The show of hands was nearly unanimous when Vegas Chamber’s Lita Stein asked how many people were seeing The Industrial event space for the first time while congregating at the Tradeshow & Friends industry networking event.
About 50 tradeshow businessmen and women attended the June 13 event, exchanging cards and casually striking up conversation over coffee and breakfast courtesy of NextGen Business Solutions.
“I’m thrilled to see all these people,” says Rick Kostopoulos, founder of NextGen. “It’s getting bigger. Vegas is all about tradeshows. This gives people an outlet to interact with fabricators, decorators and vendors in the area, I&D and A-V groups.”
For Josh Abelson, co-owner and general manager of The Industrial, it provides an opportunity to showcase a lower-cost alternative to holding corporate events, private parties, celebrations and show productions at Las Vegas hotels and convention centers.
The Industrial, 2330 S. Industrial Road, offers 10,000 square feet of event space, including a 550-seat theater and stage, audio-visual production, four themed “edge” rooms, bar and catering service, and two acres for surface parking and outside activities.
Abelson’s favorite event at The Industrial is the Las Vegas Pizza Festival, which draws about 2,000 in attendance and 20 of the best pizzerias in town. The Candlelight Concert Series brings a “live, multisensory musical experience” from Cold Play and Imagine Dragons, neo-soul and hip-hop favorites, Queen vs. Abba, and the Beatles.
“The rising costs in Las Vegas, specifically for small and medium companies to put on tradeshows and exhibits … we get a lot of business because they can’t afford to exhibit at the convention center,” he says. “A VIP experience and event is $200,000 at SEMA. You can take that budget and invite 100 of your best customers and have it here.”
Stein, Vegas Chamber business development representative, says the purpose of Tradeshow & Friends is to introduce people in the industry to others who may become clients or business referrals. It’s one of 11 quarterly industry-specific networking events hosted by the Chamber.
She gave an assignment for the group. Each person has contact information for those in attendance. “Make contact with the connections you made today,” she tells them. “Otherwise, you won’t remember them next quarter.”
The tradeshow industry is a lot of “scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours,” says Chelsea Chavez, director of marketing for Willwork. “I love when the tradeshow community gets together. The connections, the friendship. You’re always working so closely with little industries within the bigger industry.”
When a problem arises at a convention or meeting – and there’s always something, a change in design or décor – it helps to know someone you can call on a moment’s notice, Chavez says.
“Clients ask for weird things at the last minute,” she shares. “Those quick connections get you out of a bind on the tradeshow floor.”
Abelson and his director of sales, Gina Mann, extolled the virtues of The Industrial, starting with its central location, just off Interstate 15 and Sahara Avenue, within a quick Uber ride to the Strip and Las Vegas Convention Center.
He wouldn’t disclose specific rental rates and fees at The Industrial, as prices fluctuate with the calendar of events happening in Las Vegas and days of the week, but he assures “upfront” pricing.
“On the Strip, you’ve got very high food and beverage minimums. You get cheap rooms, but lots of fees. As a city, we’ve got to figure it out. Stop charging $22 for a vodka soda. People are getting sick of it,” Abelson declares, and he wasn’t referring to the alcohol.
The next Tradeshow & Friends is scheduled for Aug. 8, site to be determined. For more information, go to Vegaschamberevents@vegaschamber.com.
