What a Great Show!

I’ve attended a lot of audio shows since I started writing for the high-end press close to two decades ago. Yet rarely have I experienced one with a vibe as upbeat and optimistic as the inaugural Florida Audio Expo’s. Despite the fact that the majority of exhibitors know me from previous shows and feel comfortable sharing their bitches and peeves with me, I received nothing but positive feedback from everyone I spoke with.

Certainly no one complained about the attendance. Some were surprised by Friday’s considerable turnout, which included far more than retirees, or by Sunday’s smaller but still noteworthy showing. I’ve attended many shows where people are busy packing their gear before the close. Yet, despite the fact that the Florida Audio Expo closed at 5 on Sunday, while some other shows call it quits at 4, every door I passed remained open.

Many rooms, such as Vanatoo’s, where I snapped the above photo, had SRO crowds. Nor were those crowds limited to exhibits with low-priced products. MBL/UHA, Wilson/Audio Research, and MartinLogan/Parasound, to name but three higher-priced rooms that carried well-known brands, were mobbed. In addition, almost every attendee was respectful during demos, and refrained from the tendency to carry on private conversations. I only heard two cell phones go off in rooms, and no one blinded me by texting on a bright screen and then giving me attitude when I politely asked if they could turn it down. The respectfulness also applied to the exhibitors I encountered, who are sometimes so fried by Day Three that they ignore half the people who walk into their room.

As for the hotel itself, the gym was decent, the pool-area chaise lounge poor but spacious, and the location near the airport ideal. Non-exhibitors who stayed in the hotel enjoyed two-room suites, complete with kitchens, two TVs, and thick walls for sound isolation. Three cheers for the firmest mattress I can remember in a hotel setting, and for the friendliness of the hotel staff. If you wanted some diversion, you could head to the beach, or to the mall directly across the street. When I found a Fresh Kitchen franchise five blocks away and a PF Chang’s across the street, I was in heaven. Exhibitors were forced to cope with tables, furniture, built-in TVs, and the like, none of which could be stored elsewhere, but everyone who was set-up savvy coped quite well.

The “push-pull” PR strategy adopted by the four show sponsors—Bart Andeer, President of the Suncoast Audiophile Society and Resolution Acoustics; Ammar Jadusingh (aka AJ), owner of Soundfield Audio; Mike Bovaird, proprietor of Suncoast Audio; and John Chait, a longtime DIY audiophile who is a member of both the Suncoast and Sarasota clubs—worked well. Not only did the men reach out to the strong audiophile societies of the SE, but they also secured NPR sponsorship, contacted college campuses, and put the focus on music lovers. That they charged no admission fee the first year, which resulted in so many Saturday attendees that they asked some folks who didn’t register (without charge) for the show in advance to return on Sunday, certainly helped pull people in.

“We had faith in Florida in February as a magnet, but we also knew our region is loaded with music lovers who would love the show,” Andeer wrote via email. He also revealed that while the Florida Audio Expo hopes to remain in the Embassy Suites by Hilton at the Tampa Airport for another year—my guess is that they’ll either have to expand to many more floors, or locate more rooms per floor—accommodations are still in the negotiation stage. While the show owners are leaning toward charging a modest admission fee in 2020, that, too, has not been decided.

Perhaps the best way to convey collective feelings about the show, at least from an industry perspective, is via these three quotes:

“I was very pleasantly surprised by the show; I had been concerned that it may be poorly attended by both exhibitors and attendees, and was delighted that my skepticism was unfounded. Tampa in February? I should have expected the number of visitors I met from Michigan, Ohio, Virginia, Maryland and other unseasonable climes.

“I thought the rooms sounded better than most shows; I heard that the building used to be a condominium, and that may have been responsible for the better acoustics. Whether true or not, the only things I heard making what I considered “bad sound” were things I’ve personally never heard sound good. (And I won’t elaborate beyond that.)”
—Larry Smith, Wireworld

“First, this show was easy to get your gear in and out, that’s always great. The show organizers also had the sense to use Rusty Griffin, the best shipper expediter out there. He does all the high end audio shows and is a real pro!

“The hotel had a bunch of elevators! Always great to have more than just two elevators, keeps people moving. Free breakfast and happy hour with coupon—I think all audio show hotels should do that! The hotel also had some nice outdoor spaces close by where you could get outta your dark room. see the sun and get some fresh air. Also, there were no hotel glitches that often seem to occur, like your AC quits or the damn thing won’t shut off and you’re freezing your buns off, or fire alarms and such.

“I must say I saw more new faces at this show than I’ve ever seen at an audio show!
Many shows seem to draw the same people year after year, nothing new. But the Florida Audio Expo was bringing out young people, families, women, and generally people who liked music. There were less of your typical grey-haired, fat, wheezing audiophiles that know everything. These were new folks who asked questions, wanted to experience everything audio, and were all eyes and ears. Our room was constantly busy, all three days no let up at all. The UHA/MBL After Hours Analog Tape Events were packed both nights, we didn’t shut down till well after midnight.

“Every exhibitor I spoke to said they will be back next year, with bells on! A general comment I heard from more than a few exhibitors was, ‘These people actually thanked us for bringing all our gear and allowing them to hear it.'”
—Greg Beron, United Home Audio

“I loved it! The most diverse crowd I’ve ever seen at a US show. Families, couples, young people. Enthusiastic, friendly, and curious. Well-organized and attended. I give it a 10/10. We will definitely be back.”
—Angela Cardas Meredith, Cardas

As the East Coast’s only audio show south of D.C., and the only US winter show that’s open to the general public, the Florida Audio Expo has every reason to grow and thrive. If the Lord and the powers that be are willing. I hope to see you in Tampa next year.

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