I have the feeling this is the convention eBay has been practicing for.
I have been walking past the McEnery Convention Center since Monday, on my way to the Fairmont for the Developers Conference. I watched as the intense blue covering with the "eBay Live!" logo and "the power of us all" slowly took over the façade. Black carpet runners with eBay's seven-color scheme snaked out from the entrance to the street. The large stone balls around the center fountain became swathed in red, maroon, blue, gold, yellow, green, and lime. A diadem of like-colored stars on wands rose from the fountain. Across San Carlos Street, the pillars of the Civic Auditorium were wrapped in eBay colors. Vans bearing vendors and their wares pulled up, unloaded, and moved off. Early-arriving registrants darted into the convention center front doors, emerging with their green, white, and rainbow-colored plastic tote bags clutched tightly to their sides, then to disperse like gnats in a strong breeze.
After three years of trial runs, eBay was ready to welcome the world to its home turf.
This morning I went over to check in at the Press center. Downstairs, the registration booths were plentiful and spread into logical subcategories. People seemed to be moving through without undue delays. There were greeters with ready answers to questions; they sent me to the second level to find the Press Room. The signage though out the convention center is ample and easily visible from a distance. Despite the number of people I know must already be on site, there's no sense of crowding, at least so far.
The Press Room is surprisingly small. I'd hoped to grab a sandwich for lunch but there's only drinks, fruit, and chips. I log onto one of the computers to check my email, then grab a can of cola and head out into one of the seating areas to see what's what and do a little people watching.
The press lanyards are gold with white lettering. (Regular attendees have the eBay colors; the ones for eBay staff are royal blue.) There's an eBay collector's pin attached (Pierre sitting in front of a computer that says Auction Web, below which is 1995, and "A community is born, eBay, 10 years!") The plastic holder has a name badge and a pocket program with all the seminar listings and locations for the three-day event, and some maps on the reverse. (I have a strong suspicion eBay has hooked up with someone who has experience running World Science Fiction conventions. I know the tell-tales when I see them.) The plastic tote bag has a CD with class materials, free downloads, and an eBay screensaver ("The spirit of eBay lights up your monitor when you take a break from your listings.") There are also a multitude of flyers from convention sponsors, an eBay Live! 2005 notebook, and a nifty spiral-bound conference guide, tab indexed by subject.
Two of the people at the table where I'm sitting ask my name: they're looking for a reporter from New York but don't know what she looks like. I strike up a little conversation with them about all the pins and ribbons they have so far. ("The vendors are giving out the pins and they're around other places as well.") The multi-colored ribbons have short sayings ("100% positive feedback" "First convention" "I pay with PayPal" "eBay member since 1997" "I bid therefore I am" and a great deal more) and I'm told any and all of them are available just by filling out a form.
While we're chatting, a photographer comes up, sweet talks them a little, takes their picture, then hands them a card and tells them they'll be able to find their picture on the Internet shortly. ("It's a service of eBay!" he says brightly.) The couple then takes their leave in hopes of finding their reporter. I see a gentleman with a fishing hat already full of the various collector pins. People meander by with eBay Powerseller tote bags slung over their shoulders. Others sit down to plan out the remainder of their day or to make phone calls or just to rest for a moment.
A sweet young thing holding a PDA comes up to me from behind and asks if I'd like to take a short survey for eBay. "I'm press," I smile at her. "You're probably not supposed to ask me." "Oh, I should say not!" She looks stricken and scurries off as if bitten.
Everyone around me seems very laid back and circumspect. Most are closer to middle-aged than otherwise. They seem to be pacing themselves for the three-day long haul. I see others getting their pictures taken and some doing the surveys with eBay staffers. Finally I decide it's time to go back to my room to see if there are any stories to go over.
On my way out, I find the ribbon booth. I ask if I could look at the one page list and the young man juggling an armload of clipboards thrusts one at me. There are more ribbons in heaven and eBay than are dreamt of in most people's philosophies. I thank him and return the clipboard. "Well, don't you want any?" he asks with genuine concern. I smile and thank him but no, not at the moment. As I walk on he calls after me "Well come back any time and you're welcome to whatever you want!" The next station is obviously sponsored by the post office. "Get your free shipping here," a very tall man shouts out with sing-song energy of a carnie pitchman. "Fit it into one of our boxes and we'll ship it for you for free." I stop next to him and crane my neck up as he gazes down after finally noticing me standing next to him. "How exactly does this free shipping thing work?" He seems about to go into a long-winded spiel and then thinks better of it. "You should have a free shipping coupon in your registration materials. You can use it any time during the convention to ship one box for free.” His brevity is appreciated, although I don't remember seeing the free coupon. I thank him and move on again.
There's still much to explore, but it's only the afternoon of the first day. Shortly, most of the crowd will be off to the HP Pavilion to hear Meg Whitman's keynote speech. (I'm still not sure when a "keynote" became any event where an eBay employee stands in front of a microphone.) I think back to the first eBay convention in 2002, which was not quite as slick, had certainly fewer attendees, but which somehow seemed a little more engaging. Maybe after all is said and done, practice might make perfect but it can also make one a little nostalgic for the good old days of just trying to do the best one can.
