My first BVE

Bob Pank#

Author: Bob Pank#

Published 1st April 2012

The problem with Premier Inns, is that they can be quite disorientating. All the rooms are decorated the same, whichever hotel you're in, be it England or Scotland. It is especially confusing just after your alarm goes off, as you're not quite with it and I often struggle to remember where I am, and what I'm supposed to be doing.
To some extent I think this applies to shows. You see the same people, in almost the same stand set up, sometimes talking about the same product. The interviews we do for broadcastshow.com are allocated 15 minute slots, which in reality, usually end up being 10 minutes, when you include getting to the stand. Well, finding the stand. For the majority of the show, I don't really know what day it is. Or what time it is. I probably forget my own name for a bit as well. I just know that we meet a lot of people, and I'm usually always hungry.
This was my first BVE, and the last one that would be at Earls Court. It had a very different atmosphere to the rest of the shows I've been to. It was very friendly and a lot more relaxed. I guess for a lot of people, this is their home show, which helps. Also, it was all in one hall, which made navigating a lot easier! It also meant that our cameraman, Callum (we traded in Simon for a newer model), could have the camera on a dolly for the majority of the videos.
Surprisingly, it wasn't the devastatingly attractive production assistant that got most of the attention, it was the camera itself. This seems to be a recurring theme for the shows. To the extent where people will come up and start touching it and playing with it whilst we're actually filming! And people still walk in front of the camera whilst we're recording, one guy even insisted on staying in frame! It was probably his 'big break' or something.
We were also streaming our videos with Garland Partners and Stream UK. The backpack itself has a little 'teletubbie' screen on the back which gathered a lot of interest. Several times I'd turn around and there'd be a group of people watching it like a TV. Which was funny when our cameraman moved, as they'd shuffle with him! It was great to be able to offer something extra, it generated more interest in what we were doing, and allowed people who couldn't make it to the show to watch it in real time.
I had my trusty tool belt with me, although there were significantly less freebies and sweets around. The credit crunch is a terrible thing. And I usually forget I'm wearing it, which causes some issues, as I'm actually wider than usual with it on. I think I knocked a few things over with it, and couldn't get through some gaps of people! It needs its own warning light or something. Maybe I'll just cover it in hazard tape.
My tweeting also went up a notch, as I was tweeting for both myself, @emmabeanies, and for TV-Bay, @tvbay. As a child of the social networking generation, it’s pretty natural. Although I mainly use twitter for work, and then Facebook for friends and family. Unless it’s a rant about public transport. Argh buses. And the gym, surprisingly. But then the world needs to know about the unacceptable presence of granny midriffs. Maybe I should get a petition going.
I think my favourite thing about shows are the people. I'm beginning to be recognised more, and the people we regularly interview remember my name. There's a community, and I find myself looking forward to seeing certain people again. And to the Jigsaw stand. FREE PICK'N'MIX PEOPLE! And an arcade machine, which I remained unbeaten on. Not that I'm competitive or anything.
As always, I'd love to hear from you, especially if you have any suggestions or comments. Tweet me at @emmabeanies.

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