AXPONA 2011 Atlanta reports/thoughts?

I had a great time. I really like the Carnegie speakers although they weren't very attractive.

Audioguy has experienced the reason more hi end vendors are not more successful, pure and simple they do not 'listen' and are often dripping with arrogance in inter acting with the customer. Sad.

I have been to RMAF now since it began 6 or 7 yrs. ago. I can't say that I have ever been met with that attitude. Maybe it is the altitude that effects the attitude! However we have a dealer in the Denver/Boulder/Colo.Springs area that employees a few sales people that give you that "snobbish" approach to sales. I guess some audio retail people have too much money. The best sounding gear in those stores is the front door closing when I leave.
And where does a rep. get off telling a potential customer not to listen to his music? Is it implied that if I buy your speakers I have to listen to your music? I want to hear what I am familiar with, otherwise what's the point?

I have been to stores like Audioguy describes but didn't notice such an attitude at AXPONA except for a little in the MBL room. The MBL system was very impressive but lacked depth I thought. The room wasn't great but hardly any were. What can you expect for $260,000?

I talked to the MBL guys for awhile and they were really nice and hospitable. I think the coolest thing for me this weekend was getting him to play a Widespread Panic song on the aforementioned $260,000 system. Don't hear that every day. Played "Clinic Cynic" off their new album, a fantastic melodic "jangly" southern rock tune with great guitar play. Sounded really cool. Also played the same song in the Lansche Audio room on their $42,000 speakers with the plasma tweeter. Yikes, hope it was the room/setup but sounded rather awful.

While overall the exhibitors were nice enough, I just think that someone needs to do a training seminar weekend to teach these people how to talk to their potential clients. For example, if I was running a room with a couple of systems, and I saw a guy and his wife walk in with some music who may be interested, say hey, strike up a conversation......where you from, what do you do, what do you listen to now, how'd you get into audio, etc etc. (normal conversation). I'd almost demand them to bring something in he/she would like to hear so they could check it out. Ask them what they like/dislike and compare to what other products they've heard. All those kinds of things would make a show like this much more fun. In several rooms it just felt like you were walking into a solemn church service. This is supposed to be a fun hobby!!!! I absolutely guarantee that anyone who took that approach would instantly get great press and word of mouth......"hey, make sure you go check out X room, those guys were super nice, wanted to play you stuff, talked to us for awhile." I think that would be a real positive for any exhibitor to take that approach.