NAB 2012

One of the more interesting booths at NAB 2012, TVLogic's doll display.

Working in business-to-business publishing means going to trade shows. And when you cover a variety of industries, as we do here at Lionheart, that means frequent travel to trade shows. In fact, the editors and others staffers at Lionheart cover some of the largest trade shows held in North America, including the World of Concrete and the NAB Show. As executive editor of Markee 2.0, it is my pleasure to cover NAB.

Actually, as you may have read in my March/April editor's letter, this was my first chance to attend NAB since joining Markee. I must say, I have covered many large trade shows in the past, but none seem to have the energy of NAB. The attendees were fully enthused to be there, the exhibitors were excited to greet everyone, and the exhibits themselves were the largest and most impressive I've seen. The only down side I could find was that all of the sights and sounds from the equipment manufacturers, software developers and components producers was a bit overwhelming. The best way to get through it, I found, was to narrow my focus by industry and map out my daily tours accordingly. After all, the exhibits were open for four days, so there was plenty of time to see it all – barely.

What I came away with – as is the intention of most editors who attend such events – is a working knowledge of new technologies available for my readers, a glimpse of where the industries Markee covers are headed, a new appreciation for the work of all those involved in TV and film production, and a notebook filled with article ideas. I can't wait to get started!

I want to thank the NAB staff and organizers for producing an outstanding event. And I wish to thank all the companies and their representatives who took the time to speak with me. Look for post-event coverage on our website and in our e-newsletter. (Sign up for the newsletter here.)

Meet Us In Las Vegas

We at Markee are excited about attending the 2012 NAB Show this month in Las Vegas. We hope you’re as excited to be there as we are! Actually, this year marks my first as an attendee at NAB, having only stepped in as executive editor of this publication late last year.

Of course, this isn’t my first trade show as a magazine editor, or even the first time I’ve been to a trade show in Las Vegas. On the contrary, I’ve had the privilege of visiting “Sin City” several times. And each time, I’m reminded of the city’s colorful past and rich (in every sense of the term) history. From tiny railroad town to the construction of the Hoover Dam, from Howard Hughes and Elvis Presley to the city’s centennial in 2005, Las Vegas has come a long way. And it continues to evolve and find new ways to stay relevant.

In fact, to filmmakers and TV producers, Las Vegas – and many other parts of Nevada – always has been a significant source of material and a location with unlimited character. There have been at least 90 major motion pictures shot in the state – and who could forget CSI: Crime Scene Investigation? (You can find a complete list of movies made in the state on the Nevada Film Office’s website at www.nevadafilm.com.)

Speaking of Nevada as a location, Markee spoke with the Nevada Film Office as part of our Spotlight on the Southwest in the March/April 2012 issue. Grab your copy to learn more about Nevada’s diversity of locations, as well as those of Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. As you know, this region has a spectacular landscape; I hope you have a chance to see some of it. But don’t neglect the NAB Show (and our NAB equipment preview in that same issue of Markee)! I hope to see you on the trade show floor.