Five Things I Learned From Ad:Tech San Francisco
1 - It Cost More To Park a Car Than To Rent One
I rented a car for my Ad:Tech trip because I wanted to explore San Francisco a bit. Having the car also meant I can just put all the luggage in the truck on the last day - a nice benefit since my flight wasn’t until 7:30PM.
The car rental cost only $30 per day, which is about average for a mid-size. However, parking at the Palace hotel cost $48 per day. That has to be among the highest parking rates in the world! I only used the car on the last day of my trip so it wasn’t really the best use of resources. I’ll know better next time.
2 - Internet Advertising Is Alive and Well
Any assumptions that the Dot Com Bubble 2.0 is about to burst was busted at Ad:Tech. Judging by the size of the crowds and the number of companies attending, I say the Dot Com Money Train is alive and well and going at full speed. That was confirmed on Thursday when Google posted record first quarter profits.
3 - It’s Not What You Know, It’s Who You Know
While at the Ad:Tech press room, I met the publisher of Revenue magazine. I told her I would love a free subscription to the magazine but Revenue doesn’t offer free subscriptions to Canada. She took my business card and said she’ll take care of it. I await my first issue.
4 - Face To Face Is Still Where It’s At
It’s great that the Internet has allowed us to communicate instantly with people from all over the world. However, no amount of technology will ever replace good old fashion face-to-face networking. Building a relationship is so much easier when you’re looking at the person you’re trying to build a relationship with. And in this business, it’s all about the relationship.
5 - The Population of San Francisco is 1/3 Gay
San Francisco has the highest percentage of gays amongst its population (not that there’s anything wrong with that, of course). Fully 1/3 of San Francisco is gay. I thought about that stat as I was walking the Ad:Tech show floor and came up with the fallowing conclusion.
If you look to the left, and you look to the right.
And if they’re not gay.
You are!
- Posted in Ramblings, Technology, The Net
- 77 comments what's your take?
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Thanks John. I’m starting to attend a few conferences and I’ll keep in mind not getting a rental. Taxis can usually take you anywhere for much less.
Reply to this commentWell looks like San Francisco is the perfect place to live for me. Not because I am gay, but the concurrence for girls is lower.
Reply to this commentLol….well welcome to the most free city in the world. The great thing about gay people in San Francisco is that it makes everything work smoothly. People in San Francisco are probably one of the most “open” minded people due to that fact that they accept gay people as normal human beings. I am not gay but after living in the city for couple years, I do appreciate what gay people have done for San Francisco. Without gay people, San Francisco wouldn’t be where it’s at today, center for shows and a place where everyone from the world can come and enjoy.
Did you know that probably over 30% of city’s political and monetary power comes from Gay people? That is amazing regardless of sex-orientation.
Cheers~
Reply to this commentWonder where gay are not considered as normal human beings. I actually love gay peoples, where I used to work before I had like 3-4 gay folks there, all funny and stuff…until they won’t get mad (sheesh imagine males that when get mad act like females, should you punch them or no? kidding).
Well I had no clue about the percentage but just a short overview of the big stylists already makes everything clear. I live in Italy so neither here we don’t have trouble to find gays
Cheers Zedo
Reply to this commenti support that, although i have no car
Reply to this commentHahaha Mr. Chow you must be joking when you say 1/3 of the population in SF is gay. I think we have many commenters here who are from San Francisco. What do you think?
Reply to this commentInteresting points. Unfortunetly in the future I can met you and met all bloggers who participate on those conferences.
Reply to this commentUnfortunately??
Reply to this commentWell she’s fed up (just kidding, common it’s obvious it was a typo).
Reply to this commentOh sorry for the typo
Reply to this commentI am sorry too!
Reply to this commentI like to meet you.
Reply to this commentI think the revenue magazine people are full of it
I’m from Vancouver too, met them at the Ad Tech SF back in 06, and again in 07, and somehow manage to receive 3 copies of each issue!
In regards to the car situation, definitely just grab taxis next time, between the cost of the car rental and the parking of the vehicle, you would be hard pressed to burn through that much money on taxis!
Reply to this commentAlso add:
Reply to this commentGo to Michael Mina for fine dining and you won’t be disappointed.
I learned some things spending time with you as well. I will share them in a later post.
I would have to make as much as Chow to eat there.
Reply to this commentnot really … if you are attending the conference then you should be able to afford the food as well.
Reply to this commentFace to face is where it’s at. It’s hard to conduct business through a computer screen.
Reply to this commentSo that’s how expensive park rentals in San Francisco? Oh my…so better still rent a car if you only have important transactions in SF.
Reply to this commentThe last quote was the best.
Reply to this commentI’ve been there in 2006 for work and SF is really nice and full of gay people. But SF has more bums on the street then gay people.
Are yuo taking into account that 1/3 of those bums are gay?
Reply to this commentActually, this is not true, bums are bums, I have maybe seen a single gay bum in my 3 years of residence in San Francisco. But yes, a funny joke…
Reply to this commentNot that there’s anything wrong with that
I miss Seinfeld
Reply to this comment~Terry
Yea, I miss Seinfeld too. Watch reruns as often as I can.
Reply to this commentno 1/3 of the population are gay and another 1/3 are bums.
Reply to this commentAnd 1/3 are rich.
Reply to this commentHaving a car in San Francisco is the biggest pain. Next time you come to visit, grab a map of MUNI/BART and enjoy the entertainment of hoping buses and walking a block or two. Much easier on the blood pressure than trying to find parking spots or paying out the $$ to park in a garage.
Sad I didn’t make it to the conference. Ironically I work a block away from Moscone, but was in Miami while the conference was going on.
Reply to this commentI guess you are gay then?
Reply to this commentJC is not a gay because he has a family.
Reply to this commentDo you have any problem if John is gay or not?
Reply to this comment$48 to park a car at the Palace for one day, that’s insane! I’m sure the room wasn’t cheap. I wonder how much they’d charge to sleep in the dumpster?
Reply to this commentWhatever the cost the meals would be included in the price
But yeah, $48 for one day of parking is insane!
Reply to this comment~Terry
Pretty hilarious and interesting read. That last quote should be on the California license plate.
Reply to this commentI just can’t help but think of Seinfeld when you said:
“not that there’s anything wrong with that”
lol
Reply to this commentMaybe if you look to the right you see George and if you look to the left you see Krammer. Not that here’s anything wrong with that.
Reply to this commentWhat if you are in the hotel room looking in the mirror?
Reply to this commentCrap, I’m alone as I’m reading this. I wonder if I’m the gay one.
Reply to this commentThis is probably not the sort of thing you say out loud.
Reply to this commentThen you must be a gay, LOL.
Reply to this commentI’m going to attend some conferences on our country to meet with bloggers from our country.
Reply to this commentJohn,
Why not just buy the Revenue Today magazine?
$45 for 1 year is chump change, for you
Peace
Jonathan
Reply to this commentI can but why pay when you can get it for free?
Reply to this commentRevenue is a pretty good magazine. I used to read it all the time, but they stopped carrting it at our local Barnes & Noble, bummer.
Reply to this commentThat’s one of the benefits being a “famous” blogger
Reply to this commentthat’s is true. you have to use all your popularity to get stuff for free.
Reply to this commentFREE is always good! What is that saying? The best things in life are always free.
Reply to this comment~Terry
Hey John,
It was good to see you there.
Apparently they had upwards of 10,000 people there. The internet is live and well. The corporations are a couple years behind Internet Marketers.
Cheers,
Reply to this commentNow talking about the last point, the two men beside you were supposingly not gay, so you??
Btw $48 for car parking? Thats a lot!!
Reply to this commentYeah, John could be “Gay” as in Happy guy, but probably not as the other type….yet. He’s gotta come to SF more often.
Reply to this commentlol @ the gay comment.. never been there only san diego
Reply to this commentYeah people from elsewhere kinda see gay people as something weird sometimes but for me, I don’t see the difference except they dress nicer than non-homosexual people. Lol…
Reply to this commentParking in NYC on a Saturday from 9AM-11:30AM - $52 - and that is with an early bird discount. Now that is paying for parking(i get to expense that though)
Reply to this commentAnd to think I complain to pay $1 to $3 dollars to park.
Reply to this commentI lived in a studio apartment in San Francisco for a while (no I am not one of the gay guys) and my rent was 1400.00 per month. This being said some might think, wow I bet it was a nice studio. It was the size of a large pet carrier and I paid an additional 300.00 per month for a single parking space uncovered. I could of upgraded to a garage for 450.00.
Reply to this commentJohn;
Sounds like a fun time.
Did you find any new ad networks that you’re going to try out? Did you come away with any specific software / sites / tid-bits that you can point us towards?
Reply to this commentHey John,
I did a review on CX Digital Media, you should check it out:
http://zedomax.com/blog/2008/04/18/zedomax-adtech-2008-coverage-cx-digital-media-cpa-affiliate-programs/
Have u tried this? I guess they are based on Toronto and the affiliate manager Winkie Lee was trying to meet you too.
I can get you in contact w/ her if you want…
Reply to this commentall was good but at last it was looking all gay-ish
Reply to this commentNice post.
Reply to this commentI am also out of States so I can’t subscribe to Revenue. Great magazine.
In the ad news where the gays come? I think when we are looking to the left and the right?
Reply to this commentGreat jokes….the gay ones and the replies.
Reply to this commentlooks like in frankfurt
Reply to this commentWhat..? 1/3 of San Francisco is gay..? I’m sorry, John. This is the only point I really interested to.
Reply to this commentSan Francisco population 1/3 is gay lol ;).
Reply to this commentIs it gays that’s all matters in San Francisco? What about their Starbucks?
Reply to this commentWhen I saw the first part I thought we were going to get a clever analogy… not a story about how it literally costs more to park!
Reply to this commentI like your conclusion. I hope you saw gays to your left or right
Nice to have you back from ad:tech.
Shudogg Dot Com - Make Money Online Blogging
Reply to this commentThanks for sharing your nice experience!
Reply to this commentI am a Gay.
Don’t belittle us gay. 
Reply to this commentReally…? with the name looks like you are indian ?
Reply to this commentNice site with very technical information. It is very useful for newbies like me in this tech world. Bravo, keep up the good work..
Reply to this comment” It Cost More To Park a Car Than To Rent One” This is really funny.
Reply to this commentThe car thing is common sense for any big city, and SF is no exception.. NYC is the same way, only parking is even more expensive! Next time, utilize their public transit systems, and leave your luggage at the hotel.
Reply to this commentthe gay joke is funny … Now I won’t look neither at the left nor at the right.
Reply to this commentlol. car parking cost more than hiring
Reply to this commentThen I am sure, car hire service would be top industry there.
I could’ve told you about #3 years ago!
Reply to this commentParking costs and traffic is one reason why I take cabs more often than I used to when I’m speaking in big cities. I know the last time I was in Chicago I just took taxis everywhere and hitched rides a few times.
PLUS, one of the benefits is that when you travel that way, you meet some very interesting people you might not have otherwise met.
MrAchievement
Reply to this commentStanley F. Bronstein
Attorney, CPA, Author, Blogger & Professional Motivational Speaker
” If you look to the left, and you look to the right.
And if they’re not gay.
You are!”
hahahaha - funny stuff
Reply to this commentFunny read. I agree that face-to-face networking is still king. The Internet and e-mail remain impersonal forms of communication. Even after our previous generations are gone, our generation will still covet face-to-face interaction. It breeds more trust.
Reply to this comment