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New Heights: '06 International DJ Expo Breaks Attendance, Exhibit Records
Atlantic City, N.J.—In completing its 23rd show in 17 years, the 2006 International DJ Expo set another standard-the show drew more than 4,800 attendees, a 2-percent increase over the previous year for a new record high.
In fact, the Expo-held this past Aug. 21-24 at the Atlantic City Convention Center-grew in all areas. With over 100 booths, exhibit space was up 6-percent over the previous show and 17 first-time exhibitors made the show. Also, the Expo, sponsored by DJ Times and its publisher Testa Communications, presented more parties than ever, with show-sponsored events at local hotspots House of Blues, Casbah, Tun Tavern, and Club Tru, plus the Convention Center's Ballroom and The Pacha Lounge.
"Once again, this has been a very successful DJ Expo," says Nick Hahn, marketing director for the Orlando-based subscription service Promo Only. "The mixture of manufacturers, dealers and distributors, along with a host of club DJs, bedroom DJs and mobile DJs makes this show one of the most, if not the most, successful trade shows we do all year. It's definitely the most profitable."
Representatives from Denver-based online music store Beatport were encouraged by their experience as well. "This is our first time at DJ Expo and we are excited to reach all these DJs in one big environment," says Shawn Sabo, Beatport's director of marketing and public relations. "For us, it's a great show because it's mainly DJs. A lot of the other trade shows [we do] are mostly producers and we are a service for DJs. It is great for there to be one focus at the show-all DJs. Everyone is really into it. A lot of professionals are there, and the professionals like to spend money."
Another first-time exhibitor concurred. "It's been a great experience," says Aaron Eng of Mix Revolution. "Because we're an online DJ community, we wanted to meet as many kinds of DJs as possible-whether it is mobile, hip hop, turntablists, scratch DJs, dance DJs. At the Expo, they're all under our roof, all under one community-they are all here."
As usual, the DJ Expo produced its core of nearly 30 informative seminars and panels, which covered the most pressing equipment, performance and business topics. They included participation from industry notables like remixer/producer/DJ Tommie Sunshine, who also spun an afterhours event Aug. 22 at Tun Tavern. Once again, the annual Promo Only/Pioneer Party-featuring Überzone, Angela Via, Lucas Prata and others-was a smashing success. Additionally, the Expo presented the Ultimate DJ Giveaway. This year's winner, ChrisAnn Perdomo of North Arlington, N.J., took home $25,000 worth of prizes from AKG, American Audio, American DJ, Community, Mackie, Martin, Pacha, Promo Only, QSC Audio, and Rane.
The Expo also produced its annual DJ of the Year Awards. Presented by DJ Zone and hosted by Mike Walter of New Jersey's Elite Entertainment, the Aug. 23 event saw Mine Hill, N.J.-based Marcello Pedalino and his M.M.P. Entertainment win DJ of the Year, Best Choreography and Best Dance awards. Tom Daddazio of Sicklerville, N.J. won the DJ of the Year Runner-Up and Best Game awards.
"This year's show was one of the closest and most competitive events I can recall in my six years of running the competition for DJ Times," says Walter. "While Marcello was clearly the most polished performer, there were so many entertainers that gave him a true run for his money. Overall, the event had something for everyone-interactive games, high-energy dances and a fun time for all."
New at the '06 DJ Expo: keynote speaker Bryan Dodge fired up attendees with his "How to Build a Better You" session; La Revoluçion Tour, a slate of Latin-music-oriented seminars and showcases, included reggaeton stars La Bruja and DJ Creme; the Pacha Lounge featured music from resident DJs like Exacta and beverages from HPNOTIQ; and two events at House of Blues' Club Worship- M-Audio's "Retro/Electro" party (with global DJ Junior Sanchez) and the Ortofon Party, which featured three-time DMC champs C2C, DMC champ I-Dee, nine-year-old phenom DJ Yeah, and the DJ-led quintet No Jazz.
As usual, manufacturers and DJs alike found plenty of benefit from the '06 Expo. "This is the show to see when you want to find what gear to purchase for the next year," says Chris Roman, Product Development Manager for Numark and a working DJ. "Everyone recreates their rig every couple of years anyway and you can walk into a music store, but that store is limited to what they have in stock.
"From a manufacturer's perspective," he continues, "it's good to hear feedback from the DJs that come. The Expo helps create better products for the DJs, it helps our entire company decide better what we need to do and where we need to do it."
CLICK HERE for Highlights of the '06 International DJ Expo!!
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