Day Three of the 2009 NAMM Show

The third day of the 2009 NAMM Show drew thousands of music products professionals to the halls of the Anaheim Convention Center for business, networking, music and education.

Many attendees saw a morning performance by Arlan Schierbaum, who played the Moog synthesizer in a jazz quartet that also featured guitar, bass and drums. Alan Friedman and Danny Rocks moderated the morning’s NAMM University Breakfast Session, “25 Ideas to Improve Your Business—NOW!” The session offered tips in the areas of sales promotion, financial improvement, technology and business operations.

The Giants of Latin Jazz brought lively music to the convention center lobby before show opening, followed by the Baldwin High School Marching Highlanders, who marched up Convention Way at show opening.

NAMM Chairman Chip Averwater presided over this morning's Annual Meeting of Members, where Members voted in the new slate of NAMM Board of Directors and recognized the outgoing Board Members for their service.

NAMM University hosted several sessions in the Idea Center, including a new six-part series on participative selling for retailers.

“I go through the schedule every year before I come out here and pick the specific sessions that I can fit into my schedule—anything from sales training to store design to Internet,” said Bruce Bannister of Samuel Music Co., Effingham, Ill. “Everybody here at the show should be, in my opinion, sitting in here a lot because there are so many good things that you can get out of it. Sometimes it’s almost an overload of information, so you have to go through and pick out the ideas you can implement.”

The packed show floor demonstrated strong attendance by buyers from around the world.

“I came to meet with some suppliers and to see new products and find new business opportunities,” said Ernesto Roca of Danelectro, Venezuela. “And every morning I go to the Breakfast Sessions. I like to learn from more experienced people and then take their tips back home. I’m tired, but I’m great—I’ve really enjoyed it.”

Many media outlets documented this year’s show, including the Los Angeles Times, Orange County Register, Yahoo! Music, msn.com, National Public Radio, Orange County Business Journal, Macworld, CBS Radio, CBS Television, Robb Report and E! Networks.

Some of the day’s celebrity appearances included Steve Vai, The Bangles and Billy Bob Thornton, in addition to several band members who endorsed brands by signing autographs and performing product demonstrations. A show highlight included Alicia Keys, who appeared at a Yamaha press conference where she performed live, before she toured the show floor.

The day ended with the sounds of USAF “Mobility” in the convention center lobby, as show-goers headed out to a night of industry concerts and events around Anaheim.
The 2009 NAMM Show runs through tomorrow, Sunday, January 18, at the Anaheim Convention Center. For more information and news updates, interested parties may visit www.namm.org/thenammshow.