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I went to the biggest show in town without a ticket and got bustedat the door — even though I was dressed better than thestar, who appeared in a hoodie and sneaks. The Facebook roadshow — the ritualistic presentation topotential institutional investors, a customary prelude to anyinitial public offering — came to New York City today, andwith an impressive posse of security. "I've never seenanything like this — even at the White House," oneinvestor emailed from inside the ballroom. Too bad for me Desiree Rogers wasn't in charge. Usually it's not a big deal to slip into investorpresentations without an invitation. Most people usually haveextras and are glad to share. But apparently there were some veryreal concerns about safety. Like Mark Zuckerberg, I was fashionably late. About an hour. Theestimated 550 to 600 investors were miffed, but I was not. Time wason my side. Inside, Zuckerberg was joined on stage by ChiefFinancial Officer David Ebersman and Chief Operating Officer SherylSandberg to discuss the deal, which is likely to give the company avalue of close to $100 billion. But first, to much general consternation, the Facebook team playedthe half-hour retail roadshow video that has been zipping all overthe Internet since Thursday. Which when you think about it ispretty funny — Facebook was sending a message to investors:We're not going to tell you anything different from anyonewho has access to the Internet. (See the video here and my earlier summary of it here .) Technically, roadshows are not supposed to reveal anything thatisn't already on file with the regulators, but sometimesthings slip out. Which is why investors and people like me — I just wrote a mini ebook about Facebook – like to go to these things. So I thought I would swingby the roadshow just in case I had missed something, other than aninvitation. ( MORE : With IPO Looming, Is Facebook s Ad Business Ready for Prime Time? ) On the way to the ballroom, I glided past the first set of guysin gray suits, ear buds attached to the always-attractive coiledwires leading to places unknown in their suits. At the top of thestairs, a quick turn and three sets of white tables, nicely set offbehind a huge blow-up of the classic Facebook map of the worldbased on friend connections. Each desk was manned with threepeople. All you needed to know was your name — A-F? G-M? N-Z?And if you didn't know your last name, there was a fourthdesk — that would be me. As I emailed this investor friend and that one to see if they couldget me through security, several polite Facebook reps came over toask for my credentials. Thank goodness for the smartphone. AsFacebook would say, my life in my pocket. "I'm waitingfor it to pop in my email." I smiled. So true. For Facebook reps, the fourth time was the charm. "Are youwith the press?" I answered truthfully. Busted. And withstyle. "This gentleman will escort you out." Ilooked up. There was the gentleman. Six-foot-plus. Lean. Unsmiling,even when I joked in all my five-foot-three-humor that I had neverbeen escorted out of anywhere before. I suspect his next job willbe as a beefeater. Standing around outside, I rather enjoyed the thought of all thosepeople trapped, watching a video, as I chatted up the crew fromAsahi Television of Japan. All the usual suspects from the presswere milling about. Finally, at 2 pm, a steady stream of people(mostly men) began leaving the ballroom, Facebook prospectuses inhand. One kind gent actually handed his to me. A realcollector's item! Is that all Facebook handed out? Well,there was the Cobb salad (not so tasty, I hear) and a brownie. Nota single woman would speak to me. ( More : Why Facebook s IPO Matters ) Before the crowd dispersed, a few Facebook officials came out intothe lobby, possibly feeling sorry for those left out in the cold.They scanned us and declared that we weren't too muchtrouble. Except for you, said one, pointing at me. "I'mnot trouble," I said. "I'm clear. I'm firm.I'm a mom." The rep smiled and handed me a brownie.Hooray for moms. And now, for some highlights from the Facebook Roadshow, as told tome by those who had an invitation: The audience was intimidated. At first. When Mark Zuckerberg finally took the stage to field questions,there was a complete silence. A hush. "Awe" is the wordthat comes to mind of Ben Rogoff, director of technologyinvestments for London-based Polar Capital. Then a couple of bravesouls raised their hands to ask questions. The session lasted abouta half hour. The Zuck factor. "He was more than credible," says Rogoff. A couple ofothers weren't as enthusiastic — but they weren'tnegative either. So he gets to stay CEO. About that slowdown in growth. CFO Ebersman fielded the question on whether they were concernedabout slowing revenues in the first quarter. One investor, whodidn't want to share his name, said that Ebersman saidFacebook was more focused on improving the user experience; thatthey would sacrifice revenue in the interim. Someone also askedabout the $1 billion Instagram purchase. They said that they feltInstagram would help accelerate Facebook's growth. Funniest moment. Well, for the people inside the ballroom, it was when someone askedabout Facebook in China. Apparently Zuckerberg said, "We areblocked in China." And that was that. I think you had to bethere to get the humor. Truly the funniest moment. In my opinion, it was when I got to the Sheraton on SeventhAvenue, and there were about 50 people in two lines, apparentlywaiting for someone. I asked a policeman, who said they werewaiting for Mark Zuckerberg. Television crews had their camerasready. Expectation was in the air. Then a guard whispered to aguest: "He's already in the ballroom." Bottom line. Investors didn't seem to change their minds on whether theywere Facebook fans or not. They were like car shoppers who hadpretty much decided they wanted the Silver Toyota Prius with seatwarmers. But just to be sure, they decided to come in person andkick the tires. Nancy Miller is the author of The Facebook IPO Primer . I am an expert from adultincontinencepants.com, while we provides the quality product, such as China Mesh Incontinence Pants , Washable Incontinence Briefs Manufacturer, Child Incontinence Products,and more.
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