going to the exhibits, check out this link for free NAB registration:
http://promaxsystems.blogspot.com/2007/12/promax-nab-show-free-exhibits-pass-code.html

Thanks Bill.

I've always wanted to go and now I guess I'm going. I've done the free exhibit registration, replied to the invite Sony sent me and signed up for the LAFCPUG super meet and greet. Anything else I should be thinking of?

Konrad

I will be there but not working this year (Grass Valley) as I am taking my daughter to see all of the toys

You should all stay Wednesday for the SuperMeet. Lots of DVinfo folks will be there including Chris Hurd and entourage. JVC just today donated this for our raffle:

GY-HD200UB 3-CCD ProHD CAMCORDER w/16:1 FUJINON LENS
PACKAGE
Includes: GY-HD200CHU Camcorder Head, 16:9 LCD Viewfinder,
Mic Holder, Microphone, SD Memory Card, Th17x5BRM Fujinon
Lens, KA551 Tripod Plate Adapter, ABTRIMPACPKG2 (battery, charger/adapter), DRHD100 100Gig hard drive, ABFSKIT3 mount - JVC - (Value $8,995)

This brings total value of prizes to be given away to more than $82,000.00

http://www.lafcpug.org/nab_2008

Wow, how else can you go to NAB and come home with a free HD camera package worth $9K -- I know of no other way -- watching this thing find its new lucky owner will be the crowning moment of the FCP SuperMeet before I head back to Centrifuge on the main floor of MGM Grand for a nightcap or three.