The first Heathrow show I did as exhibitor was in 1974 when working for AR, I have worked them or attended them more often than I care to remember. I didn't attend this one and haven't attended one for 7 years and I hope I will never have to attend another one.
What you don't seem to realise is the unnatural energetic pressure it places on all concerned. Just staying at one of those hotels in the atmosphere and environment of Heathrow is enough to create a stress condition on its own. Add to that the additional pressure of masses of people in a tight enclosed environment and the people that staff those shows get into a very unhealthy state. I remember, especially when the show used to be in the Spring, if I had a bug lurking it came out into something full blown when I got back after the show. If not you could be sure someone was punting their pet bugs around the show and blowing them at you. Music is / should be a meditational enjoyable like pursuit, but in that environment it is impossible.
I have spent the last three days building some amps going to Canada and listening to John Redbourne, Bert Jansch, Willy Barrett, Ralph MacTell, Stephan Grossman, John Redbourn, Willy Barrett et al (I am in a strange Folk phase at the moment) So you all have my sympathies, I hope you get over the experience quickly. Universal *bakeoffs* seem to be the answer as far as I am concerned. A relaxed atmosphere, listening to a specific design / set of criteria / preferences. Time to appreciate sublety and nuance. Not polluted air, polluted mains, polluted energetic environment, stress creating desire.
AND feel sorry for the poor sods who had to put up with you in their rooms, when really the only thing they were interested in was blagging a dealer or distributor to try and get an order!!!!!!!
Richard