From the Editor: Networking in Nashville

For years I've been hearing about the Dscoop conference, an annual meeting of HP users. In-plants with HP Indigo presses have praised Dscoop's relevant sessions, its impressive vendor show and the opportunity it provides to swap ideas with fellow HP users. Last month I finally got a chance to attend the conference, held at Nashville's Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Convention Center (not my favorite place; more on that in a minute).

It was quite an event, with more than 2,000 enthusiastic attendees packing the opening keynote session. The multitude of educational sessions covered everything an HP user would want to learn about, from label and wide-format printing to software and finishing. The keynote speakers offered intriguing perspectives on how to better operate and market a business. One of them, author and social media expert Gary Vaynerchuk, in an occasionally off-color address, nonetheless made us all think about how passé our views of marketing are in the mobile age.

As Dscoop's leaders and members pointed out repeatedly, it was wonderful to see users from a variety of companies—normally competitors—happily sharing information to help each other succeed. Dscoop regulars praised the sessions, which focused on the concerns of HP users, as well as the exhibit area filled with solutions specific to HP users' needs. They talked about how unique this information-sharing model was in the printing industry.

I, on the other hand, had a somewhat different observation.

Having attended more than 50 in-plant conferences over the past 18 years, I've witnessed this unbridled sharing and peer support for decades. Because in-plants don't compete with one another, they have always eagerly helped each other out at conferences like IPMA and ACUP. Just like at Dscoop, they willingly share their ideas to help their peers find success. They attend sessions focused on the specific concerns of in-plants. They visit vendor exhibits with solutions geared precisely to in-plants' needs. So, to me, none of this seemed new.

I can understand how commercial printers would find such sharing unique. Events like Graph Expo and On Demand, with their broad focuses, don't tend to foster tight friendships between equipment users; Dscoop zeroes in on HP users' needs. Most commercial printers have never had an opportunity like this to hobnob with peers who share a common technology, common problems, common goals. In-plants have been enjoying this opportunity for ages. So if you haven't realized before how great you have it as an in-plant, just talk to a commercial printer who attended Dscoop.

Now as to the Gaylord Opryland Hotel/Convention Center, I hope to never set foot in that place again. This vast complex of hotel rooms, shops and meeting rooms, linked by a labyrinth of hallways, bridges and stairs is a sheer headache to navigate. I circled its atriums many times, hopelessly lost. I'm pretty sure some attendees are still there, too, wandering aimlessly. And the worst part is, this place is isolated, far away from downtown Nashville. So other than the band that played "Rocky Top" at the opening ceremony (and messed up the words), I went all the way to Music City and never heard any music.