Sure enough, there’s a jam of shuttle buses there dropping attendees off. Inside the South Hall a line of hundreds stacks up, waiting to get their first look at the exhibition floor.

The booths are neat, the carpet still clean, and stacks of brochures are tall. A full 10 minutes into the show and the Medi-Rub massage exhibition is already quite popular. Foot pads massage feet with shoes on. Assistants hold the Body Massager (think power sander) on people’s shoulders, backs, calf muscles. I’ll wait until day two.

First mistake: check which hall seminars are in. My plan to hit a marketing awards seminar then scoot into a talk on building for the 55+ market is foiled when I realize one is in the South Hall, one is in the West. This is a 15 minute walk at least along an impressive walkway concourse. So, I change plans and duck into the Opening ceremonies.

A dark hall filled with at least 6,000 people listens to Colin Powell, who is in the middle of his speech. The stage, with bridge-like structures, brick chimneys, soft lights, and A Statue of Liberty (replica) on the left side and a Washington Monument to the right swallows Powell at the podium. Thanks for the 4 big-screen monitors.

The former Secretary of State and General is a funny guy. He’s talking light-heartedly about diplomatic affairs, and is getting more laughs than a Jay Leno monologue. He tells stories about needing the king of Morocco to agree to resolve a crisis with Spain immediately so Powell can play with his grandkids in the pool. The U.S. is in a 200 year marriage with France, only the last few years have been in marriage counseling. The Japanese Prime Minister is awed with Powell only after he tells the PM that he used to know Elvis Presley. He jokes about recently being wanded at an airport security check point, and when the security guy recognizes him, Powell says maybe he should be looking for Osama Bin Laden.

He pulls no punches about problems but is staunchly optimistic. The General rouses everyone with pride in the United State’s openness, warmth, and friendliness. We’re in global competition now, and we’ll win this Competition of the Mind, says Powell. Because Americans, and particularly people like builders, know how to innovate. The speech ends and people move toward the door, fired up about being builders at the International Builders’ Show.