Montreal Audio Show Cancelled

[MylesBAstor]

The first casualty of too many audio shows? Though this and the NY Audio Shows have met with limited success. (Not counting what happened to the CAF.)



Chester Group to defer it’s Salon Son & Image / Montreal Audio Show

It is with considerable sadness that we have to inform you that it has been decided to defer this year’s Salon Son & Image Show/Montreal Audio Show due to take place at the Bonaventure Hotel on the 18 – 20 March 2016.

The deciding factor has been market support, with a substantial drop in companies wanting to support this long established event.

All shows of this type rely 100% on commercial support from Exhibitors, and as much as we would enjoy doing so, we cannot force companies to support a show, they have to make their own commercial decisions.

We do understand that this will come as a considerable disappointment and we know that the previous organisers also did all they could to keep the show going, but the decline in Exhibitor support had been gradual but erosive.

Our overriding concern will always be to ensure great value for money for our Exhibitors and just as importantly our show visitors, and morally we simply could not continue.

However, and to clarify, this show is not being cancelled, and will now benefit from a complete overhaul to reflect market changes.

Dates, Venue, Location, Content etc. are all being worked on right now, and no time will be lost to ensure the shows continuation and revitalisation.

We will deal with all current ticket holders this week to arrange refunds, please allow a few days for us to implement this.

The Organisers

Chester GRP Exhibitions ( Canada ) Ltd

Salon Son & Image / Montreal Audio Show is owned and organised by Chester GRP Exhibitions (CANADA) Ltd. © All rights reserved.

[MylesBAstor]

Are there too many audio shows given the nature of high-end audio?

[Bruce B]

Are there too many audio shows given the nature of high-end audio?

Of course there are. The past few years, I've had to pick and choose which shows I wanted to attend. Before that, I think I went to every one of them.

The major shows now are, RMAF, AXPONA, THE Show Newport and Munich. I really wouldn't call CES a major show. I've seen a steady decline of vendors over the years. It used to be pretty big. There was also the NY show as you mentioned, Capitol, as well as a show in Atlanta? and now the Montreal show. geez.....

[MylesBAstor]

Of course there are. The past few years, I've had to pick and choose which shows I wanted to attend. Before that, I think I went to every one of them.

The major shows now are, RMAF, AXPONA, THE Show Newport and Munich. I really wouldn't call CES a major show. I've seen a steady decline of vendors over the years. It used to be pretty big. There was also the NY show as you mentioned, Capitol, as well as a show in Atlanta? and now the Montreal show. geez.....

Well here's part of the issue. You have Axpona, Montreal, Munich and Newport all within a three month period.

[GaryB]

Well here's part of the issue. You have Axpona, Montreal, Munich and Newport all within a three month period.

I wonder if the California Audio Show in San Francisco can survive given the rise of the Newport Show - Newport is early June and CAS is 2 months later. I've definitely seen a steady decline in number of exhibitors in San Francisco over the last few years. California is a small enough state that it's easy to get to Newport from the bay area. It's either a long drive (5-7 hours) or a short flight on Southwest. I've gone to both the last few years and Newport has a much better collection of dealers. Which is a shame since the SF show is less than a 1/2 hour drive from my house.
---gary

[Bruce B]

I wonder if the California Audio Show in San Francisco can survive given the rise of the Newport Show - Newport is early June and CAS is 2 months later. I've definitely seen a steady decline in number of exhibitors in San Francisco over the last few years. California is a small enough state that it's easy to get to Newport from the bay area. It's either a long drive (5-7 hours) or a short flight on Southwest. I've gone to both the last few years and Newport has a much better collection of dealers. Which is a shame since the SF show is less than a 1/2 hour drive from my house.
---gary

+1... I went to the first 2 and ever since, there has been a steady decline of participants. I think Constatine had some pretty big ambitions.

[Johnny Vinyl]

I've not been to any of the U.S. shows, so I don't know if those shows are purely audiophile, but I like what the T.A.V.E. Show in Toronto does. A good proportion of their show is focused on video technologies, which IMO attracts attendees who are into multi-channel audio, although they may not be considered audiophiles by the standards of most here and elsewhere. Due to a focus on both audio and video, local dealers have set up multi-channel displays, in addition to standard audio-only offerings. There are a lot more home-theatre enthusiasts out there than purely audiophile ones (IMHO), and combining both channels of entertainment seems to make sense to me. They easily feed off one another.

[Ki Choi]

At my personal expenses, I had attended numerous RMAF, CES, and one time the Chicago AXPONA and CAS SF.

I used to be there to see my friends and to experience something I was interested and wanted to hear the gear for myself. However, there's nothing significantly new for me other than ever changing digital gear. So, I've been playing hard to get with attending shows lately.

[MylesBAstor]

As a reviewer, I'm in the same boat as Bruce. With all the shows nowadays, I have to pick and choose much more carefully nowadays. Otherwise could turn around and be easily out 10 grand or more just for travel.

There's a number of issues facing shows nowadays, probably the biggest of which being cost. Cost to the organization putting on the show. Costs to the exhibitor's to attend and put on an exhibit at the show. And being a business, both are looking for a ROI. Sadly, that ROI is usually pretty elusive for both parties. That's why Stereophile's masters axed their show. Axpona aim is to break even for several years to grow the show with the eventual goal of having a show with 10K attendees each year. That's why I constantly hear manufacturers saying they really don't get much in the way of sales out of the shows.

So why do companies do the shows? Well for the bigger and more established high-end companies, it's about supporting their dealers and market presence. For other companies--and one of the reason for the multiple regional shows--it's about companies getting exposure or a dealer in a market where they have no presence. At the other end of the spectrum, new companies are hoping for some reviewer to mention something in a show report. Or getting some mention on the internet. Or maybe even a review for their investment.

One of the issues regarding cost is the cities that have the highest concentration of audiophiles--New York for example--are also because of unions, cost of hotel room, etc. the most expensive cities to hold a show. Drayage and other costs are off the wall. To wit, when I debuted my audio magazine at the SF Stereophile Show back in 1996, it cost me $800 to ship 7000 copies from the printer in VA to the show warehouse in SF. It cost me $2400 to have them move the magazines from the show storage to the hotel. Imagine what shipping alone costs a manufacturer!

Adding to the complications, there's the issue of sound. None of these hotels are built for sound. What do you do when you start with a square room? A cubical room? Talk about being behind the eight ball. None of these hotels is built to have that large an electrical load on their circuit. We spend weeks, months, even years setting up and honing the sound of our systems; manufacturers have a day or so and then each show day. Yes, even though some exhibitors get the same rooms year after year, rarely do they bring the same equipment. Then you have exhibitors who team up in order to save money and the first time they often hear the system as a whole is at the show. Tack on issues with AC, elevators to get to show floors and you get a little of the idea of the many obstacle facing exhibitors.

Don't me wrong. I love audio shows. Having been in the industry for so many years, I love meeting old audiobuddies both of the manufacturer and consumer end. I love sifting through table upon table of LPs. I love finding those rooms with above average sound. I love Greg Beron's/UHA after hour tape parties. I love meeting and making new audiobuddies--not to mention meeting everyone from all the online audio bulletin boards that I participate in!

Mainly I now go to Axpona, RMAF, NY (well not the last one) and CES (in a death spiral with Munich having surpassed them and haven't gone now in two years). Axpona is a really up and coming show and last year had around 5500 people attending the show; RMAF is also a long time favorite and giving the number of rooms sold at the show, really don't understand why the attendance isn't better??? Perhaps if the stars are in alignment, I'll go to Newport this year also. But still, I am at a loss why shows don't get better attendance. Sure part of it is that in the Golden days of the Stereophile show and drew 12K+ one year at the Waldorf and were the only game in town. But is it that social media has supplanted shows. Have people become cynical about shows? Do people feel the shows are over crowded? (Certainly not on the first or last day.) Are the hours inconvenient (I'm impressed that many shows have added additional Friday hours for attendees!)?

In the case of Montreal, there are also additional issues. The Chester Group came into the US having hosted some UK shows and thought they knew the US market. They took over the Montreal show, tried to buyout the Cap Audio Fest and then hosted a New York show after an ill-fated attempt by another organization. Attendance by manufacturers and audiophiles alike at the New York Shows (home to so many audiophiles) were nothing short of disappointing and came no where near what Stereophile did in their hey day. The shows at the Helmseley Palace had major issues (jack hammering outside exhibitor rooms, a loss of electricity for much of the show necessitating the use of electrical generators, etc.) The Brooklyn show actually had people a little more enthusiastic but then last year the show held in Westchester proved a step in the wrong direction. Not to mention, organization left a lot to be desired.

So what would make a "perfect" audio show? Many years ago, the people helping Harry Pearson at the end suggested putting the industry's best foot forward by finding a smaller, better sounding site, having the best manufacturers in the world put together 20 rooms, and charging a premium price of $250 per person to attend this exposition. Would that be another alternative.

[MylesBAstor]

I've not been to any of the U.S. shows, so I don't know if those shows are purely audiophile, but I like what the T.A.V.E. Show in Toronto does. A good proportion of their show is focused on video technologies, which IMO attracts attendees who are into multi-channel audio, although they may not be considered audiophiles by the standards of most here and elsewhere. Due to a focus on both audio and video, local dealers have set up multi-channel displays, in addition to standard audio-only offerings. There are a lot more home-theatre enthusiasts out there than purely audiophile ones (IMHO), and combining both channels of entertainment seems to make sense to me. They easily feed off one another.

I think shows like Newport also host hobbies like guitars, car show at the same time in an attempt to boost attendance.

[MylesBAstor]

Newest update on the Montreal show.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Montreal, March 9th 2016

Yesterday, it was announced by the new organizers, Chester Group, that they were giving up on the 29th edition of the Montreal Audio Show. This created a real tsunami amongst the industry.

We dedicated 10 years of our career to making this show a reference in the industry. We just could not accept that this magical event would disappear. Without a minute of hesitation, the former owners of the show, along with a group of industry members, have decided to form a new non-profit organization and maintain the show to be run next week, from the 18th to the 20th of March. After this edition of the show, a board of directors will be elected in order to plan the future of this iconic event.

Exceptionally this year, the admission for the public will be FREE as there will be a limited amount of exhibitors, but the quality of the presentation will be the same as usual. The rate for the exhibitors has been drastically reduced, to make sure we attract as many as possible.

So, we invite everyone to come and join us to celebrate this new Montreal Audio Fest.

[Bruce B]

Well this year it's AXPONA, Newport and RMAF for me. Three is enough. For years, I've exhibited at these shows.... schlepping an A80 a few years and just recently, taking my DAW, DAC and headphone pre for the Abyss room at RMAF. It's SOOOOOOOOOOO... much more relaxing to go as a visitor. I know every time I exhibited, I'd have panic attacks before turning on the A80!! I know Ki remembers those. He saved my butt a couple of times with a soldering iron!! LOL I remember one year at CES, I had to go to a computer store and rebuild my computer overnight because drayage decided to drop mine from cliff.
Now.. getting back to these shows. I swear, I don't know how some of these vendors do it. I know 3 or 4 may share a room to save costs but iff you don't have a statement product like mbl, Magico or Wilson, it's hardly justifiable. I don't know how Jeremy does it to bring in the mbl Extremes and enough amplification to light up New Jersey. Hell, the room cost alone can be upwards of $10-20k!! The Drayage alone on a complete mbl system like that must be astronomical!
I know Wilson put on a big show a couple of years ago with some XLF's and Thors, but hell, they can just pack up and drive to RMAF. I look at the vendor list at Munich and I can only recognize maybe half the vendors. My studio has been using Swiss, Polish and Danish gear for years. The EU I know is on the cutting edge. One day I do hope to go to Munich and maybe extend it out a week or so to play tourist. I've always wanted to go to the AMG factory!! Now I have a reason.....

[c1ferrari]

Many years ago, the people helping Harry Pearson at the end suggested putting the industry's best foot forward by finding a smaller, better sounding site, having the best manufacturers in the world put together 20 rooms, and charging a premium price of $250 per person to attend this exposition. Would that be another alternative.

Not for me, Myles

[MylesBAstor]

Well this year it's AXPONA, Newport and RMAF for me. Three is enough. For years, I've exhibited at these shows.... schlepping an A80 a few years and just recently, taking my DAW, DAC and headphone pre for the Abyss room at RMAF. It's SOOOOOOOOOOO... much more relaxing to go as a visitor. I know every time I exhibited, I'd have panic attacks before turning on the A80!! I know Ki remembers those. He saved my butt a couple of times with a soldering iron!! LOL I remember one year at CES, I had to go to a computer store and rebuild my computer overnight because drayage decided to drop mine from cliff.
Now.. getting back to these shows. I swear, I don't know how some of these vendors do it. I know 3 or 4 may share a room to save costs but iff you don't have a statement product like mbl, Magico or Wilson, it's hardly justifiable. I don't know how Jeremy does it to bring in the mbl Extremes and enough amplification to light up New Jersey. Hell, the room cost alone can be upwards of $10-20k!! The Drayage alone on a complete mbl system like that must be astronomical!
I know Wilson put on a big show a couple of years ago with some XLF's and Thors, but hell, they can just pack up and drive to RMAF. I look at the vendor list at Munich and I can only recognize maybe half the vendors. My studio has been using Swiss, Polish and Danish gear for years. The EU I know is on the cutting edge. One day I do hope to go to Munich and maybe extend it out a week or so to play tourist. I've always wanted to go to the AMG factory!! Now I have a reason.....

Yes, Munich is on my bucket list too!

[Ki Choi]

I think shows like Newport also host hobbies like guitars, car show at the same time in an attempt to boost attendance.

It reminded me the main reason I went to CES was - there was adult entertainment convention at the same time.