NAMM University Schedule Announced for 2011 Summer NAMM Show

The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) today announced its NAMM University educational session schedule for the upcoming 2011 Summer NAMM show, which takes place July 21-23 in Nashville, Tenn.

Kicking the show off each morning will be the popular “Breakfast Session” held in the Grand Ballroom in the Renaissance Nashville hotel adjacent to the Nashville Convention Center. Each Breakfast Session begins with a free, hot breakfast at 8 a.m. and continues with in-depth presentations and panel discussions on the most important issues and topics that music product retailers face today.

Then each day, educational sessions will be offered in the Idea Center on the trade show floor every half an hour starting at 10:30 a.m., featuring presentations from seasoned professionals in the retail and music products industries. This year’s lineup offers more sessions on technology, including back-to-back sessions outlining how to use Google to benefit retail businesses with speakers Peter Dods of Easy Music Center and Grant Billings of Steinway Piano Gallery of Madison.

Thursday morning will kick off with a Breakfast Session called “The NAMM Retail Summit,” featuring NAMM President and CEO Joe Lamond speaking with Robin Lewis, co-author of “The New Rules of Retail: Competing in the World’s Toughest Marketplace” and guest panelists. The session will focus on the critical changes taking place in retail and the vital information retailers need to stay in business and thrive.

Thursday’s Idea Center sessions will include a double session on “The Basics to Valuing Music Stores,” presented by Alan Friedman of Friedman, Kannenberg & Company, PC, and a 90-minute session called “I Love to Buy! Now, I May Need Some Help to Sell Thru!” presented by Danny Rocks of The Company Rocks and Friedman.

Friday’s Breakfast Session will focus on “The Top 10 Web Marketing Trends and How to Use Them,” presented by John Arnold, marketing author and columnist at Entrepreneur.com. Attendees will learn about the top marketing technologies including social media, search marketing, mobile devices and local Internet marketing, and how to invest in only the technologies that will bring their business results. Friday’s Idea Center sessions will include: “How to Use Facebook to Market Your Business: The Dos and Don’ts” by Greg Billings of Steinway Piano Gallery of Naples and Grant Billings of Steinway Piano Gallery of Madison; “The Top 10 Marketing & Promotion Ideas That Experts Say “Try Now!” by Scott Robertson, APR, director of marketing and communications at NAMM; and a three-part series called “Get Ready for the ‘Next Generation’ of Music Lessons” by Pete Gamber of Alta Loma Music and “The Lesson Room” columnist for Music Inc. magazine.

Saturday’s Breakfast Session will highlight the “Best In Show: This Year’s Hottest Products,” featuring Frank Alkyer, publisher of Music Inc. magazine and a guest panel offering up the hottest products they saw on the show floor at 2011 Summer NAMM.

Saturday’s Idea Center sessions will include a double session covering “What Is Working In My Store Now!” by Danny Rocks and “Successful Lessons Series: Selling Lessons As a Retail Item” by Donovan Bankhead of Springfield Music.

Starting at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, show attendees and anyone in the Nashville area who is interested in starting to play an instrument, write songs or learn music-making applications will be invited to the show floor to attend the “Wanna Play Day” clinics and sessions. Topics will include:

• Learning the Basics Garage Band
Logic Pro Test Drive—a hands-on look at basics of Logic Pro for beginners

• Home Studio Technology for Songwriters—professional songwriters discuss how they use computers and the latest technology in their home studios

• Live Sound Basics—tips on how to purchase, rent and set up a live sound system that’s appropriate for your band or group

To view a complete listing of the NAMM University sessions that will be held at 2011 Summer NAMM, visit: https://ww1.namm.org/summer/2011/namm-u-grid.

For more details about Summer NAMM and “Wanna Play Day” visit: https://ww1.namm.org/summer/2011.

About NAMM

The National Association of Music Merchants, commonly called NAMM in reference to the organization's popular NAMM trade shows, is the not-for-profit association that unifies, leads and strengthens the $17 billion global musical instruments and products industry. NAMM'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 www.namm.org or call 800-767-NAMM (6266).