The 'booth babes' of CES(venturebeat.com)
venturebeat.com
The 'booth babes' of CES
http://venturebeat.com/2014/01/08/meet-the-booth-babes-of-ces-and-read-what-they-really-think-about-attendees/
11 comments
This isn't contradictory at all. What they mean is that they would like to be engaged as people with their own thoughts, ideas, and opinions -- not hit or creeped on.
I know that the irony there is that they are marketed and dressed in a manner to appeal to the male sexual mind, but I'd like to think we've evolved beyond that (chuckles heard in the audience).
"Tell me more about what you're doing/this product." seems like a good start.
I know that the irony there is that they are marketed and dressed in a manner to appeal to the male sexual mind, but I'd like to think we've evolved beyond that (chuckles heard in the audience).
"Tell me more about what you're doing/this product." seems like a good start.
> they would like to be engaged as people
Actually, that's a creative embellishment you've contributed. The quotes from the models do not support your inference. They merely portray the actions of the men, not the preferences of the models.
The writer labels it a "pretty common complaint," but the sentence “And then you get the creepers who like to take photos without asking” could be equally taken to be backdoor bragging. Plenty of women describe encounters from strangers in order to brag about their attractiveness. (See the movie American Beauty, for example).
Plenty of women appreciate the attention of men. In fact, later on, one of the models says, "I love my techies."
Downvote me if you want - this is a throwaway - but if you ever want to understand women, you'll re-read my words until you understand them.
Actually, that's a creative embellishment you've contributed. The quotes from the models do not support your inference. They merely portray the actions of the men, not the preferences of the models.
The writer labels it a "pretty common complaint," but the sentence “And then you get the creepers who like to take photos without asking” could be equally taken to be backdoor bragging. Plenty of women describe encounters from strangers in order to brag about their attractiveness. (See the movie American Beauty, for example).
Plenty of women appreciate the attention of men. In fact, later on, one of the models says, "I love my techies."
Downvote me if you want - this is a throwaway - but if you ever want to understand women, you'll re-read my words until you understand them.
- Tell me more about what you're doing.
- You know, just standing here half-naked, attracting penises to this booth.We hired 2 models as greeters at a entertainment park owned by a PE firm I interned at in Dallas. The woman was so beautiful that I couldn't have a normal conversation with her for quite some time. The guy was as good looking, and it just felt natural to chat to him in a very relaxed way.
So I trusted him and was intimidated by her. I was on site most days and realized what was happening, and tried to change my behavior. It was surprisingly difficult even when I knew what was going on.
So the question is - why not hire male models to pitch wares? And the challenge is to be aware of the effect of beauty and to change our behavior.
So the question is - why not hire male models to pitch wares? And the challenge is to be aware of the effect of beauty and to change our behavior.
You're intimidated to talk to her, but she definitely catches your attention. Booth babes are eye candy. If people interact with them, better, but I'm sure the company won't mind if people want to hangout around the booth just because of the beautiful girls. There's people other than booth babes who can pitch and sell products.
"“You kind of wonder where you’re picture’s going to end up,” she says"
I wonder the same. What are the 'legitimate' points of taking pictures of or with these women? So that you can offer photographic proof to your friends back home that you have indeed once been near a woman?
Then again, I don't understand the point of tourists taking pictures of national monuments, so maybe I'm just missing the core concept of pictures...
I wonder the same. What are the 'legitimate' points of taking pictures of or with these women? So that you can offer photographic proof to your friends back home that you have indeed once been near a woman?
Then again, I don't understand the point of tourists taking pictures of national monuments, so maybe I'm just missing the core concept of pictures...
I got a counter question? What legitimate point of putting hot girls anywhere near technology conference? Those booth models are there specifically to draw attention to themselves and the product they represent. Sex sells.
Legitimate was the wrong word for me to use, I'm getting at the difference between "actual" and "excuse".
"Sex sells" is the "point", legitimate or not. For better or worse, "sex sells" seems to currently be accepted by society. Nobody really makes an excuse for it.
I'm wondering what excuse for taking pictures with them is, since presumably "so I can jack it later" is not a socially acceptable reason. That reason, while I suspect it is the actual reason, is left unstated so that both parties can pretend there is another reason.
"Sex sells" is the "point", legitimate or not. For better or worse, "sex sells" seems to currently be accepted by society. Nobody really makes an excuse for it.
I'm wondering what excuse for taking pictures with them is, since presumably "so I can jack it later" is not a socially acceptable reason. That reason, while I suspect it is the actual reason, is left unstated so that both parties can pretend there is another reason.
I wonder why the writer can't handle basic grammar.
You do make an amusing point with national monuments. Booth babes are almost an iconic part of conferences like this, so maybe getting a photo with one is as much part of the experience as getting a photo with the Eiffel Tower in the background?
Maybe so. Getting your picture taken with celebrities after a show makes a bit more sense to me, so maybe this is just a similar concept?
I have never been to a conference with "booth babes" but this question I have also asked:
"If CES attendees feel intimidated by a booth spokesperson, why is that spokesperson chosen to do the job? Why not let the models dress down, adopt girl-next door makeup, and proactively demo the products instead of standing around in heels waiting for the next photo opp?"
"If CES attendees feel intimidated by a booth spokesperson, why is that spokesperson chosen to do the job? Why not let the models dress down, adopt girl-next door makeup, and proactively demo the products instead of standing around in heels waiting for the next photo opp?"
Booth babes are not there for the attendees there there for the free publicity outside the event as their picture is posted on various websites etc.
Why not use a mix of both? Staff the booth with 3 attendees. One booth-babe in high heels with all that jazz for the photos, one girl wearing light makeup and wearing attire that would make her approachable to the average tech nerd, and one boy who provides an approach-target for girls and guys who aren't comfortable talking to girls.
I'll grant that for the sake of argument, but does that kind of publicity do any good for the event or the people presenting their products there?
The companies know sex sells.
The photographers from the media know sex sells.
The media publishing the photographer know sex sells.
Science knows that sex sells. http://www.popsci.com/scitech/article/2008-04/sex-sells-what...
So yes, my guess is the booth babes help raise product awareness, product exposure, and desire for the product.
Science knows that sex sells. http://www.popsci.com/scitech/article/2008-04/sex-sells-what...
So yes, my guess is the booth babes help raise product awareness, product exposure, and desire for the product.
Perhaps the "Booth Babes" aren't there for the conference attendee's, but to look good in journalist photos? The same way models are booked for advertisements?
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from the article:
> During my show-floor travels, I confirmed my hypothesis that the so-called “booth babes” are worthy of so much more than objectification. But these women surprised me with some of their insights, namely that sexualizing them is bad for business.
> A nameless, hot object is something you want to look at. But to get to know the person and the product she represents, you have to see her as a person.
I don't get it. Are we dating?
A company hires a woman to put on a bikini and in a conference hall where everyone else is dressed casually, this woman walks around dressed to go swimming.
And yet, the woman doing this complains how she is being victimized by the evil men who objectify her during their 120 seconds with her.
Somehow the company shouldn't hire her to walk around in her bikini and the male attendees shouldn't objectify her and that their awkward behavior around her signifies much more than that she is dressed in a bikini in a conference hall where everyone else is dressed casual or in a suit and tie.
News flash: she is objectifying herself.
> During my show-floor travels, I confirmed my hypothesis that the so-called “booth babes” are worthy of so much more than objectification. But these women surprised me with some of their insights, namely that sexualizing them is bad for business.
> A nameless, hot object is something you want to look at. But to get to know the person and the product she represents, you have to see her as a person.
I don't get it. Are we dating?
A company hires a woman to put on a bikini and in a conference hall where everyone else is dressed casually, this woman walks around dressed to go swimming.
And yet, the woman doing this complains how she is being victimized by the evil men who objectify her during their 120 seconds with her.
Somehow the company shouldn't hire her to walk around in her bikini and the male attendees shouldn't objectify her and that their awkward behavior around her signifies much more than that she is dressed in a bikini in a conference hall where everyone else is dressed casual or in a suit and tie.
News flash: she is objectifying herself.
I don't get it. Are we dating?
No, the author is just suggesting that to most effectively pitch the person/product they represent, reps need to be approachable. After all, isn't "build rapport" step one of sales? Now, whether the models are there to pitch anything in the first place is a different question.
And yet, the woman doing this complains how she is being victimized by the evil men who objectify her during their 120 seconds with her.
Doesn't read like that to me. The only one pushing any kind of agenda in the article is the author, who is not a booth babe.
No, the author is just suggesting that to most effectively pitch the person/product they represent, reps need to be approachable. After all, isn't "build rapport" step one of sales? Now, whether the models are there to pitch anything in the first place is a different question.
And yet, the woman doing this complains how she is being victimized by the evil men who objectify her during their 120 seconds with her.
Doesn't read like that to me. The only one pushing any kind of agenda in the article is the author, who is not a booth babe.
The author is not embarrassed about pushing an agenda, either:
'Would she classify them as desperate nerds? She laughs a bit nervously. "I guess so."'
So we're getting the author's words coming back out of the models' mouths. This is of limited interest.
'Would she classify them as desperate nerds? She laughs a bit nervously. "I guess so."'
So we're getting the author's words coming back out of the models' mouths. This is of limited interest.
> The only one pushing any kind of agenda in the article is the author, who is not a booth babe.
You're right and I wish I had written it to represent that more accurately.
You're right and I wish I had written it to represent that more accurately.
In the past I had 4 very attractive female employees. I hired one...and then she brought her friends around and one-by-one I ended up hiring them. At trade shows(and expos) the customers assumed they were 'booth babes' and not our actual employees. It was frustrating to say the least.
Source: My girlfriend does promo modelling from time to time.
Here are a few things that I found interesting:
* Bikini modelling (perhaps obviously) pays the most. Numbers are in the $50-75/hour range.
* For non-bikini modelling, liquor gigs pay the most. About $35/hour. Non-liquor gigs are roughly $20-25/hour.
* A lot of girls do this full-time.
Here are a few things that I found interesting:
* Bikini modelling (perhaps obviously) pays the most. Numbers are in the $50-75/hour range.
* For non-bikini modelling, liquor gigs pay the most. About $35/hour. Non-liquor gigs are roughly $20-25/hour.
* A lot of girls do this full-time.
> One has to wonder: If CES attendees feel intimidated by a booth spokesperson, why is that spokesperson chosen to do the job? Why not let the models dress down, adopt girl-next door makeup, and actively demo the products instead of standing around in heels waiting for the next photo opp?
publicity != information. /thread
> their insights, namely that sexualizing them is bad for business.
Hmmm. Any chance their insights are .... wrong? What's my evidence? I dunno, models make $50-75/hour while the CEO of the company who hires them makes millions a year?
Actually, I suspect the author is putting her words into the models' mouths. Did the models really say they thought sexualization was bad for business? They said the men were shy and didn't approach them, but linking that to bad business practice requires several more conceptual leaps.
Just another woman-judges-women story.
publicity != information. /thread
> their insights, namely that sexualizing them is bad for business.
Hmmm. Any chance their insights are .... wrong? What's my evidence? I dunno, models make $50-75/hour while the CEO of the company who hires them makes millions a year?
Actually, I suspect the author is putting her words into the models' mouths. Did the models really say they thought sexualization was bad for business? They said the men were shy and didn't approach them, but linking that to bad business practice requires several more conceptual leaps.
Just another woman-judges-women story.
Why is this a story every year at every conference on earth? Yes, they're women, and they're placed to attract less-than-intelligent customers, who happen to be the target audience of almost every advertising effort on earth.
Where's the story?
Where's the story?
The story is "Articles about booth babes get a lot of clicks"
Then: "The younger ones in previous years used to ask for my number a lot.”
The article is pretty much void of content, just a couple of booth babes giving personal (and contradictory) anecdotes.