Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Vegas is THE place to be for gadgets, giveaways, extravagant booths, booth maidens, networking and crazy parties — a techie Mecca. No doubt, I am stoked about taking the Ping road show back this year …
But it ain’t my first ro-D-yo. Ha … at my first CES, electronics manufacturers were just unveiling the Sony Walkman and various knockoffs.
Years later, at one of my more memorable CES visits, let’s just say “a computer giant” launched a VIP party with truckloads of food, a seemingly endless open bar and the NEVILLE BROTHERS!
Did I mention it was for VIPs? Well … just assume I didn’t know that, and I walked on in. Soon, I was mixing with Computer Giant’s best clients from around the world. I remember bonding with one gentleman from Ireland based on our mutual admiration for ale and the musicians onstage. We had a meaningful conversation about U2, The Commitments and laser pointers … I digress.
Most of the crowd was sedate, prolly talking business. “McClient” and I were pinching ourselves because we were inches from the stage — chock full of New Orleans’ best musicians, an arsenal of percussion instruments and a Hammond B3 organ — with no one crowding us … at all.
After a couple of hours, the band finished, and business deals continued. So, just as I had accidentally wandered into the VIPeeps party, I strolled backstage — nonchalantly, if I don’t say so myself. (There was a time when I interviewed bands, so I thought I should at least meet the n-Villes.) Well … they were pretty laid back about the intrusion. But the group was vocal about the lack of backstage catering.
My goodness. These guys are living legends, and it seemed they should have better treatment.
The refreshments and adrenalin in my system told me I had to act fast. The open bar was closing in 15 minutes. So I went to the bar with a mission.
Bartender: “What’ll you have?”
Me: “One of everything!”
So, the bartender loaded this huge round tray with dark ales, pilsners, glasses of chardonnay, a few tequila shots, a few ports, and what have you. So, I guess that was my one and only waiter gig.
Someone asked me what I was doing. I just smiled and used the old line, “It’s okay. I’m with the band.”
Surprisingly, I landed the cargo jet of a tray … and paid appropriate tribute to Nawlins royalty.
Now of course, I look back and think that’s just silly. I mean … I think it was definitely no harm/no foul and my heart was in the right place. But, well …
Know what I sayin?
