I’m not “annoyed” at all, just a little depressed that the market has lost almost all the cultural relevance and accessibility it had in my day. There are still some options available, but a walk around these shows always highlights an aging niche demographic. Every year the average punter age is a year older!
Hello Tony,
Long time lurker been in to records and record players for around 40yrs. I had to write wrt to the above.
I went to Munich last weekend and was impressed with the demographic, lots and lots of youngsters, families with children, and lots of girls, us old middle aged men were still majority but I'd say only just. Events like this should be encouraged as they are obviously doing something right in attracting young and diverse blood, something the stuffy old shows here in the UK could learn from.
Something else about the show you may not know is that there is another show at another hotel happening on the same days, instead of competing, they lay on a complementary shuttle bus between the 2 shows and celebrate both. Other things they do to make it easier is to include a public transport ticket to the show as part of the show ticket. Due to the international nature of the show there is a free shuttle bus from and to the airport; they even put the coat and luggage check at the front of the venue so you can get off the plane dump your bags and enjoy the show; there's a reason why it is so appealing they make it so easy.
About the vulgar stuff: analogous to car shows, it's the latest and greatest people go to see not the Vauxhal Corsas, doesn't mean you have to like it or buy it; and there's more of the real world stuff than the flashy stuff it's just that the flashy stuff people report on rather than the poor old Corsa.
Shows like Munich are doing so much to stimulate and promote our hobby and also helps us broaden our UK centric view of the world, they should be celebrated and encouraged. It's the only place where I've been where it feels vibrant and exciting to be around hifi and people interested in hifi who are of a more normal demographic.
Hopes this helps make you perhaps a little less depressed and provides a different perspective on why we should be more optimistic about our hobby.
Cheers
jlc