Is anyone going to this conference? Is it new or has it gone on before? Does anyone have any input? I am trying to find out if it is going to be worth my time and expense to go considering a plane ticket and lodging. I have not video shopped before and want to learn more about it.

As a consideration, I could drive and do shops on the way, but how many other people will be trying to do the same thing? I'd be driving about 2,000 miles round trip. I'm thinking the plane ticket would end up being more economical.

I think this is the first one. I would love to go but am already booked for the Imsc conference in may. I know that several of my video shopper friends and colleagues will be there and hope that next year the two conferences will not be in the same month, because both look very worthwhile.

If you are closer to southern indiana and want video training included, the IMSC conference, where the best video MSCs will attend and provide the training, might be a better bet for a newbie. Inaddition, i know that a lot of video shoppers will be at Imsc as well as Videocon. Like the IMSC conference, the all video conference is also endorsed by some of the best video MSCs and they will also be there. I have not seen the Videocon program (I am in Europe with limited Internet access.) Perhaps someone who has seen that program will be gòod enough to post a link to it. A link to the IMSC program is here somewhere within the last 3 days or so.

Short answer? You may be spoiled for choices! What a happy "problem" to have.

The schedule link: [www.videocon16.com]


Monday May 2, 2016

5:30 PM -? - Informal networking at host hotel (Quality Inn - Plano, TX)


Tuesday May 3, 2016

7:00 AM - 8:30 AM - Registration
7:00 AM - 8:30 AM - Continental Breakfast
8:30 AM - Conference begins
8:30 AM - 9:00 AM - Opening remarks and conference overview Day 1
9:00 AM - 9:45 AM - Jonathan Przybyl - Talon Video Shopping
10:00 AM - 10:45 AM - Dan Thomas -Greyhawk Video Solutions
11:00 AM - Noon - Keynote Speaker - Tom Ziglar
Noon - 1:00 PM - Buffet Lunch & Networking
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM - Hands on Training for Talon Video Shopping
2:00 PM - 2:45 PM - Jamie Godek with LumaCorp Inc. (Apartment Client)
3:00 PM - 3:45 PM - Independent Contractor Tax Session (what can I deduct)
4:00 PM - 4:45 PM - Scheduler Panel (Your chance to hear from them and get your questions answered)
6:00 PM - Chuckwagon Dinner


Wednesday May 4, 2016

7:00 AM - 8:30 AM - Continental Breakfast
8:30 AM - 9:00 AM - Remarks and overview - Day 2
9:15 AM - 10:00 AM - Video Reviewer Panel (Hear from the people who are looking at your videos)
10:15 AM - 11:00 AM - Will Grimes, Lennar Dallas Division VP of Sales & Marketing (New Homes Client)
11:15 AM - 12:00 PM - Route Shopping (How to create and organize a route)
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM - Buffet Lunch & Networking
1:30 PM - 2:15 PM - Regus (A unique way to deal with uploading from the road)
2:30 PM -3:15 PM - Office Depot/Buying Power
3:30 PM - 4:00 PM - Educational and Training opportunities
4:15 PM - 4:30 PM - Conference Wrap Up
5:30 PM -? - Informal networking at host hotel (Quality Inn - Plano, TX)

Hopefully the organizers/sponsors won't mind me posting this.

Wow. Thanks for the link.

It looks like shoppers who are already doing video with their own PV500 equipment and would like to extend their route shopping capabilites and add Talon based retail video to their tool boxes may get the most from videocon, whereas those new to video and wanting to break into long format, high paid video for new homes, apartments, assisted living, autos, etc would get a jump start by first doing the IMSC video training, getting some experience and then following up next year at videocon and/or another Imsc conference.

For those new to long format such as video new home, apartments, etc. There are full sessions on eac plus a workshop on the essentials of unique aliases and follow up phone and email contacts at the Imsc conference in addtion to training with the equipment currently used for those shops. Talon video will have a full session at both conferences, i see. That is a hot, developing technology not yet adapted for long interactions but short interactions and extensive travel to do scores of them each month in the areas where there are many client locations (mainly the SW the last time i checked...update appreciated!) Could be very rewarding for some shoppers.

Both conferences have first rate presenters and planners and sponsors. Next year i will definately plan to be at both.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/18/2016 09:24AM by walesmaven.

Is the cost $125 for May 2nd and an additional cost of $125 for May 3rd and additionally $125 for May 4th?
The below note is how the website reads the fees and I'm a little confused:

Video Shopper Conference- Regular Fee:$125
*Registering for May 3-4, 2016 - Video Shopper Conference:

Video Shopper Certification- Regular Fee:$125 - Early bird special:$99
*Registering for May 2, 2016 - Video Shopper Certification:

ADVANCED Video Shopper Training - Regular Fee:$125 - Early bird special:$99
In order to attend the Advanced Training Class, you must own a PV-500 and bring it
to the training, plus have completed at least 20 verifiable video shops..
*Registering for May 5, 2016 - Advanced Video Shopper Training:

I'm sure I understand now.
On May 2nd, there is a video certification course offered at an additional cost of $125.

It was not mentioned on the schedule, so.....

I wonder what time the course starts. Anyone know what time the certification course starts and where I can get the schedule for that?

Thanks!

I'll be there! I'm ms'ing an airline to get to Dallas.

Hmmm. When i posted i was also not aware of the video certification seperate day and fee. So! Obviously, either conference will provide video newbies with video training. Now, i hope that next year the two planners huddle to decide on conference dates that are farther apart and provide for training opportunities spread out throuth the year. Both groups have a lot of the same speakers and sponsors and friends in the shopper community, so we can hope for (and encourage) mutual respect and cooperation.

How have I not figured out how to MS an airline yet??? I love traveling. So jealous. (I seriously haven't found a company that mystery shops airlines to date....)

Anyhow, thanks for your input, everyone. I'm debating about going to the MSPA conference also. I think I can only really justify one conference this year. I'll have to ponder my options.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/19/2016 07:30AM by Evalu8this.

You are not alone. Airline shops are very rare and mostly do not give shoppers any leeway on travel dates. Better to do a lot of hotel shops to earn free hotel nights and pay for airfare.

I have a pretty free schedule most of the time so I'd probably be an ideal travel shopper. Oh well, I suppose I'll figure it out sometime. I have a lot more companies to apply with yet.

Sqm has some airline jobs that reimburse 50 percent and I understand they are helping IMSC people to book flights to their conference. I read that on one of their fb group pages. The IMSC conference looks like the only one that includes all of the classes in the one price. Not sure yet if I can make it though.

SQM has been posting all over Facebook looking for shoppers. They are very flexible with dates and you choose your flight. They allow one-way​, round trip, non-stop, plane exchanges. The report is detailed, but if you are used to writing fine dining reports, it's about the same amount of narratives, names, timing, etc. You do not need to be in IMSC or any other groups to sign up with SQM.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/22/2016 01:51AM by cubbiecat.

I realize that, I was just talking about where I saw it

Still waiting to hear from folks who attended this conference. I hope to go in 2017 if I hear good things! It sounded like it should be very good.

I went and it was real good, learned a lot and met some nice people.

The conference was one of the best! It was organized and kudos to Jeff and Kathy for doing a great job. The presenters, speakers, and panels were interesting and informative. Meeting new people, MSP owners and schedulers were the best part. For a first conference, it was very well attended - I'm guessing 70+ attendees.

The conference was great and the advanced video training was even better. Enjoyed meeting MSC's who were all involved in video shopping. Having a Client New Home VP there was informative. Picked up two new shops, one that is recurring. Jeff is trying to put together the conference for next year and his ideas were nice. I'd go on the paddle boat up the Mississippi just for the trip!
There are getting to be many conferences, so I have elected to attend only two. One will always be the IMSC in Las Vegas and the other depends on the location.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/09/2016 11:57PM by CureMS.