Show Gear goes bigger at IMEX America: a conversation with Brandon Wight
IMEXscoop caught up with Show Gear Produc.tions President Brandon Wight to talk about the company’s biggest IMEX America presence yet, how event technology has evolved during its 13 years as the show’s official AV partner, and why IMEX has become part of the Show Gear family story
Q: You’re making a much bigger investment in your presence at IMEX America this year. What will be different?
A: We want our presence at IMEX to create value beyond the booth itself. We’re building a space around collaboration, thought leadership and meaningful industry conversations, bringing together experts, partners and leaders who can share ideas, challenge thinking and help move the industry forward.
We’re also using technology in a practical way, from Silent Seminar headsets and real-time translation to closed captioning and AI notetakers, to make the experience more accessible, engaging and useful.
It isn’t simply about having a bigger booth. It’s about using the space more intentionally so people can meet the people behind exceptional events, exchange ideas, build relationships and experience technology that improves how people connect and learn. If someone leaves our booth with a new relationship, a new idea or a valuable takeaway they can actually use, then the investment was worth it.
Q: Show Gear has been the official IMEX America AV partner for 13 years. What changes have you seen in the way AV and production are used at the show?
A: Production has become much more immersive, responsive and data-driven. LED transformed static signage into dynamic content and branding, and today’s technologies including AI, motion tracking, heat mapping and analytics, are helping us understand how attendees move through a space, what captures their attention and how they engage.
We’re experimenting with technologies like these in the Show Gear booth because that information helps us design smarter, more intentional environments and continuously improve the attendee experience.
A decade ago, attendees were impressed by technology. Today, they expect it. They expect experiences to be seamless, personalized, interactive and accessible without having to think about the technology making that possible. It’s no longer enough for a space simply to look good. It has to engage people, tell a story and give them a reason to remember it.
Q: What makes an event experience genuinely memorable? Is it usually driven by technology and production, or by something less tangible?
A: The most memorable event moments are the ones that connect with people. It could be something they learned, someone they met, an idea that challenged them or an experience that made them feel something. Technology and production absolutely matter, but they are the vehicle, not the reason the moment is memorable.
People may not remember the exact screen, lighting fixture or piece of technology that was used, but they will remember how the experience made them feel. Great production creates the environment for that connection, emotion and meaning to happen.
To me, that is the difference between simply producing an event and creating an experience. The best events leave people with something they are still thinking about long after they have gone home.
Q: Show Gear is a family business, and IMEX America has become part of your family story too. What has the partnership meant to you personally?
A: IMEX America has been a very meaningful part of the Show Gear story. We are a family business, just like IMEX, and every year my wife, daughter and now my newborn son come specifically to take a picture together at the Show Gear booth. It has become a tradition that means a lot to me personally.
It is also the one show each year where our entire company comes together in one place, which makes it incredibly special for our team. From a business standpoint, IMEX has introduced us to some incredible people, helped us build relationships that have lasted for years and given us an opportunity to show what this family business is capable of. We are proud of the growth we have created, and IMEX has been an important partner along that journey. Now in our 14th year together, it is a relationship we are genuinely grateful for and one that has become part of both Show Gear’s story and our family story.
Q: What are you most looking forward to at IMEX America this year?
A: I joke that IMEX is the one time every year I get to drink the industry Kool-Aid for a few days. It gives me perspective and reminds me why I chose this industry in the first place. We work incredibly hard, carry a lot of responsibility and face plenty of pressure, but IMEX has a way of bringing the excitement back to the surface.
You reconnect with people you respect, meet new people, exchange ideas and remember that what we do is actually a lot of fun. I always leave feeling reenergized, grateful and motivated to keep building.
Q: Finally, is there a Las Vegas tradition that tells you, “We’re back”?
A: Our Las Vegas tradition is a full-company dinner. Because IMEX is the one time our entire team is together in one place, that dinner has become much more than just a meal. It gives us the chance to reconnect, laugh, spend time together and experience the culture of Show Gear as a complete team.
One of my favorite things each year is seeing the new faces and watching how naturally they become part of the group. We have an exceptionally talented team, but what makes me most proud is that we genuinely enjoy being together, support one another and are stronger together than we could ever be individually. When everyone is together, the energy is palpable. That’s the moment when it really feels like, “We’re back.”
Booth C5016
