No NAB for RED...

[laperal@info.com.ph]

Red & NAB

Red & NAB

Red's openness and advance news is much appreciated. We customers seldom get such from other manufacturers.

Without Red at NAB 2009, customers like me will try to seek Red news from Red related 3rd party suppliers like Element Technica, or anyone with a Red One camera in their booth. At NAB 2009, I hope to see Arri's foray into 4K with Dalsa technology, Sony's & JVC's 4K camera, plus Canon & Nikon DSLRs doing higher rez than HD videos. 4K monitors from Astrodesign, Sony, Panasonic, Westinghouse, Chi Mei, & others are simply amazing!

Will some Red guys be in Vegas with some private news? Avid did not have a booth at NAB 2008, but they had suites at the adjacent Renaissance hotel, and did product & software demos.

Any chance we see the sorely-missed Red booth at any of the ff: ?
1. Cine Gear, LA. June 4-6.
2. Broadcast Asia, Singapore. June 16-19.
3. IBC, Amsterdam, Sept 10-15.
4. DV Expo, Pasadena LA. Sept. 22-24.
5. SMPTE, LA. Oct. 26-29.

Oli Laperal Jr.
RSVP Film Studios, Philippines
Red 675, 3774, 43XX, others.

 

[Frazier Nivens]

Thanks for the heads up, was not happy that I wasn't going to be able to go to NAB this year due to a job commitment during that week. I will attend the RED Day event when scheduled.

Best,
Frazier Nivens, Ocean Imaging

 

[hector]

Nab red

Nab red

who (that is actually in this biz) wouldnt attend nab just cause RED isnt????

so many fun toysssssssss

agreed...

video/film work is SO much more than camera bodies, or camera companies
and NAB is so much more than RED

all these post production workflows you ask about in forums, monitoring options - set and post, rigging, video modules, software support, on set acquisition etc'... many solutions are introduced each year... so many things to see, that you couldn't cover all of it well even if you wanted.

Last year Avid and Apple. Now Red.
This makes me wonder who else won't be showing up this year.

AVID skipped the NAB floor last year, but did have a much cooler space at the hard rock hotel (with food and an open bar.. :tongue: ). i think they held it for three evenings during the convention. they had great stuff to show, in a calm uncrowded atmosphere. it totally renewed my affection to AVID, and the whole thing was a surprise (to most) which made it even sweeter.

and on the other side, Apple has its dedicated user groups, fans and fanatics that crowded the LAFCPUG Supermeet last year (with practically NO new announcements or products...) in an event that is becoming NAB cult.

its not just about the show floors...

maybe this user group could hold a RED "cool name" event.
i for one, would pay for a ticket if the content and crowd were interesting...

a thought.

 

[Mitch Gross]

Care to elaborate? You can't tease like that without giving up a little something.

Sure I can.:tongue:

We'll have some stuff and there are a bunch of things on the horizon. Some may not quite be ready to show at NAB and I'm under nondisclosure so I really can't go further. But I can certainly say that you will see many useful things at NAB for your REDs.

Yes, of the optical variety as well. There, I said it!

 

[wardovision]

I'm sure your private event and showcase of the new DSMC line up will be totally a Rocking House one, better then NAB could ever be, less people, and only the really interested ones.

This is actually why I think it's a mistake. Sure, a RED day will be a great event for us and others extremely interested in the DSMC system but that's also the problem. It's not an event that's going to persuade the fence sitters (and people who don't follow RED religiously). There will be countless people at NAB with enormous budgets to spend who most likely won't attend a RED day. (or are even aware of)

 

[Blair S. Paulsen]

The end of an era?!?

The end of an era?!?

NAB is such a part of RED mythology that it does feel like we lost something. OTOH it has also been a FUD fest.

 

[Bing Bailey]

I think this year is the beginning of the death spiral for trade shows in general. they are expensive to do and there are so many other ways of getting the word out about a product. showing up at user group meets and that kind of thing. although being able to put faces to the words is nice

 

[Stephen Williams]

Hi,

I think the only reason RED was at IBC I think was so they could use the projection facilities, there were no lenses, just 4 perspex cases, 1 had a RED One, the rest were future products mock ups, no sign of the beautiful Kelly either!

The 4k demo was awesome however.

Stephen

 

[Mitch Gross]

If I were Kelly (and boy am I not), I think I would only agree to work the booth if I were in disguise, or at least protected behind a glass wall. You guys can get a little creepy sometimes! Heaven knows what might happen if she showed up at a party at Ketch's, especially if she wore those lace up boots!

 

[Chosei Funahara]

good decision, it's always too many outsider, not fun for real user anyway.
For red-day, i can go anywhere, even africa, europe, asia, vegas or even new york,
u can count on me that sure.
nab, no thanks!

 

[Roberto B]

Hi,

I think the only reason RED was at IBC I think was so they could use the projection facilities, there were no lenses, just 4 perspex cases, 1 had a RED One, the rest were future products mock ups, no sign of the beautiful Kelly either!

The 4k demo was awesome however.

Stephen

If I were Kelly (and boy am I not), I think I would only agree to work the booth if I were in disguise, or at least protected behind a glass wall. You guys can get a little creepy sometimes! Heaven knows what might happen if she showed up at a party at Ketch's, especially if she wore those lace up boots!

that Girl is a MUST.. The Lady is The red Queen!.. our Queen. period

well observed stephen.. u2 mitch

 

[Ketch Rossi]

This is actually why I think it's a mistake. Sure, a RED day will be a great event for us and others extremely interested in the DSMC system but that's also the problem. It's not an event that's going to persuade the fence sitters (and people who don't follow RED religiously). There will be countless people at NAB with enormous budgets to spend who most likely won't attend a RED day. (or are even aware of)

To my understanding of things the way Jim has clearly put them, it is not a mistake in my opinion.

And yes NAB those in did get a huge amount of big spenders, but don't think for a second that this year they will be as many, trust me I know, half of the Casinos have a decent amount of reservations compared at this time to the past years.

The economy it is what it is, MGM/Mirage, one of if not the largest casino company in Vegas, just sold Treasure Island, and put up for sale Mirage.

They will be buyers at NAB but not by any means comparable to past years.

Jim and his choice to ditch NAB, might have nothing to do with the economy, and even so I would have loved to see some Bricks of Epics, and Scarlets, I'm quite happy with the Renders till there is working models.

If I were Kelly (and boy am I not), I think I would only agree to work the booth if I were in disguise, or at least protected behind a glass wall. You guys can get a little creepy sometimes! Heaven knows what might happen if she showed up at a party at Ketch's, especially if she wore those lace up boots!

He He, Mitch, I don't think Kelly She would be too trusting in coming to my parties, I did give her and some of the RED team a ride last year, and got lost, but I don't think that tough so, in their mind for sure was a kidnapping, One RED head for an other

that Girl is a MUST.. The Lady is The red Queen!.. our Queen. period

well observed stephen.. u2 mitch

With you on that, Kelly She is one of the most wonderful Girls I have come across, and Jim is a very lucky business man to have working for him.

ciao,

click Banner to visit Official Site​

 

[Fergus Meiklejohn]

I think this year is the beginning of the death spiral for trade shows in general. they are expensive to do and there are so many other ways of getting the word out about a product. showing up at user group meets and that kind of thing. although being able to put faces to the words is nice

Lot's of trade shows and conferences are primarily about networking, we still haven't figured out a way to make that work without lots of people actually being in the same room together.

I'm not sure I would spend a lot of money flying to California for a RED day unless it was a very special event. A Red Day is not going to replace NAB or IBC until RED start making all the best Audio Equipment, Grip Equipment, Post-Production Equipment and so on. Which is obviously not ever going to happen.

I'm not sure that every company at NAB could decide not to go without that impacting on their ability to market new products; RED has a pretty unique web presence..

 

[Eddy Robinson]

Hmmmm

Hmmmm

RED has decided to skip NAB 2009. We will hold our own RED DAY when we feel we are ready to present the new systems and when they are fully ready to showcase. Date and location will be announced in future.

You know your own business best Jim, and I understand your reasons. But I'll add my voice to few who suggest it's a mistake.

I've worked at a few upstart technology companies in the computer software and audio fields and I know the various ups and downs of conference attendance. In terms of unit sales, the effects will only be marginal - RED has built up a loyal user base and an almost equally loyal wannabe-user base, in which I include myself.

But 'No RED at NAB' is going to result in a lot of superficial publicity when the show rolls around because it makes for some easy blog and trade paper copy and associate the brand with the 'vaporware' tag, which a separate launch day won't dispel. Serious-minded people won't care that much, and my understanding is that you're not at the mercy of cash flow like many other technological rebels; but I think a decision to skip NAB will set your brand-positioning strategy back by a year. The 'RED day' is a fine idea, but will be dismissed by many as a controlled event, even if you are handing out cameras to all and sundry to run around and shoot tests with (I strongly encourage you to hand out cameras indiscriminately, by the way. Especially to good-looking guys like me).

Even if you can't show working prototypes at the show, physical prototypes of all/most of the the stuff shown in the renders will go a very long way towards building excitement, and dissipating the (unfair, but widespread) attitude that RED is really good at creating nice render files. Physical products, even under glass, carry a great deal of weight for people. Not as much as being able to haul one up on your shoulder and demonstrate in action, but much, much more than concept art. Because you can do anything in the digital domain but big hunks of metal mean you have an actual industrial process.

Even if there was nothing physical shown at NAB that hadn't already been seen in the renders of recent months, people would still stare at it obsessively because it's crossed the reality threshold. That's an important emotional, not intellectual boundary. And if RED is not there, it will mean emotionally speaking, RED doesn't exist this year. And much as we'd like to believe otherwise, buying decisions are largely emotional rather than intellectual.

So Jim, please reconsider. Probably you've already thought about this and decided that your business model can easily tolerate a year-long marketing hump, especially in the wider economic context. But I think it's a false economy to skip the show.



Some other posters mentioned about 'NAB having too many outsiders' or similar as well. This is not helpful. Although I fully understand the point (and sympathize), dismissal of those not 'in the know' creates a generalized perception of 'fanboys' and 'cult-like' thinking, which undermines RED's brand. It's human nature to enjoy being part of want to join an elite group, and for good reason: we all want to feel close to where the action is, be on the cutting edge, etc. etc.

Unfortunately, we've also become used to business (and other organizations) manipulating those emotional aspirations for gain rather from a true desire to deliver a mutual benefit. RED is perceived in the wider market as a company that markets better than it manufactures, and a bunker mentality among its adherents reinforces that perception. The various 'screw NAB anyway' posts are going to be quoted on 20 other website as examples of delusional thinking.

Yeah, I understand a lot of you won't like hearing that. When you're part of something really cool (and RED is something very cool, and light-years ahead of many companies in terms of customer relations), it's not fun to hear from poorly-informed people that 'it's all hype' or suchlike. And secretly, we kind of want to keep the club small and exclusive anyway.

But that doesn't help RED. As an example of what I'm talking about, I suggest you look at this lighthearted but nonetheless characteristic parody website: http://www.bluedigitalcinema.com/ (click around on the links; there's few giggles to be had). RED fans thumbing their noses at NAB are just reinforcing this 'too cool for school' perception. It's not helpful when I'm trying to sell someone the benefits of RED: I have come to expect a reflexive eyeroll when I first mention it to a DP or producer who;s not yet into the product, and the kind of posts I'm critiquing here are part of the reason for that.

 

[wardovision]

I'd also think that not having some presence at NAB makes it a lot easier for another company to come in and steal some of RED's thunder. All it's going to take is for another company to put a piece of metal under glass, give it a bunch of specs and all of a sudden the attention shifts. Even worse if it comes from a company like Panasonic with an established client base and a long reputable history.

 

[Michael Schrengohst]

Panasonic, Sony and a few others probably printed out Jim's announcement and had a party. The internet is the future of marketing. The cost of travel and the time off of work kills the idea of going to something like NAB for most folks anyway. At least this year all the people working the other camera set-ups won't hear: "Have you seen the RED, it blows your crappy camera out of the water - later dude."

 

[James Brundige]

I think it's a great decision. I was a consultant for Sony in development of the DVCAM system, and the entire (very large) company was paralyzed from Jan - April. The Red team can now stay on task and put that very large energy commitment into the new line. The quality and features of the gear will rise to the top, not the marketing.

 

[Meryem Ersoz]

This is a most excellent year to focus on delivery instead of marketing -- makes perfect sense.

 

[wardovision]

and having a physical object that people can at least look at makes that delivery more believable.

 

[Stephen Williams]

that Girl is a MUST.. The Lady is The red Queen!.. our Queen. period

well observed stephen.. u2 mitch

Hi,

I wonder if her RED business card still has her personal mobile phone no. I guess just the first run of cardsoster_oops:

Stephen