in distribution and retailing and in the associated fields of
studio, theater, live music, and event production. Everyone
who comes to the NAMM Show has access to a gold mine of
information, education, and inspiration. Each show starts
as a blank piece of sheet music, and our members and staff
build it from there. Our world is continuously changing,
faster and faster it seems, I’ve been going to NAMM for
37 years now, and no two shows have ever been alike!
From last year to this, what are some of the key
changes you’ve seen in the music industry?
I see an interesting situation developing. On the one
hand, technology is driving incredible innovation,
electronic instruments, recording, and technology used
in live events are better, faster and less expensive than
ever. It also becomes obsolete quickly as the next model
is even better than the last. And at the same time, I see
an insatiable appetite for hand-crafted, custom made,
beautiful instruments and gear that will last forever.
What are some of the education sessions one
can look forward to at NAMM 2019?
At this time, there are over 400 professional education
sessions to be held at The NAMM Show for those involved
in music products, pro audio, and event technology.
Perhaps the real challenge is how to fit it all in! Roles
change, and I bet many of our attendees are involved
in many parts of the industry or will be at some point
in the careers. All sessions are designed to enhance
business and skill sets and are relevant to improving your
career regardless of which part of the industry you are
currently in. From event technology and event safety to
pro audio production and recording, all the way back to
the how to build a music lesson program in your store.
The schedule of educational offerings also includes
sessions from collaborators ESTA (Entertainment
Services and Technology Association), The Pro
Production Sessions presented by Front of House and
Projection, Lights & Staging News magazines, and
programming by Lighting&Sound America/PLASA;
NAMM U; TEC Tracks; A3E’s The Future of Audio
program; Audinate’s Dante Certification Training;
AES@NAMM: Pro Sound Symposium Live and Studio,
curated by the Audio Engineering Society; and Music
Education Days, GenNext career development and the
Nonprofit Institute from The NAMM Foundation.
It sounds like a lot, but the trick is to get the
schedule and pick the ones that are most
relevant to you, and then go for it!
The breakfast sessions at NAMM are known to be
extremely helpful for the industry. Are there any
specific areas you are covering this time?
As with all professional education, NAMM Breakfasts
are planned with our industry members in mind, and
NAMM Show attendees can start their days with a free
breakfast and a carefully curated set of sessions designed to
challenge the status quo and to inspire everyone to greater
success. Everyone needs breakfast, and by combining
this with a great session, we’re virtually adding an extra
hour of quality show time to everyone’s schedule!
On Thursday, I’ll personally host the “Breakfast of
Champions,” our theme this time is ‘The Originals’
and I’ll have a carefully chose group of surprise guests
who are truly original in their approach to music and
the music business. On Friday, futurist and innovation
expert, Daniel Burrus will reveal the current and future
trends guaranteed to shape the music products industry.
He’ll look at how to use these trends to innovate with low
risk, elevate your planning and accelerate profitability.
Saturday will welcome best-selling business author, Scott
Stratten for his presentation of, “How to Win in the Age of
Disruption.” He’ll address this current ‘age of disruption’
and how companies can win at business through trust,
connection, consistency, and service. And then on Sunday,
the final day of the Show, the ‘Best in Show’ panel session
with top retail stores will share the products from the
Show floor which they think are the ‘Best in Show.’
Could you talk about some of the gigs/
performances scheduled for the show?
Those who have been to the show know that it is famous
for seeing and running into some of the biggest artists,
producers, and celebrities in the world. Honestly, that’s
not our goal, but it just seems to attract them. There
is a tremendous curiosity for everyone involved to see
what the latest innovations are in the world of music
and sound products. We’ll also have countless concerts,
appearances and industry meet-ups where people can
share the unique theme that ties everything together at the
NAMM Show, music. The nightly Grand Plaza concerts,
the hotel lobby bars and the dozens of manufacturer
parties create a diverse musical celebration that is
likely not replicated anywhere else in the world. The
NAMM Show app is the best way to navigate all of this,
I highly recommend everyone download it, its free!
A variety of award shows held during NAMM also
honor luminaries in all aspects of the industry. Friday
evening, the Parnelli Awards return and honor live
event professionals, products and services – the people
who make concerts, touring and staging all possible.
At the House of Blues, SheRocks is back for its seventh
year, honoring women in the industry and influential
female artists including Macy Gray, Nita Strauss, and
Lisa Loeb. On Saturday, the 34th TEC Awards will
honor the many individuals, companies and technical
innovations used in sound recordings, films, broadcast
television and video games in 31 categories. Leslie Ann
Jones, the groundbreaking engineer, producer, and
Director of Music and Scoring for Skywalker Sound will
be honored with induction into the TEC Hall of Fame.
What would be your message to people in India
who aspire to come for your show?
It has been an honor for me to have visited your
beautiful country, I hope to come back again soon. In
the meantime, we welcome our industry family from
India to the NAMM Show. And while the investment
is not inconsequential, it’s a very long flight, I
personally believe it will propel each and everyone
who comes to greater success in the year ahead.
The
Score Magazine
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