T minus 10...

I went to my first NAB in 1996 to accept one of those Hughes Uplinker of the Year awards with my 2 coworkers. Our little 3 man satellite truck operation stayed pretty busy and under the radar while I was still learning the ropes of this industry. Like most of us, I learned on the go, formal instruction is still a rarity for TV Production and there will never be a better substitute than just doing it. So showing up in Vegas and seeing and touching every new piece of gear, I was hooked. I stayed on the exhibit floor from that first day until they were breaking down displays on that final day. There's no better way to learn how this industry works than being in Vegas in April.

Since then I've tried not to let too many years go by between visits and recently my baseball opening day commitment has gotten in the way, I wouldn't miss throwing a new batch of aspiring TV pros to the wolves with our modest Durham Bulls production. But NAB still remains a great place to catch up with 'old' colleagues, put faces to names, connect with vendors and get past the vapor of sales literature and see where the rubber meets the road.

I'll be heading that way in 10 days, no awards to collect, no talks to attend, no corporate account, just little old me, walking the exhibit floor, making friends, sweet talking my way into parties, dinners and happy hour drinks. I know I'm good at what I do but I never wanted to be anyone's boss, or wear a tie. I would always miss getting my hands dirty and seeing my work on the other side of transmission. And that's where I'll be when I work my last gig, still showing that next generation how to over/under cable and what we mean by 'F*** the truck'.

See you in Vegas...