ICSC
Is anyone an active member?  Is it worth it to you?  What do you get out of it?  I think I am going to join but was just curious on thoughts.  Anything in particular I should be looking to get out of that membership or that I will be excited to see?  
[{"id": "csj7z43", "text": "Disclaimer: this is through my limited knowledge from my mentor and others in the industry.\n\nWhat company are you a part of? You cannot join yourself without your company joining, I believe. What area do you focus in? If a significant of your business is land development or big tenant/LL reps, then definitely join. Where are you located? A lot of members are big companies, you can definitely garner interest in your area to companies that are not yet in your area.\n\nYou *just* missed the big event in Vegas. At least half of the members are a part of ICSC because of the event in Vegas. Look at the list available for this year on the website to see who goes to that event. The thing that everyone does: sign up for the event, and then immediately set up an appointment with the people you want to meet with. Do all your research, etc, make your appointment with the guys you want to target, and then try to make/close a deal right on the spot. My mentor witnessed two guys literally negotiate and close a deal within one meeting. \n\nMy mentor uses ICSC as a form of networking since he does literally everything with no niche. It works well for him. His rule is to join for 2 years: The first year take everything in and see how things work and function. The second year, you know how things work so do your business, make your connections, deals, whatever your goals are. After that, you will know if you want to stay in it or not.\n\nIf you join, *MAKE SURE* you go to the vegas event. \n\nSorry I cannot be any more help to you. I will not join this year or the next, but 2017, I will join and see if I get anything out of it myself. \n\nFor what it is worth, recently,  I was trying to negotiate a lease for a client of mine in various new developments. One specific company owns a couple (3) of these places I was trying to get my client into. You know what happened? A fucking rep for a national \"competitor\" of my client (we could get around exclusivity clauses but the LL does not want to ruin anything with the other tenant) went to the vegas event, talked to the reps for the LL, and set a deal to open up their store in each one of these locations (and other locations, I am sure) and fucking muscled my client out of the talks.", "replies": [{"id": "csjj37u", "text": "thanks for the great reply.  \n\nI'm in investment brokerage.  I was mainly hoping to get contacts with local strip owners etc and get access to more research on that market segment.  \n\nOur office got a sub or something.  I got an email this week that said I could join for $150 instead of the typical 800.  \n\nI've heard exactly what you said about the convention.  I may or may not go to that I suppose, but mainly I was curious what types of research they put out etc.  Do they have anything that is IREM quality or would help an investment type person in pricing, forecasting, analysis or is it mainly just a networking group?", "replies": [{"id": "csjoi4m", "text": "I know they do put out a lot of research and publications for their members. I can't speak on the quality of it but I know the quantity is there. If the following link provides any clues, I would say it has the type of research you are looking for. YOu have to be a member to look at it all though. [click this](http://www.icsc.org/research) \n\nI would definitely join if it is just 150. I think that's a small investment, even if to just poke around and see what you can get out of it.", "replies": [], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "csued9o", "text": "It's a great place to get drunk and party with other people in real estate.\n\nOther than that, it depends on how good you are at networking.\n\nSource: Me.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "csxg0oc", "text": "There's local events depending on what market you are in, which you get discounted access to. Theres the big events for members only, NY and LV. Theres the sc directory, and the member directory. There's access the magazine, and their publications, (for a price, good books though)", "replies": [], "depth": 1}]