DMA09: Let the Excitement Begin

I’m here in San Diego for DMA09, up waaayyyyy too early because of the time difference. What about you?

I got in yesterday afternoon, and hit the convention center to pick up my badge and conference materials. Tip: If you’re looking for the press room, hire a donkey. And a guide. And bring water and a compass.

I wandered aimlessly a bit, until a guard told me to walk down to the end of a hall, take an elevator up, then walk to the end of another hall and take another elevator down.

Now, this isn’t unusual. Most conferences like to hide the press away from proper attendees. We’re scruffy, unruly and will tear up the furniture if left unchecked. So it makes sense.

But considering our recent coverage of the Pike/Greco proxy fight, I started to worry. Were we being lured to an abandoned loading dock, where all reporters would “taken care of” prior to the board meeting?

Obviously, as I’m up at 5:30 a.m. the next day waiting for the hotel restaurant to open so I can get some breakfast, that’s happily not the case.

I popped into a couple of the preconference intensives yesterday. The rooms were about half to three quarters full of attendees. Not much for us to report on