I attended my first event back in 1996 where Network Plus was birthed.  Back in those dark ages Media firms would fly us to the events, put us up on resorts, and vendors would actually provide incentives to work with them.  Through in-person events I had the opportunity to meet many people in the technology industry, visit media test centers for products, provide knowledge for industry exams, and meet real people with whom I shared business for mutual benefit.  I do miss that level of interaction.  That said, the level of sharing also required great discretion, trust, and actual friendships were born.  I still work with people from 1996 and many other years from when companies would literally rent "The Streets of New York" in Vegas for all of us. ... View more