Got a ticket to NAB, any tips on how long to go for, where to stay, etc.?

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filmguy123

Veteran
I went to a workshop and we got a free ticket to NAB included (a MonteZucker workshop for Alex Bueno's DP class). It's a "Free Exhibits Pass Offer". Never been to NAB but always wanted to. I know this is probably less exciting in the digital/internet age, but I was wondering how long it is worthwhile to go for?

It says April 5-10 and exhibits April 7-10. Are there new events and announcements every day? Will I get bored being there by myself for 3 days? Are the general sessions worthwhile? Was thinking of arriving Vegas 11am on Monday the 7th which would get me into the exhibits by 3pm I'm thinking, plus Tues/Wed/Thurs. Would I miss much Monday morning?

Any recommendations on good deals where to stay/where to eat/where to book hotel rooms? Trying to keep the price down, but want a better experience than Motel 6 and McDonald's of course :)
 
Free NAB passes are avail every year from most manufacturers exhibiting at the show. If you are looking for equip deals make an offer at the booth to pick up the gear on the last day. Mfg's don't like to ship the gear back and save freight. I usually stay at the Rio there is no shuttle but since I live in LA I drive to the show and park a few blocks from the Convention Hall. A few years ago I got a great deal from the Orleans and I believe there is a shuttle. IMHO as a gear head the show is well worth attending if only to see who hot and who's not. Wear super comfortable shoes & clothes with a small backpack and water bottle. You'll walk miles, the show is really that big.
 
filmguy123 said:
I went to a workshop and we got a free ticket to NAB included (a MonteZucker workshop for Alex Bueno's DP class). It's a "Free Exhibits Pass Offer". Never been to NAB but always wanted to. I know this is probably less exciting in the digital/internet age, but I was wondering how long it is worthwhile to go for?

It says April 5-10 and exhibits April 7-10. Are there new events and announcements every day? Will I get bored being there by myself for 3 days? Are the general sessions worthwhile? Was thinking of arriving Vegas 11am on Monday the 7th which would get me into the exhibits by 3pm I'm thinking, plus Tues/Wed/Thurs. Would I miss much Monday morning?

Any recommendations on good deals where to stay/where to eat/where to book hotel rooms? Trying to keep the price down, but want a better experience than Motel 6 and McDonald's of course :)
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You can always see the sights, like Fremont street. Go check out the Grand Canyon too.
 
I've been to Vegas 8 years ago and saw most everything on the strip so it'd really be more about the show.

Was thinking of the Best Western on the strip, next to Harrah's. Pretty reasonable. NAB doesn't have a shuttle that stops there, but it's next door to Harrah's and the shuttle runs from there to the convention center. If I have a NAB pass can I still get on that shuttle or do I have to also be a guest (or have proof) that I'm a guest at that hotel?
 
Register for the show on the show site, then book a hotel through the housing office on the site. They really do have the best rates. Circus Circus is usually the best bang for the buck. (West Tower is best) at about $70/night after taxes/fees. Free shuttles, but go early because they fill up. Or you can walk (about 3/4 mile) to the convention.

With that pass, best to go just for exhibit days.

Also fun is the FCPUG supermeet Tuesday evening (whether you're an editor or not). Tickets are usually about $15. Food, people, raffles, guest speakers, usually some surprises. Much more intimate than the big show. http://supermeet.com/
 
Stay on the strip, might as well have fun at night while you're there. The hotels will have shuttles to NAB. Just avoid Circus, Circus. If you want a quick dinner, try the hotel buffets. And if you don't like the one at your hotel - *cough Circus Circus cough* - you can eat at other hotel restaurants.

I usually give one day to see all the NAB exhibits. It doesn't sound like much time because of the scale of the convention, but you really won't need to see most of the exhibits. As an example, if you're looking for a camera, you won't need to spend time at all the monitor or edit system displays. Just plan accordingly, know what you're looking for. Maps of the NAB vendors are provided. Personally, I like the camera displays, so I put the major camera manufacturers on my must-see list. Everything after that is gravy. There's no other place in the world that will give you so much hands-on access to the tools of our trade.

Do check out the B&H display. They have a whole lot of fun stuff, all in one location.

Wear comfortable shoes, comfortable clothes. You'll do a lot of walking. The scale of the place is mind-boggling. As tempting as the restaurants are in Vegas, avoid foods that give you gastronomic distress, as you don't want to spend the day in the crowded bathrooms. Bring money for food, drinks, souvenirs. I suppose most take debit cards now. Try and be there at the opening, as you'll get a lanyard with a badge holder. Those are cool to have. Some of the exhibits will have carrying bags. Grab one, you'll need it for all the free stuff and brochures that are handed out (you can never have too many pens).
Bring business cards, you never know who you'll meet.

You'll have a great time, hanging out with a bunch of like minded people. Remember, the exhibitors are there to sell you their product. Ask lots of questions.
 
vanvideo said:
Stay on the strip, might as well have fun at night while you're there. The hotels will have shuttles to NAB. Just avoid Circus, Circus.
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LOL. I'm curious as to why? I've stayed there in the past. Really convenient. Quiet too. (at least the West Tower). Oh, and parking (if you've got a car, which I typically do) is right by the elevator banks for the West Tower. Anyway....

vanvideo said:
I usually give one day to see all the NAB exhibits. It doesn't sound like much time because of the scale of the convention, but you really won't need to see most of the exhibits. As an example, if you're looking for a camera, you won't need to spend time at all the monitor or edit system displays. Just plan accordingly, know what you're looking for. Maps of the NAB vendors are provided. Personally, I like the camera displays, so I put the major camera manufacturers on my must-see list. Everything after that is gravy. There's no other place in the world that will give you so much hands-on access to the tools of our trade.
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Great advice. You can also download the show App for your phone. It isn't great, but it does put it all in one place and you can mark places you want to visit and see all of those in one place, instead of flipping around pages.

vanvideo said:
Try and be there at the opening, as you'll get a lanyard with a badge holder.
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You'll get those on day two as well.

vanvideo said:
Some of the exhibits will have carrying bags. Grab one, you'll need it for all the free stuff and brochures that are handed out (you can never have too many pens).
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Or bring your own bag/backpack so you can carry your personal belongings (and know where they are) and all the little things you pick up. I tend to skip 99% of brochures now, unless I really need a hard copy. Just use your phone and scan in barcodes or snap photos of URLs. Then visit sites and download pdfs.

vanvideo said:
Bring business cards, you never know who you'll meet.
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More good advice. Good to have a barcode people can easily scan as well, either on the back of your card or as a separate card you can just show (or use your phone to show your contact info as a barcode).

Oh, and at many booths, if you want more info they can scan the barcode on your badge and send you info to your registered email. So if you want that (and don't want a lot of junk) create an email specifically for the show. Or if you've got a gmail account you can add a "." in it when you register with NAB. That makes filtering email easy. For example, if your email address is johnsmith@gmail.com you can use johnsmit.h@gmail.com for the show when you register. Gmail ignores the "." in an email address so you'll get all the email without needing to create a new account, and you can then easily filter email that's sent to johnsmit.h@gmail.com into it's own folder/label. (Other email providers also work this way.)
 
Circus, Circus certainly is one of the cheapest hotels on the strip, but you get what you pay for. I stayed there for my first NAB trip. Never again.
Loud, lots of little kids running about, the buffet looked like it was stocked with frozen food items. The decor and rooms weren't the best or the cleanest.

I stayed at Treasure Island for my next trip out there, and it was way better. It costs more, but it was worth it to me.
But if you must watch your budget, Circus, Circus is better than sleeping on the streets of Vegas.

A backpack is good advice. Keeps your hands free while you molest all the new toys.

And if young ladies show lots of friendly interest in you while you're walking the strip at night, they're probably professionals. Trust me on this.
 
vanvideo said:
Circus, Circus certainly is one of the cheapest hotels on the strip, but you get what you pay for. I stayed there for my first NAB trip. Never again.
Loud, lots of little kids running about, the buffet looked like it was stocked with frozen food items. The decor and rooms weren't the best or the cleanest.

I stayed at Treasure Island for my next trip out there, and it was way better. It costs more, but it was worth it to me.
But if you must watch your budget, Circus, Circus is better than sleeping on the streets of Vegas.

A backpack is good advice. Keeps your hands free while you molest all the new toys.
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Interesting. I'm wondering how long ago that was. I stayed there last year it was actually really very good. Very new, modern rooms. Perhaps they recently renovated? Oh, I never eat buffets. Generally I prefer leaving the casinos and strip and like to head to local restaurants. Soooo much better food. I generally don't like Vegas and this gives me a bit of a break from the "Vegas Baby" aspect of Vegas.

vanvideo said:
And if young ladies show lots of friendly interest in you while you're walking the strip at night, they're probably professionals. Trust me on this.
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+100
 
And if you like hot dogs (who doesn't?) there's a Pink's Hot Dogs in Vegas.


pinks.jpg


Remember what I said about gastronomic distress? Best leave Pink's for after NAB.
 
Don't stay on the Strip, it's noisy, and hard to get in and out. From cheaper places Orleans Hotel/Casino is decent ($35-45 mid week and rooms are OK). From better places you can choose Red Rock Casino or Marriott in Summerlin. There is no advantage to staying on the strip, as far as going to NAB-you still need a car, strip is congested and noisy. In general Summerlin is the nicest part of town, Red Rock Canyon is there. There are numerous places to visit- Red Rock Canyon is the closest, Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, but you can also visit Zion National Park. There are some very nice sand dunes about 90 minutes drive North along hwy 95. Also you ken visit Kelso Dunes on Mojave Dessert.
Cheapest car rental is through Costco- it's worth membership. You can get economy car for a week for about $160-180 through Costco site.
Good eats- Roberto's tacos (cheap and decent), Everest Restaurant (good Nepali), Afendi's (good middle eastern). BJ's across from Red Rock Casino is also not bad.
 
snowblindfilm said:
Don't stay on the Strip, it's noisy, and hard to get in and out. From cheaper places Orleans Hotel/Casino is decent ($35-45 mid week and rooms are OK). From better places you can choose Red Rock Casino or Marriott in Summerlin. There is no advantage to staying on the strip, as far as going to NAB-you still need a car, strip is congested and noisy. In general Summerlin is the nicest part of town, Red Rock Canyon is there. There are numerous places to visit- Red Rock Canyon is the closest, Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, but you can also visit Zion National Park. There are some very nice sand dunes about 90 minutes drive North along hwy 95. Also you ken visit Kelso Dunes on Mojave Dessert.
Cheapest car rental is through Costco- it's worth membership. You can get economy car for a week for about $160-180 through Costco site.
Good eats- Roberto's tacos (cheap and decent), Everest Restaurant (good Nepali), Afendi's (good middle eastern). BJ's across from Red Rock Casino is also not bad.
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I definitely agree about taking the opportunity to visit nearby places before or after the convention. In addition to Zion (if you don't have a fear of heights, try the Angel's Landing hike) which can sometimes be over-crowded, there's a great state park by St. George called Snow Canyon. Where is Roberto's tacos?

As for where to stay.... If the main purpose is NAB, then Summerlin is way too far IMO. Staying on/near the strip is a heck of a lot more convenient and you won't need to deal with traffic, parking..... As I mentioned, I always have a car during the show, but it stays parked in the garage at my hotel during the days (when I'm at the show).

As for rentals, Kayak has economy cars for 7 days, for $160 with all taxes included. (Just checked.) Expedia and others probably do as well. If there was a Costco anywhere in central Vegas, you could save on gas, but I'm not sure I see the point of getting a membership just to rent a car (and even with the gas savings, you wouldn't save enough to pay for the membership).

I guess it all comes down to what the main purpose is behind going to Vegas. If it's to see as much of the show as possible, stay somewhere close and don't worry about commuting in every morning.
 
Roberto's tacos is all over, it'a tex-mex chain. From Summerlin, you take Summerlin PKWY, then get on 95, which deposits you right by the Convention Center, it's actually faster then getting from crowded Strip. Trust me, I spent on average 1-2 months every year, so I know my way around pretty well, and by the time you get through all the traffic lights of the strip you will waste 20-30 minutes before you get to NAB.
Car rental and Costco- you don't rent from Costco, but through Costco and you pick up at the airport. Last October I paid $140 for a week though Costco, so $160 is a bit more.
 
keylight said:
Interesting. I'm wondering how long ago that was. I stayed there last year it was actually really very good. Very new, modern rooms. Perhaps they recently renovated? Oh, I never eat buffets. Generally I prefer leaving the casinos and strip and like to head to local restaurants. Soooo much better food. I generally don't like Vegas and this gives me a bit of a break from the "Vegas Baby" aspect of Vegas.



+100
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there is a McDonalds right out side the exit of Circus Circus, towards the convention center if you don't want buffet food. Trust me, it's better than the Riviera's buffet.
 
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I've been pretty happy with the Riviera, including their breakfast buffet. I't a mid quality hotel, but that's all I need. It's a quick walk to the convention center (plus there is a shuttle if you want it). I'm pretty sure it is the closest hotel to the convention center. I prefer to walk than wait for the shuttle. There is a shortcut through the parking lot. There are also convenience stores 2 blocks away. You want Monoco tower, and sometimes if you arrive late, rooms there will be filled up. Do book it through the convention office.

You need at least 2 full days to see the show, and that's pushing it.
 
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We stayed at Circus Circus last year for NAB, but never again. Back in the mid 80s when I was visiting Vegas on a yearly basis Circus Circus was a pretty nice place. While there last year while eating a very late breakfast (or early depending on your view) near the hotel we were told to be very careful while wandering around late at night on that end of the strip. It is a little slummy on that end.


Wayne Mann
www.HeliCamHDmeda.com
 
Circus Circus is a great place to get murdered or drugged and have a kidney stolen. I always recommend MGM it is the main station for the monorail and first station so it is never crowded to broad monorail there. If you want a cheaper option with good access to monorail Harrah's is actually a good deal and a descent stay. Also the eats around Harrahs are cheaper. Some fast food options and such. I always use the monorail or cab the shuttles take forever.
 
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