I am an engineer and I love going to trade exhibitions. These shows are full of cool new tech once a year (Messe Dusselldorf, etc) and not only do you interact

I am an engineer and I love going to trade exhibitions. These shows are full of cool new tech once a year (Messe Dusselldorf, etc) and not only do you interact in a positive social way, but the people you meet you end up building long term customer-vendor relationships. Perhaps it doesn't happen in the software but I work in Semiconductor industry. You can ask the same to anyone say in Fabrics industry or Electronics and they'll say the same. Trade shows are amazing and that's how advertising should be done - with respect, mutual interest and consent.