NAB 2025
I did the math and this was my 7th NAB Show! I started in 2016, missed 2020 to 2022 (for obvious reasons), then started up again in 2023. It’s definitely changed since before the pandemic, but we’ve all been saying that now for three years. So, why NAB? And why do I keep going?
Honestly, going to NAB is an emotional roller coaster for three to five days, depending on how long you attend. It is thrilling to see all the new gear and newest technology available to us creators, while at the same time painful to see the prices for said gear and technology, even with the constant reassurance to self that, “maybe next year I can afford that.” There have been years where I’ve cut out early to either walk through the hotels and casinos or sit by the pool and commiserate with myself over those costs. Because I want it all. Who doesn’t in this industry? I want it all so I can create awesome content for my clients and for myself. Is that too much to ask? The budget I set for my business says: yes.
South Hall Show Floor
This year, however, I didn’t go sit by the pool or aimlessly walk through the casinos. Instead, I put my energy to good use and spent a lot of time visiting the different free talks they had in either South Hall, North Hall, or West Hall. From a presentation on leadership and burnout, to a panel discussion about AI and copyright law, to a crash course on how to use the new Adobe Premiere Pro Generative Extend, to watching my friends (who I met at NAB before COVID) chat about their journey in indie filmmaking and live broadcast to an audience of eager learners; I soaked in as much knowledge and experience as I could. It’s the connections, the people, and the experience that keeps me coming back. Along with the Sony booth, where I stop every year to touch and learn about their newest cinema cameras and dream about someday owning more. There’s no such thing as too many cameras.
These shows provide me with the opportunity to learn about new cutting edge technology in person, rather than just reading about it online. When I’m standing there face-to-face with a product or software that could benefit my filmmaking endeavors, I’m more likely to purchase it in the future, because someone provided me with hands-on-experience, in-depth information, and a smile. That’s not always the case, there are definitely still some booths and companies that ignore female filmmakers, but I’ve learned to ignore them right back and not purchase their products. It’s a two-way street, people.
My favorite thing to do during NAB though, is take time to see my cousins. Nothing beats family time and hearing about life from those in my generation and our next generation. (Yes, we’re all related.)
Maybe I’ll see you next year! April 2026, will be here quicker than we realize, because as this NAB sign says, “media never sleeps.”