Forget copyright, just use the songs you like.

That's a pretty solid middle ground you found. Fully moving a downed sign can get you in trouble if it's an official marker, but leaving it flat is no help to anyone. Propping it up lets the next person know where it should go without you making a permanent call. Might be worth letting the trail maintainers know it needs a proper fix, though.

Honestly that convention center coffee price is actually insane. Flying all the way to Chicago just to watch a slow mannequin cut and then pay like twenty bucks for a burnt latte. Your friend basically paid for a haircut and got a terrible drink instead. Sounds like the whole trip was a total scam compared to just watching a video at home. Makes you wonder why anyone even goes to those things if that's the best they can show. Tbh I'd be more mad about the coffee than the boring demo, at least the demo was free to watch.