Just some quick notes while the experience is fresh in my head:

• "Don't show your portfolio." Check.
• Just as I was getting into a cab to get to the Javits Center, a cop pulled us over for a moving violation. Had to get out and run to make it on time.
• Just about everyone from our class showed, but a lot of others didn't. Weird.
• "Don't show your portfolio." Double check.
• Lots of people shaking hands and doing deals. That's the side of the business that I'm no good at.
• My little sister does a lot of convention work for her company, though it's not in the toy industry. I don't know how she does it. I was exhausted almost immediately.
• Magnets are always awesome. Lots of construction kits are using them, plus a number of cool maglev gadgets.
• Saw another Spectrum 3-D printer as well as one that builds the models out of thermal plastic. Nice stuff.
• "Don't show your portfolio." For the love of God, I super-extra-mega promise with a cherry on top not to show my portfolio! I don't even have a toy portfolio!
• Why are some booth spaces empty except for the company name or don't have their shelves stocked at all? Seems like a huge waste of money and opportunity not to have your act together.
• Overheard: "That guy still owes us money... and final prototypes." "It'll cost $500 to ship the hard toys." "I understand the risk you're taking with this."
• This is serious business, kids. No joke. I can see why everyone is here--this is really make or break, especially for smaller companies.
• Toys for 300 and the new season of Ghost in the Shell: SAC. Coooool! I'm such an otaku.
• Many, many, many Chinese manufacturers here. Not surprising, but interesting to see global capitalism at work first hand.
• DIY robots are cool. Drawing robots are cool. Wooden robots are cool. Damn, and they're mostly reasonably priced, too. If I was a kid, I'd be so hooked on this stuff. I wish these cats well.
• Must remember to pack a lunch next time I'm here. Paying $3.50 for lemonade is doubleplus ungood.
• Competition is TIGHT! You really need to break out of the pack in order to establish yourself here. So many offerings--how many start ups walk out with deals? Like I said, serious business.
• Three hours is apparently my max for convention strolling. Same thing happened at LinuxWorld. Getting old.

So, there's that. It was a really valuable experience. I'm extremely glad I was able to go. Props to Yury. And sympathies for having to set up next that weird poop-toy booth. What the hell was that, anyway?