NAMM University and H.O.T. Zone Educational Schedules Announced for 2012 NAMM Show

The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) today announced its NAMM University professional development schedule for the upcoming 2012 NAMM Show, which takes place Jan. 19-22, 2012 at the Anaheim Convention Center.

The association also announced a full educational session schedule for the Hands On Training (H.O.T.) Zone during the NAMM Show, focused on the pro audio, entertainment technologies and music business operations segments.

Each day of the NAMM Show starts off with an educational “Breakfast Session” held at the adjacent Hilton Anaheim Hotel’s Pacific Ballroom, providing attendees with a free hot breakfast and an informative presentation on strategies and techniques that can help to strengthen their business. Attendees will enjoy musical artists, special guests, and speakers.

The NAMM Show kicks off Thursday Jan. 19 at 8 a.m. with a show favorite “Breakfast of Champions,” featuring NAMM President and CEO Joe Lamond as he welcomes the industry and a group of industry “champions” for a series of up-close and personal discussions about the current state and future of the music industry. Attendees are encouraged to listen in on the thoughts of these visionary leaders and get their views on today’s challenges and possibilities.

The NAMM University sessions start on Thursday at 10:30 a.m. and will be held every 30 minutes at the Idea Center on the NAMM Show floor, Booth #5501 in Hall B. The professional development sessions are designed to offer valuable insight about current business trends and practices to attendees throughout the duration of the NAMM Show.

A total of 43 sessions are being held this year on a wide range of topics in industry segments such as technology, music lesson programs, sales, retail ideas, marketing, retail operations and finance. Idea Center presenters include NAMM “Top 100 Dealers” and industry experts.

Thursday’s NAMM U sessions include “Making the Most of Your Store’s Staff” presented by Rand and Cindy Cook of The Candyman Strings & Things, winners of the Wanna Play Dealer and Best Use of Social Media award categories in NAMM's Top 100 Dealer Awards. That day will also feature “Meet the Music Store Stars: Marketing Secrets of a Successful Retail Store” moderated by Jen Lowe of Boom Boom Percussion, with Paul Decker, Levi Kujala and Dustin Tucker of Music Villa.

Friday’s Breakfast Session will be on the topic of “Real-Time Marketing & PR: How to Instantly Engage Your Market, Connect with Customers, and Create Products that Grow Your Business Now,” featuring David Meerman Scott, marketing strategist and bestselling author of “The New Rules of Marketing and PR” and “Marketing Lessons from the Grateful Dead.” Friday’s NAMM U sessions will include “Tune In to the Voice that Counts: Insights On Customer-Driven Innovation,” moderated by Steve Schwandner of Seeldeas, Inc., with Gregg Gammon and Jodi Smith of Buddy Roger’s Music.

The Breakfast Session on Saturday will highlight “The Top 10 Web Marketing Trends for 2012,” presented by John Arnold, marketing author and columnist at entrepreneur.com. Saturday’s NAMM U sessions will feature Danny Rocks of the Company Rocks and Scott Robertson, APR, NAMM’s director of marketing and communications, moderating a panel of industry retail professionals and sparking discussion on “How to Ignite Your Business in Five Minutes or Less.” In addition, a double session will be held on “How to Implement Your Social Media Strategy” moderated by Danny Rocks and a retail panel of experts, and a special interactive Q&A double session will feature “Financial Questions Every Music Retailer’s Afraid to Ask,” presented by Alan Friedman, CPA partner, and Daniel Jobe and Shaun Conrad of Freidman, Kannenberg & Company, P.C.

Sunday’s Breakfast Session is a NAMM Show tradition and features “Best In Show—The Year’s Hottest Products.” Join Frank Alkyer, publisher of Music Inc. and a panel of industry experts who search every aisle at the show for the best products, ideas and trends, and will select their top finds in the categories of: “Best Add-On or Accessory,” “Gotta Stock It,” “Companies to Watch” and “Best In Show.” Sunday’s NAMM U sessions will feature a double session on “Creating New customers and Musicians with Ukulele Circles,” with facilitator Jim D’Ville with Myrna Sislen of Middle C Music, Duane Wong of Music Works, and Shawna Gribskov of Pacific Winds Music.

For a complete listing of NAMM University sessions, visit https://ww1.namm.org/thenammshow/2012/namm-u-grid.
Also, NAMM will bring even more learning opportunities through the Hands-On Training (H.O.T.) Zone on Level 2 of the Convention Center for professionals in the recording, live sound, DJ, house of worship, commercial systems integrators, and stage and lighting industries. Industry partners, publishers, organizations and associations will offer special training workshops, master classes, clinics, mini-conferences and networking opportunities. For more information on the H.O.T. Zone, visit https://ww1.namm.org/thenammshow/2012/hot-zone-grid

About NAMM
NAMM is the trade association of the $17 billion international musical instruments and products industry. The association’s activities and programs are designed to promote music making to people of all ages. NAMM is comprised of more than 9,000 Member companies. For more information about NAMM, interested parties can visit namm.org or call 800-767-NAMM (6266).