I gave the vendors grief yesterday with my “Drinking Game.” Understand that this was all in satire, making fun of the contrived environment of a convention exhibition floor. We maintain many partnerships with local and national vendors, and without them our program could not exist.
| Vendor leech – note box of trinkets, and red hat |
Today I decided to watch the attendees, There are some that are truly interested in the products, and want to learn about innovative ideas, and then there are the leeches. These are the ones that dive into and scavenge any little trinket that a vendor has to offer for free, be it a T-Shirt, hat, ink pen, Intel doll, or tote bag. Never mind that this thing is probably useless outside the context of the convention. Never mind that EVERYTHING is emblazoned with the company’s logo. If they absolutely have to sit through a demo, they will.
This lot isn’t satisfied with one item – they will swoop up several for their friends and family back home. I actually saw a couple of them with large tote boxes. Most look like walking billboards, with at least one hat, (which, if someone from the company spots, might win you a prize), a company t-shirt (which, if someone from the company spots, might win you a prize), and mutiple buttons with flashing LEDs (all of which, if someone from the company spots, might win you a prize). Sound vendors went even further, requiring participants wo wear tri-cornered hats, Cat-in-the-Hat hats, or even pith helmets in order to win the prize. The net result is a rather foolish looking package that looks even more ridiculous out of context, say, in a nearby restaurant.