So who cares about those who DIDN'T - let's examine those who DID show.

• Foreigners. Not just Canadians. (Who are in reality Americans who are sickenly nice, ice the puck, have funny looking money and say strange things like, "Meet ya at Timmys for a cup, eh.") No, but real foreigners from everywhere in Europe, the Caribbean, South America and Africa. So cool. Someone raise a glass to Bud Stiker for causing most of this. 
• Session Attendees. Another striking difference. In past years there were as many who didn't attend the sessions as those who did. Not this year. During each session the halls and nearby restaurants were mostly empty - the meeting rooms stocked fully. People were hungry for ideas.
• People who paid their own way. Every time I do a seminar I ask for those who wish to subscribe to this newsletter to leave their business cards. When I get back to the office we go through them, then Jeanne Marie loads them into the computer. I've never seen such a high number of AEs - and not just from Florida and the South but all over the country. These were people who paid their own registration, airfare, lodging - all by themselves. That's a very, very good sign of life for an industry that's in trouble.
• Young People. Wow. So many people in their 20's & 30's turned on and excited about the business. These supposed Gamer - Millennials who aren't supposed to grab onto responsibility and accountability. Unlike many "smarter" vets, these people are thankfully too stupid to know it can't be done.
• What's your PSA? (Old guys). You Look Better than Ever - ("Mature" ladies.)  What a treasure to see so many cherished friends.  

Yes, the crowd was probably the smallest, but all the RAB Worker-Bees did their damndest to make it another good show. Didn't hear any complaints. (I only have one major, continuing  "room for improvement suggestion" for the RAB show which I'll share privately with any member of the Executive Committee if they wish.)

Who would ever believe the day would come? The newspaper business trading places with General Custer?  Seattle, Denver, Tucson - and a couple more in the wings. 

All those advertisers need  to stay in business right? Whatever they call it, Walk-ins, Call-ins, Traffic, Ups, Prospects - that's their oxygen. Some have had the newspaper habit for generations and don't know or understand radio. Since they've stayed in the newspaper until now, one would suspect that they haven't had a recent pitch from Radio that knocked 'em dead. So, how would we go about getting some of that money?  Some steps:

• Find the "Client."
• Determine if the client is an actual mammal with the ability to stand erect?
• Attempt to find the actual name of the actual client.
• Don't call the client and ask, "Who's your agency?" (Not a good first step.)
• Don't ask yet, "What's Your Demo?" (See above.)
• Don't ask "What's Your Budget?" Don't worry about the money yet. If they can afford a daily 1/8th page, they can probably afford us - and then some.
• Do find ads from the past year and attempt to discern their goals.
• Do the same with their competitor's ads.
• Tell them how they can translate that COPY to Radio. (Don't talk about circulation, reach and frequency - talk about their ad.)
• Then start down Spec Spot Trail.
• Do all possible to get them on the air once, then 
• SLAM HOME THE RESULTS FOR THEM.
• Make you and Radio indispensable.

This is an opportunity like we've never seen - exactly at a time when we can use it most. We have plenty of inventory to impress them with. It just takes a bit more work than we're accustomed to.