I’m excited to attend my first canjam. Any tips for the socal event that might be helpful?
1.) Unless you know what you want to see, hear, and buy, get a multi-day pass.
2.) Write down what interests you on at least three sheets of paper, labeled headphones, in-ears or earbuds, and DACs or Amps.
3.) If you can get the vendor list and map before the event, write down which interested item is at their assigned vendor table, which room/hall they reside, and which floor and building the room/hall can be found. Otherwise, you can wait until the first day of the event to do this as well.
4.) Once you know where you are going, make note of all the bathrooms, elevators, and stairways around your intended visiting areas. Making note of where restaurants, cafes, and corner stores are is also useful.
5.). If you intend to check out any scheduled seminars or mini-meets, make sure you put an alert(s) on your phone, or write it down on a sheet of paper and keep some kind of watch.
6.) Keep a backpack with you, so you can have a place to put stuff with you. If you want to make comparisons, do not bring more than one headphone, earbud/IEM set, portable DAC/Amp, DAP, or anything used for comparison.
7.) If areas get crowded, please use good judgement and be polite. If you want to demo something and that area is crowded, make sure that there is a line or not. If there is a line, get in it and once it is your turn with others behind you, do not take more than five minutes or one song, as others are waiting and you can get back in line. If there is not a line, ask the person behind the table if you can demo the item. If there is no person behind the table or they are busy, please wait a minute or two, until they can help you.
8.) Do not be a slob and leave cups, bottles, plates, napkins, or other trash on tables or other places that trash does not belong. This also goes with brochures and other vendor info pieces, which go into your backpack.
9.) If you followed all of the above tips, then you can enjoy the show for what it is worth.