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Welcome to the NAMM U Online Financial Management for Music Retail training, presented by financial expert Alan Friedman of Friedman, Kannenberg & Co. This comprehensive video series covers must-knows for the successful financial operation of a music retail business. It’s designed for anyone involved in the financial operation of a music store. Each video in this training is sequential, but you can watch them on-demand at your own pace. Alan Friedman is a senior partner with the accounting firm Friedman, Kannenberg & Co. He and his team have extensive experience providing

At 2019 Summer NAMM, powerhouse husband-and-wife team Mike and Miriam Risko of Mike Risko Music shared their creative approach for eliminating no-shows in music lesson programs. They discovered their best practices to work with students, parents, staff and teachers to ensure consistent attendance and continued success. Here are highlights from the session and simple tips to follow. (Watch the video for the full session.) Have a policy. Mike advised that you create a no-show and same day (within 24 hours) cancellation policy for your lesson program. Take the time to explain the pol

At 2019 Summer NAMM, Madison Revell of Inbound AV shared five simple design principles for your website and e-commerce platform to achieve more sales and improve relationships with your customers. Here are highlights. (Watch the video to view the full session.) The Power of Design Revell stated that great design versus good design will give you a competitive edge in online sales. According to Revell, three things are essential to creating a positive online experience and gaining trust with your customers: Identity. It’s a direct reflection of who you are and how you do business.

At The 2020 NAMM Show, Melissa Ceo of C.A. House Music led a panel discussion about networking. Ceo was joined by NAMM Young Professionals (YP) members and their mentors: Jeremy McQueary and Mark Goff of Paige’s Music and Jeremy Payne and Tom Tedesco of The Music People. Ceo pointed out that networking is really about basic human interaction and kindness. The panelists echoed that perspective as they answered key questions. Why is networking important?Payne: Your network is going to largely influence your success model, especially from a mentorship or coaching perspective. People

At The 2020 NAMM Show, Digitopia CEO Frank Cowell kicked off the first session at the NAMM Idea Center with a fast-paced download on online marketing. Cowell related that many business owners feel they’re drowning in a sea of competition and marketplace saturation. He shared strategies to cut through the online chaos and counteract customer confusion, starting with an understanding of how not to approach online marketing. 7 Biggest Digital Marketing Mistakes 1. Most digital programs are broad and generic. You have multiple audiences who each need specific messaging. 2. Most digi

The 2020 NAMM Show kicked off with “Breakfast of Champions,” hosted by NAMM President and CEO Joe Lamond. During this educational session, Lamond interviewed several industry experts on a concept called “crossroads.” He began the session by discussing the state of the industry and looking at how the industry has come to a “crossroads of opportunity.” “As we start 2020, I believe we’ve come to what I call an ‘in-between period,’” Lamond said. “We’re in between conventional automobiles and self-driving cars. We’re in between medicine and new cures that will ensure our kids and grand

During “Breakfast of Champions” at The 2020 NAMM Show, NAMM President and CEO Joe Lamond sat down with Bryan Bradley, president of Group One, to discuss the growth of live sound, entertainment technology and live performances in general. Bradley mentioned that even schools and houses of worship have higher expectations than ever before for their live performances—and, as a result, there’s opportunity for retailers and music businesses. “My kid’s school did ‘Mary Poppins’ this year, and they rented a harness and flew this 17-year-old girl in across the stage because they wanted tha

In the last six years, Whitney Brown Grisaffi, president of Ted Brown Music, saw growth in the service side of her six-store retail chain. At “Breakfast of Champions” during The 2020 NAMM Show, she shared that growth story with NAMM President and CEO Joe Lamond. In particular, she focused on the expansion of the installed AV business and how it ties into other aspects of Ted Brown Music’s business, particularly school music. She explained how her business was at a crossroads six years ago. She was looking for areas of growth, and at the same time, a Ted Brown Music employee was se

During “Breakfast of Champions” at The 2020 NAMM Show, Noel Lee, the founder and CEO of Monster, shared his decision-making process when facing a business crossroads. In an interview with NAMM President and CEO Joe Lamond, Lee also reflected on the early days of Monster, the future of connectivity and how he built a company with the goal of helping “retailers become more successful.” “Crossroads is a decision,” Lee said. “So you’ve really got to look at when you’re at a crossroads, ‘Am I doing it right? Do I have the skills and knowledge? Do I have the money to go down one road as

In the last decade, education programs at The NAMM Show have expanded to serve all the professional communities in musical instruments, pro audio and entertainment technology. At “Breakfast of Champions” during The 2020 NAMM Show, NAMM President and CEO Joe Lamond spoke with David Schwartz, the founder of Mix magazine, co-founder of the TEC Awards and mastermind behind TEC Tracks—a pro audio education program at NAMM. Schwartz discussed the inception of Mix magazine and the TEC Awards, as well as how TEC Tracks came to be.

To kick off The 2020 NAMM Show, NAMM President and CEO Joe Lamond presented singer-songwriter Jason Mraz with the Music for Life Award, honoring his commitment to music and arts education. Mraz then sat down with Lamond during the show’s opening educational session, “Breakfast of Champions,” to discuss the importance of music and arts education in driving his career, along with his work as a music-education advocate via the Jason Mraz Foundation. “Probably about a decade or more ago, I learned that a lot of the programs I came up through as a kid were because of donors—generous do

At 2019 Summer NAMM, Melissa Loggins of Music Authority presented a candid and down-to-earth NAMM U session about lesson program crises. She acknowledged that even though you can’t avoid problems, you can change your perspective. Loggins then identified her company’s top five lesson program crises and her unique solutions for them. Watch the video to view the full session. 1. Frustrated parents. Loggins noted that parent frustration usually revolves around financial issues, including billing, late fees and absence policies. She described her billing system as straightforward and