Going to the Podcast Expo

This past weekend I attended (went to) the Podcast and New Media Expo in Ontario, California, which is about an hour from Los Angeles. Expo is short for exposition, which is the same as a conference or convention. An expo is a gathering (when people get together) for people who have similar interests or experiences. Usually the word expo is used for business gatherings, where different companies are trying to sell their products and services.

When you go to most big conferences, there are two main parts: the sessions and the exhibit hall. The sessions are presentations about a certain topic by either a single person or a group of people. Sessions include panelPodcast and New Media Expo discussions, where a group of experts discuss a topic, as well as short classes to teach you how to do something. The exhibit hall is where all of the vendors (people who sell things) are, and where you can look at the latest equipment and things related to your interest.

At the Podcast Expo, there were sessions about creating video podcasts, audio podcasts, podcasts for businesses, and other topics as well. I went to a couple of the sessions on Friday and Saturday about promoting your podcast (getting other people to know about it) and on doing video podcasting. Unfortunately, there was not a session about how to improve my singing.

The exhibit hall had many vendors selling audio and video equipment and services. The area where the vendors have their things is called a booth. Each company has its own booth. Some of the booths are very large, and sometimes include chairs where you can sit and rest. Although there were both men and women at this conference, often technology and some technology-related conferences like this have mostly men attending them. For that reason, some vendors like to hire (employ, give work to) beautiful women who stand in the booth to attract the men’s attention (to get them to notice them, to get them to go into the booth). Fortunately, I am happily married so I never actually looked at the beautiful women, but I heard from other people that they were there.

After the sessions are over (are completed) in the afternoon, there are usually receptions (small parties with food and drink). Take a look at ESL Podcast 88 for more information on conference receptions.

Next year the Podcast Expo will be in Las Vegas. Las Vegas is famous for conferences and conventions, since it has many things to do and usually has warm weather. But the weather is very hot in August, which is when the Expo will be held (will take place) next year, so I may not go.

~Jeff

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3 Responses to Going to the Podcast Expo

  1. Andrea says:

    I often attend tech-related conferences, and I must say that Jeff is right. There are very few women, and most of them are hired for the exhibition. The good thing is the welcome reception (and the social dinner), where you usually can find good food and wine. At least in Europe, because conference receptions I attended in the USA were very bad. I remember a conference reception in Los Angeles 2 years ago with terrible hamburgers. A nightmare.

  2. Fabio Faoks says:

    Hello Everybody!
    Jeff’s always so funny, even when he’s talking seriously, lol.
    That’s the same all over the world Jeff, these Expos are always full of beautiful girls greeting and welcoming people at the booths…that’s why I enjoying going to expos so much, lol.

    I’ve never heard anything about podcast expos here in Brazil. In fact, podcast’s just starting to become popular here. Many people have MP3 players but most of them listen just to music on this gadgets.

  3. emiliano says:

    I do not Know anything about this kind of business, never I have been in one , but now I know a lot with your good explanation……… I suppose it must be amusing to walk among these beautifull women looking at them and having very clear that you are not intereted on them neither in the supplies they are trying to sell you.

    But it is possible that afterward when you were at home, you may remember some of these things they were selling, to do your podcast even more agreable to us your listeners, what I think is really very difficult as your work and Lucy’s are on the top of podcasting.

    I hope Jeff that you got many applauses and bravos in that exposition if you talked them about what you are doing in podcasting business.

    Regards everybody and thanks Jeff for the information and vocabulary “quite difficult”

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