EVENTS
EVENTS
MY FIRST VAPER EXPO EXPERIENCE … By Abida Razaque
I must admit that I was more than just a little apprehensive about what to expect from Vaper Expo because this was the first vaping event I have ever attended .
I was a little pessimistic to be frank , as I don ’ t vape and I didn ’ t think I would really enjoy the experience . I visualised it as being very dark , very loud and so foggy that I would not be able to see where I was going . With so many people vaping in one enclosed space , I recall envisioning myself passing out , trapped in a room full of mist , feeling claustrophobic , with large clouds of vapour hitting me in the face . ( I even brought a face-mask with me in case all the vapour in the air got too much for me .) It sounds dramatic I know but before I worked for Vapouround Magazine I had no idea that such events even existed and so I suppose I must have let my imagination work overtime . However as you have probably worked out by now , my first vape event did not turn out anything like I feared and I had worked myself up for no good reason . First off I had expected to be hit by a huge wall of vapour as soon as I entered the building and had imagined it to be like walking into a steam room but minus the intense heat . And while the amount of vapour in the air did build up throughout the day it was nowhere near the levels that I had imagined and I didn ’ t ever feel the need to use my face mask ! The first thing I did notice was the haze seeping steadily through the doors and immediately I was curious . As I entered , the size of the hall was vast , full of exhibitors with bespoke stands ,
118 ISSUE 08 VAPOUROUND MAGAZINE displaying their vaping hardware , ranging from e-liquids to advanced personal vaporisers . Upon entrance , I was immediately drawn to the U . S Vaping division . As I made my way through the maze , I was impressed to see the ethnic diversity amongst vendors , until then , I did not expect to see them come from all sorts of backgrounds . I assumed it would be full of hairy bikers with tattoos , piercings and dressed in black leather – quite the contrary . I don ’ t think I once saw anyone dressed like that ! While I went from stand to stand , I had the opportunity to engage with some wonderful people fluctuating from local businesses to large global companies and I enjoyed talking to everyone I met . There were people from all walks of life and all were passionate about vaping . I met people who had left perfectly good corporate jobs , to go their own way and initiate a new dream they were passionate about , despite uncertainty in the industry which looms over them . I was left impressed by the entrepreneurs who had achieved success in a short period of time and I quickly became overwhelmed by everything that was going on . This industry is full of interesting personalities , quirky individuals of different ages and lifestyles who were all enjoying each other ’ s company in one place . I thought that was quite endearing . It also dawned on me that vaping is more than just a means to quit smoking as , for many , it is a business and an entire lifestyle . I was instantly attracted to retro booths like Dinner Lady , Indulge and Twelve Monkeys and Illusions Vapor for their suave and sophisticated visual presentations . The best vape models for me were the duo at Mrs Baker in their modish grandmother attire . As the day wore on I did feel a little dizzy from all that vapour in the air and walking around for hours wears you out eventually . The music was not nearly as loud as I had anticipated which is good as I was getting a headache by the end of the day , ( colleagues who had been to previous shows had warned me that this might happen .) It had been a very long and tiring day and I was really ready for my bed that evening and now that it is all over , I am happy to report that my experience was very pleasant overall . I actually appreciate it much more now that it has come to an end and I am really happy to have met so many wonderful people at the event . If I get asked to cover another vaping event I would have no hesitation in saying ‘ yes ’ and at least I now know that I can safely leave the face masks at home .
THIS INDUSTRY IS FULL OF INTERESTING PERSONALITIES , QUIRKY INDIVIDUALS OF DIFFERENT AGES AND LIFESTYLES WHO WERE ALL ENJOYING EACH OTHER ’ S COMPANY IN ONE PLACE . I THOUGHT THAT WAS QUITE ENDEARING . IT ALSO DAWNED ON ME THAT VAPING IS MORE THAN JUST A MEANS TO QUIT SMOKING AS , FOR MANY , IT IS A BUSINESS AND AN ENTIRE LIFESTYLE .
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