In my (humble? ignorant? deranged?) opinion, the most effective shows … if reaching design decision makers and detailers … is a local CSI product show. Sure, the displays are at best glorfied table top affairs but, for making contact with those who could most benefit from product information, a local show is where both junior and veteran design professionals can expend time with minimal expense to attend. It is the place where day-to-day working relationships are established and where CSI can establish awareness of the principles and procedures it promotes for producing construction documents.
There are problems with this, not the least of which is the expense being born by local product representatives. Often, unless they can sell headquarters on budgeting and spending for the local show, local representatives bear the expense. Often, the value of doing so is not well-enough understood or appreciated for product manufacturers to make a commitment to participate in local shows. The ultimate killer to the local show idea is that CSI, at the Institute level, relies so much on the income derived from the national show. Why would the Institute support competition from local Chapter activities?
A difficulty I have with the idea of a combined, national show is the approach to marketing taken by exhibitors. I’ve been to both AIA and CSI national shows. The AIA shows have much, much more energy and the emphasis is less technical and more subjective, especially regarding “green” characteristics. There are generational differences too.