The Global Gaming Expo (G2E) is less than a week away, which means 20,000 people from across the gambling universe will assemble at the Sands Expo for four days of business and pleasure. G2E can be pretty overwhelming for first-time attendees, and even people with a couple of G2Es under their belt find the experience frantic.
With so many people entering the industry through sports betting and the disruption of COVID, there are a lot of first and second-time attendees. So, with that in mind, I have a few tips for anyone trying to maximize their G2E experience. I’ll come at this from a journalist’s perspective, but this advice applies to virtually every attendee.
Tip #1: Scheduling And Planning
With 20,000-plus attendees and all the major players in attendance, time is precious.
Getting 15 minutes of someone’s time is a big ask, and on-the-spot requests are nearly never granted at G2E. Unlike other more intimate conferences, G2E will have people running from one meeting to the next without a second to spare.
With that in mind, scheduling meetings weeks ahead of time is extremely important.
Also, don’t get too mad if you get bumped. If you schedule a time to chat with a specific supplier about a new product, don’t be surprised if they push that interview off to meet with a casino corporation showing interest in ordering hundreds of machines for its properties.
Realize Tuesday And Wednesday Are Different
When you try to preschedule meetings, you’ll notice people are very busy Tuesday and Wednesday, and quite a few aren’t in town on the far-less hectic days of Monday and Thursday. Tuesday and Wednesday nights are also when companies and organizations have team dinners and get-togethers, so don’t expect people to have much availability.
Another thing to consider is that come Wednesday (and definitely Thursday), Vegas is catching up with many people.
When the showroom floor opens on Tuesday (Monday is conference-only), the vibe is a lot like people filing into a football stadium ahead of a big game. There is an energy and excitement in the air. By Thursday, the mood resembles the home team being down by 30 with five minutes to go – people are disappointed and heading for the exits, and the buzz of the alcohol has long worn off.
Bottom line:
- Try to fill in Thursday and Monday first, as it will let you know if they’re in town these days, and there is less competition for their time.
- By the same token, you can bump into people on Monday and Thursday, but no one has a minute to spare on Tuesday or Wednesday.
- Don’t schedule meetings early on Wednesday or Thursday unless you’re ok with people canceling last minute after a long night.
Arrive Early; Don’t Bother Staying Late
If you’re new to the industry and don’t have the status to fill your calendar with meetings, there are some ideal times to bump into people.
At G2E, the early bird gets the worm. If you want to meet new people or network, don’t check your emails in your hotel room.
Arrive at the event early and head into the main lounge for breakfast or the media or speaker lounge if you have access. You never know who you might bump into in these areas.
Similarly, go into the education session room early and see who else is already there. This is a great way to make an introduction and have a five-minute conversation. And speaking of introductions, don’t be afraid to approach someone and break the ice with a compliment as you introduce yourself.
Another way to stumble into an impromptu conversation is to hang out in the main hallway where the education sessions occur. Most panelists will arrive at their sessions early and linger in the hallway.
Most of the time, being early won’t pay off, but if these strategies work once in four days, that’s a huge win.
Conversely, don’t bother staying late. Everyone is off to drinks, planned dinners, and networking events. If anyone is lingering, it’s because they are meeting someone. Trying to introduce yourself at the end of the day will likely annoy the person.
Tip #2: Education Sessions
G2E has several education tracks, so there are always multiple education sessions going on at the same time. Couple that with whatever meetings you have planned, and this quickly gets overwhelming, and tough choices will have to be made.
Know Your Schedule
Spend a lot of time reviewing the conference schedule to determine your first and second choices at that hour, and then pinpoint the can’t-miss sessions and the sessions you don’t mind missing if a meeting is available.
The can’t-miss sessions will make up the basis of your schedule, and you can schedule meetings or times to wander the showroom floor around them.
Take Notes
It’s imperative to take notes during each session. Even if you’re fully engrossed in the panel discussion, the moment you exit the room, your mind will jump to what is next, and you’ll quickly forget some of the specifics of the session.
There are several ways to take notes:
- Written
- Audio
- Social media
Social media is an exciting way to take notes, as you can live-tweet a panel discussion which can also boost your profile. But whatever you choose, understand that you need a record, and I’ve found myself returning to some of these notes years later.
Tip #3: The Showroom Floor
The tradeshow and the conference are two different worlds, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t some overlap between the two. Like the conference schedule, figure out the booths you want to stop at, but make sure you wander the entire floor, especially the smaller rows off of the main walkway.
Find The Little Booth With A Big Idea
When you are perusing the showroom floor, realize that your badge will determine how people interact with you. Sales booths are looking for a job title that coveys purchasing decision-maker. A startup is more likely to be affable to a reporter, as that could lead to some exposure.
You’ll also notice that booths can radically increase in size year to year. I’ve seen booths go from a one-person table to a million-dollar buildout in a year or two, so don’t overlook the small tables. They could be a serious player in the space in short order.
In a nutshell, don’t get distracted by million-dollar booths and blinking lights. There are a lot of uncut gems at G2E.
