Hello Friends,
What an awesome week to in Vegas!!! As a first timer at Mobile Beat, I was very satisfied with everything. For any of you that have never been, GO! It really opens your eyes to the endless possibilities to better you business and skills. Also that there a tons of DJ's out there more successful than you so there is much to learn and soak in from the veterans out there and also for you newbie DJ's, you may know more than you think, b/c there are also a lot of clueless DJ's out there also. But that is why we come to DJ conventions, to learn and network.
If you're a lurker on the DJ message boards, step up and start posting today. Ask questions, give comments, post pics, videos, gig logs, your website, and definitely put a real picture of you on your avatar and your real name and where you are from.
I had only found this site a few months ago, but I have been posting on other boards also, and I was very happy to make the contacts here in the message boards and turn them into real life contacts at the convention. As a 1st timer, I didn't feel like a loner or a newbie b/c a lot of great DJ's knew who I was already from the internet and made me feel special. It didn't take long before I began seeing everyone from here and the other boards and striking up conversations like we've all met in real life before.
Thanks Keith for putting up the schedule in the excel format before the show. I printed some out and used them as my guide to what to attend and when everything started. I even had some other DJ's ask me where I got the schedule like that. It was a pleasure meeting you Keith and thanks for sitting with me in the first seminar so I didn't feel like a loser! Also thanks for posting all the pics of me and also my wife.
Oh yeah, for those that met my wife, Jennii (or Mrs. Cone) she had a good time meeting all of you and it made her happy that people knew who she was when she walked around.
I got to personally meet a lot of great DJ's that post here like Kevin Nichols, John Tuck, Steve Sharp, Tyrone Blue (sorry if I leave some people out, I just met so many people this week, a lot of the big wigs that gave seminars,a lot of the YouTube Superstar DJ's such as Brian Redd, Mikey Mike, Mike Flores, etc, and so many of the great vendors of the DJ community such as the great team at NLFX and Michael of EV/Dynacord and many others.........
I also met a lot of people that don't get on the message boards and told them that they should b/c that's how I have met a lot of people and learned so much even before going to my first convention.
I attended as many seminars as I could go to. I really liked the Jim Cerone, the Party Host, seminars as he convinced me to no longer DJ anymore. Instead, I HOST events and parties. I also enjoyed the "How To Keep Your Great DJ's" seminar my Mike Walter as it helped me a lot in my other shaved ice business as how to retain my employees and eliminate turnover.. The last night, my wife and I had an enjoyable dinner with some of the big wigs in the business such as Mike Walter, Andy Ebon, Mike Walter, Kevin Nichols, Marcello and others (sorry if I didn't mention you all, those mentioned were who were sitting directly around me). I also enjoyed the "High School Goldmine Seminar." I enjoyed the "Games Seminar" hosted by Sid Vanderpool. I went to the DMX after dark seminar and got play with the Chauvet LED Rain 56 lights and the Chauvet Min Spot all connected to a controller. Tyrone and Kevin Nichols and NLFX did a good job setting that up. I enjoyed it so much, I bought 12 Chauvet Rains for the $89 price. Woo Hoo!
The exhibit hall was awesome!!!! I've never seen so much gear before and coming from Okla, all of my experience with seeing gear was just in Guitar Center so I was very overwhelmed. Also since it was m first year, I thought it was great even if others comment that previous years were better. The NLFX rooms were very cool. The Huge Chauvet moving heads were impressive along with the new X series lights. Seeing the Bliss Lights in pictures on the internet give the real life viewing no justice. They are amazing lights. I also felt cool seeing all the EV gear on display and knowing I run mostly all the same gear.
My wife and I also got the Open Air Photo Booth, a DJ Screen, and a Bliss Light. I also bought one of the hand held bliss lights (the one in the pics earlier in the thread with the green dots).
So overall, it was an amazing week. Go to meet most of everyone I wanted to with the exception of a few, but there is always next year, which after this one, my wife and I probably will be coming back.
I did take some video and hopefully will be able to edit it all this weekend and get it posted by late Sunday.
It was a pleasure meeting everyone again and look forward to eventually meeting every DJ in the world that posts here and on other message boards!