the Gibson brand . Everything Gibson makes is there . From stock acoustic and electric guitars to custom Gibson design opportunities ... plus their other brands - Epiphone , Mesa Boogie and Kramer were well represented . And don ’ t forget the swag ... Gibson t-shirts , hats and banners . We met with some of their marketing , consumer and manufacturing team members and had a lively conversation about you - our [ WM ] readers .
I have said it before in these pages ... I believe that 1 / 2 of life is showing up to see what the Lord has for you ... but you have to do your part and show up .
Junior & Jayme Thomason of JET Pedals
If you want to build a certain community - then you need to be an active part of it .
As exhibitors at NAMM , if we want to benefit from what that community lends us , then we need to pour into it .
So , is the Summer NAMM show a bit crippled and stumbling ? Or is it getting its sea-legs and coming back ? I believe it is coming back . And if you really care about it - you need to throw your shoulder into it and be a part of the comeback story .
Will McFarlane and Bruce
Bruce , Michael Hodge & Doug Doppler
The next important step will be the big dance itself ... Winter NAMM January , 2022 . The last ‘ in-person ’ one had over 100,000 attendees and more than 1,500 exhibitor booths . It is many months away from our vantage point , and being a more internationally attended event , there are still some serious challenges in other countries as well as some on-going ones here in the U . S .
What will it be like with that large of a crowd ? How many exhibitors will be able to come from overseas ? How many American equipment makers will support this regaining of equilibrium in the music industry ? What role will we play ?
[ WM ] is already formulating some big plans . We will keep you in the loop . And you never know - perhaps you can attend and play a part in this
The legend James Burton & Bruce
comeback story ?
May it be the vibrant gathering of community that it has proven to be for decades upon decades ... and may there be carpeting for our feet !
[ WM ] booth sporting a Riggio Custom Sierra guitar
See you there ! This will be my 40 th year of attending …
Bruce Adolph / Publisher , Worship Musician Magazine .