How long have you been going to IBC?
My first IBC was probably 2010, so 15 years.
What’s your typical IBC routine: what are you there to see/learn, who are you there to meet?
Of course, I try to set up meetings in advance; 30-minute meetings, with 30 minutes idle in between, because it’s always takes time to get from one place to another. If I can, I sit at a café early in the morning and try not to move and get people to come and sit with a coffee at my table, but that is an ideal case not often realised…
I also try to get some time to walk all the way across the halls, not stopping, just catching the key messages from the exhibitors, thinking for myself: do I know that company? What do they do? What does it mean for me?
Why is IBC important to you in a professional capacity, and how does the show compare to others on the calendar?
IBC is important because many people, especially from the US, come to IBC, and it is a good place to meet and reconnect.
However, I must confess that IBC tends to have a focus on “production” and “ playout”, which is not my focus. My “distribution” focus is not the major IBC theme, but IBC is still an important event.
What’s your top tip for anyone attending IBC for the first time?
You should find the right mix between making plans and being available for unplanned things and surprises!
