So looking back at Surfaces 2013, what’s your take? Hanley Wood said attendance this year was up by about 4.5% over the 2012 version, and I’d say all things considered it was a pretty good showing.
To even be able to answer that question one would first need to define what actually makes for a good show in this era. Back in the days of the old market system with five markets two times a year in merchandise marts with narrow corridors, the halls were often jammed with wall-to-wall bodies. The general approach of the media was to judge the success of any of these outings pretty much by body count. Lots of warm bodies equaled a good market; a sparse crowd meant it was a poor market. While the sparse option still indicates a pretty lousy show, it’s a great deal more difficult to gauge what makes for a good show.