What an incredible first day at the 2009 ERA D2C Convention! Pitch It to the Pros kicked off with a bang at Livemercial’s Booth #501, and the response from inventors and attendees alike was overwhelming. We had a packed house for every session, with inventors lining up to present their products to our panel of direct response marketing veterans.

The caliber of products we saw today was outstanding. Inventors came prepared with prototypes, demos, and a genuine passion for their creations. Our panel didn’t hold back — they offered honest assessments of market potential, packaging suggestions, pricing strategies, and tips on how to position products for the direct-to-consumer marketplace. That’s the beauty of Pitch to the Pros: it’s not just a competition, it’s a masterclass in what it takes to succeed in this industry.

We also went live on UStream throughout the day, broadcasting the pitches to viewers around the world. The live chat was on fire with comments and questions from people watching remotely. It’s incredible to see how streaming technology can bring an event like this to a global audience in real time — something that was nearly impossible just a few years ago.

Day one is in the books, and we couldn’t be more excited for what’s ahead. Tomorrow brings another full day of pitches, panels, and the Discovery Channel PitchMen auditions. If you’re at the ERA convention, don’t miss it. And if you’re watching from home, fire up UStream and join us live.