Big Smoke events worth the Big Ticket Prices?

I live just a 3.5 hour drive from Las Vegas, so the fact that the Big Smoke is going to be there this year has piqued my interest...right until I got to the ticket prices.

Have folks gone before? Are the morning seminars worth it? What about the evening events?

It seems nuts to me that they hand you the top three cigars Cigar Aficionado rated last year, and then expect you to smoke all three within a couple of hours.

I think the IPCPR is going to be in Vegas next year, so any thoughts about that would be great too.

Isn't IPCPR for retailers and others in the industry and not open to the public?

Some trade shows aren't completely closed to the public. But to be honest, I have no idea.

I have done the Big Smoke in Vegas and always enjoyed myself. I have never done the seminars just the night event. You get a good amount of cigars (last one I came home with 48 cigars) and really its just a lot of fun. It is way better to go with at least one other person to aid in the cigar getting so that there is more time to smoke, drink, eat and enjoy the event and the people.

Yeah I think the draw for me would be to make it sort of a Cigar Bum herf. I think going by myself would kind of dampen the enjoyment.

I'm pretty sure IPCPR is industry only. I seem to remember there being discussion on one the forums last year about it.

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Originally Posted by TreySC

I'm pretty sure IPCPR is industry only. I seem to remember there being discussion on one the forums last year about it.

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Boo!

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Originally Posted by Zeede

Boo!

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Maybe you can get your local B&M to hire you part time and get you in

Hehe.

Personally, this event is a horrible cigar event. I realize many will disagree, therefore I preference this by stating this is my personal opinion.

1. For the hundreds of dollars spent just on the ticket alone you can purchase 1-3 boxes of cigars you regularly smoke (or know you will smoke). The entire event is like "Treat O Treat" for cigar smokers. All you do is stay in line for an hour only to get to the table of X (insert cigar company) and they give you a few sticks. You cannot talk to them or ask questions, etc. Why? Because there are 50 people waiting behind you. It's a total rush and not relaxing at all. You're basically paying hundreds of dollars for 40-50 random cigars. I'd rather spend hundreds of dollars on cigars I love to smoke.

2. I've had several friends go to this event and all of them said they would never go again. Unless you live in Las Vegas attending the event is expensive. Take into consideration flight cost and hotel cost...then the cost of the event just to get random cigars. Most of which you will never smoke. I had three friends attend last fall and when they returned they gave away, literally, 90% of the cigars they got for free.

3. I know several cigar reps and all of them tell me not to go. Now, that is very telling to me when people within the industry are telling me it's not worth the travel/wait/cost.

Overall, I think the event is an experience. However, unless you're open to smoking every cigar you get (and many you won't like due to the mass variety) it's not worth it. You don't get to speak or chat with the owners, reps, etc of the companies because it's too busy. The rush to get into the room is crazy. The wait just to get into the room is hours (4-6 hours from what I've been told) long. Overall, every person who's gone tells me it's more stressful than enjoyable. Now, I'm here on the east coast so this trip is a major one for me. I have been told if anything I should go to the one in NYC which is only a few hours away and basically a day trip.

Anyway, just my two cents.

PS: Also, to the OP the Big Smoke is always in Las Vegas every fall. So even if you don't go this year you'll always have the chance.