We can't go to "real" shows at the moment, so the BRM team has put together a virtual event instead.
Trying to work out what this should look like has been a bit of a challenge. Obviously we wanted to make it different from the Facebook and Twitter events. It was also important to follow the form of a real show where possible.
What we've come up with, after a massive amount of work, starts with layouts - just like at a normal show. We've got photos and have amassed plenty of video too.
The exciting thing though is all the extras. Every 15 minutes through the weekend, there will be another event - competitions, interviews, new product announcements, demonstrations. You could spend the entire time glued to the screen with over 10 hours of footage. Most of this is brand new too - after all, you don't want old product announcements do you?
Much like a digital version of a magazine, we are trying to do things with the digital show you can't do with the real thing, so we take visitors to a garden railway, or layouts that never leave home. We bring together people who live in different countries too.
All this is free for you, the visitor, to enjoy.
3 comments:
I’m looking forward to enjoying some of it Phil, and if it ever happens again would be more than happy to be involved in any capacity!
It sounds like some things might be missing from the "show experience":
* A major manufacturer's "returns" stand - surrounded by a deep scrum. Punters waiting half an hour - in the hope of buying - well, actually they don't know what they're hoping to buy - but buy they do. Chances are some of them will need a "truck and trailer" to carry away all their purchases.
* Other punters prefer to carry their show purchases in a holdall - a secondhand army style "Bergen" backpack, complete with some lengths of "Streamline" sticking out, ready to convert another show visitor's glasses into contact lenses.
* A number of nicotine addicts - desperate for their next "fix". Every few minutes, they make a bee-line for the nearest fire exit - just so they can burn an expensive stick in their mouth - a stick that just might give them cancer. (Hmmm ... I think I'll pass on that one.)
* Some inattentive punter managing to demolish a stand - that had taken a few people ages to put together. Despite this, they seem incapable of comprehending why other people might be less than impressed.
* A number of exhibitors starting to break down their display - a few seconds after the expenses cheques get handed out - but still a couple of hours before official closing time.
Seriously though, this sounds like it should be very interesting - and I'm looking forward to it. Personally, I just hope I don't miss any of it tomorrow whilst doing the shopping.
Huw - Sadly, the idea of a scratch'n'sniff card for visitors never came off, but you are welcome to smash your own rucksack into your face as you enjoy the show for the full "experience". :-)
James - Thanks for the offer. This is very much a trial. We don't know what a virtual show should look like, but you have to start somewhere. If there is a second, I'll be in touch.
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