Tips for Press at Toy Fair 2014

We’re here again at Toy Fair at Javits Center in New York City. Today is the first day and I’m here for 2 of three more days until it ends on Wednesday February 19th.

After reacquainting myself with Javits, here are some of my tips:

1. Plan your days carefully, grouping days by floor and ideally ends of the long halls to avoid long marches. Plan some free time in between appointments. There are so many new things to discover.
2. Plan the first day appointments starting at the downtown end of the hall, at the 100 aisle. I say this because whatever you do, you’ll have to pick up your badge at the press center at 1E. If your first meeting is at 3200, you’ll have to run all the way to the opposite end.
3. Internet – don’t count on it. Unless you have a hot spot or willing to pay a stiff daily fee, you’re mostly out of luck. It’s amazing in 2014 that this exists, but it appears convention facilites nationwide exist to gouge everyone they can. Most conventions I go to though, at least have WIFI in the Press Center. Here, you’ll have to….
4. Bring an ethernet/USB adaptor if you really need to post from the show. The press center does have limited ethernet connections.
5. Count on the press center for meal times. The Javits Food Court gets very crowded and your best bet for a table at lunch may be in the press center. Also, the press center has snacks and coffee, just not at meal time. The morning coffee service, for example ends at 10:30.
4.

Stay at hotels on 39th btwn 8 and 9
Don’t plan on evening after day 1 and get your rhythm
Plan meetings in centralized area
3 days is a lot if you plan focussed meetings