Well, it’s official. The show floor is closed and AVIXA has officially released the numbers. And let me get something clear right away. While this show didn’t technically break attendance records, I chalk it up as a giant success. I have never in my life felt tired all the way into my bones at a trade show the way I am right now. Like, if you saw me making my way around the show floor today, trying to patch together coherent sentences, I’m so sorry!

But it’s a good thing, right? I had so many appointments that I barely had time for anything else. Someone even laughed at how serious and deadpan I was as I made my way from one hall to another. I was a woman on a mission. I don’t remember an InfoComm in all eight years I’ve been attending them that it’s been like this.

I think the vibe was that everyone was so deeply ready to be back at shows. Everywhere I looked, I saw hugs, handshakes and high fives. It just feels like we’re back! I don’t know how you replicate this feeling of excitement and awe any other way.

Let’s talk trends now.

While I didn’t see any crazy special game-changing, life-rearranging, show-stopping new product that’s going to blow you and everyone you know away, I saw some trends that I felt were really important to note. I mentioned in my first Raff that I was looking forward to seeing how many booths would point out experiences rather than just a product sitting on a table. As it turns out, a lot of them. In fact, the word “experience” was used on so many booths that I lost count. I mentioned this before, but I think “experience” will be imperative in driving end users to the show. What do they care about specs and jargon? But what they do care about is how it works! Show them! Make them see it to believe it!

Sustainability ended up being featured in more booths than I previously thought. While it wasn’t always an in-your-face advertisement for sustainability, many of the companies I spoke to mentioned sustainability to me in one way or another. Whether the efforts were made through their packaging, energy consumption or another way, it seems like the idea of green AV is here to stay. I really hope this isn’t just a trend. I want to see manufacturers putting their money where their mouth is and really making efforts to change the planet. While we aren’t the ones solely responsible for the state of the planet, we can have a real impact on e-waste. Just something to think about.

I welcomed a conversation with Commercial Integrator’s Dan Ferrisi on rAVe [TV] today. I know you’re thinking, “but you’re competitors!” So? I think Dan and I have a lot to offer one another as peers, journalists and friends. He has a lot of great insight as someone who’s been in the industry as long as he has, but was also one of the first people to make me feel truly welcome in AV. He’s a kind soul and a fantastic writer, and also as busy as I am so I welcome the chance to hear a few trends he picked up on during his treks across the show floor.

I’ll end this piece by saying I was extremely impressed by the team at PK Sound today. I don’t often get over to the demo rooms because I am running around the show floor like a chicken with my head cut off, but the team at PK very kindly emailed me earlier this week and asked me to drop by. I didn’t get to see the full demo of the company’s T8, but let me tell you that I was incredibly impressed by what I did see.

I don’t know if you’ve ever heard of a robotic control line source, but I fell in love with this product as someone who loves audio and spends a great deal of time trying to grasp a better understanding of it. I don’t even know how to describe this other than it truly can alter the way you experience sound even in the shittiest of room conditions. Here’s a picture of it, but you can also learn more here.

OK, I’ll actually end this piece by saying that if you stopped me during the show this week and said anything about how “Study With Steph” helped you get your CTS, know that it meant the world to me. I am so happy that I created something that even helped one person meet their goal. Maybe I’ll even get over myself and release season 3.

Happy InfoComm, everybody. I’ll see you guys next year.