Do We Really Need Three Trade Shows a Year?

I was flipping through the pages of the most recent issue of the prepaid press and they are heavily promoting their very first trade show, the tppEXPO'08, to be held in Las Vegas from August 19th to August 21st of this year. There are still very details available about the show like who will be speaking and who will be sponsoring but you can keep up with the developments at the prepaid press expo website.

While I understand their motives, unseating the Intelecard folks from their domination, I just feel like this extra expo is a little odd considering we are in a fast shrinking business and should actually be looking to reduce the amount of trade shows not increase them. This extra trade show will only dilute each shows importance. I would rather have 1 big show a year where I know everyone will attend, rather than three shows where people will selectively attend.

The other strange thing here is why not pick a different venue than Vegas? Intelecard will be throwing their Expo there a month or two later... do you think people are going to want to go out to Vegas twice in two months? I for one would be too broke from the first trip!