There is a saying that change is constant except from vending machines. I believe that has been seen today, March 11, 2021, by the fact that ISE 2021 or Integrated Systems Europe has been cancelled or drastically changed. The year since the pandemic was declared has been unprecedented. The World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic on March 11, 2020.

The first thing I want to say is that this news isn’t something for people to gloat about or rejoice about. This news has serious impact. It definitely has financial ramifications for many people and companies. These changes as well as other impact people beyond the attendees. It impacts the exhibitors, the hotels and restaurants, the venue, and all of their employees. I want to make sure that’s clear before I comment about anything these changes are not just a small change these have huge repercussions for many people and companies. I will repeat that change is constant; things have been changing for more than fourteen months.

A year ago, if you asked me if AVNation would be sold, I would not have thought it was probable. Given the economic situations that occurred in 2020, six months later we had to react to the new situation and looked to sell. I don’t say the new normal because it’s just new, not saying it’s normal it’s just new. A similar thing happened to me personally. A year ago, I was employed full time. I was leaving on vacation when I came back a pandemic had been declared I never went back to the office beyond a few hours. I was laid off in November. I started my own company in November as a result of not being able to find full time employment so definitely things are not typical. This is not to say woe is me or look at how bad things are this is to say that things change, and things change constantly.

Yes, ten days ago ISE Europe said the show was going to happen as scheduled however since that time things have changed. These changes could be from exhibitors saying they were not going to attend. Some companies that already said they were not going to attend. The change could be a result of the fact that there are still travel limitations. It was very probable that attendance levels were going to be down. The change could be a reaction to fact that not everyone is planning on getting vaccinated. All of these items can add to why this change occurred.

I’m not going to judge I’m simply going to say it has changed. The show producers made a new decision based on the current information.

I am sure these decisions were not easy for AVIXA, ISE, or CEDIA to make. AS I said these have huge repercussions both financially and personally. This change impacts many people but based on the situation as it is known now I think it was an understandable decision to make. I am not saying it’s right or wrong; that will be debated for years. Each person has their own opinion as to whether or not it was right or wrong. I think it was very prudent to make the change in the show. I also think it was responsible.

Given the various levels of adherence to protocols, attention to details, or simple logistics I think things were going to have to change either way.

If one looks at a trade show booth requiring social distance of 6 feet between people makes a 10 foot by 10 foot or three meters by three-meter trades show booth becomes unusable. How much larger do the booths have to become to meet social distancing requirements even after vaccination. Just from a pure logistics standpoint the amount of space available might not have been enough for the show to be put on safely. Don’t forget the aisles need to be wider. There needs to be greater distance between tables in the food court.