Day One of the 2004 NAMM Show Comes to a Close

The first day of the 2004 NAMM Show opened with the sounds of the annual Fernand L. Petiot All-Industry Memorial Band marching through the exhibit halls as they played “Taking Care of Business.” Among the performers in this year’s band were students from the Anaheim Union High School District, who benefited from a $30,000 musical instrument donation, proceeds of last year’s NAMM Show concert.

Sir Ken Robinson delivered the opening keynote NAMM University session, “Out of Our Minds—Learning to Be Creative,” during which he presented ideas and techniques for incorporating creativity and innovation in daily business practices. Throughout the day, NAMM U offered 13 other free sessions for show-goers.

Star power helped build excitement around a lunchtime press conference announcing the partnership between NAMM and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, country music superstar Bonnie Raitt and the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ drummer Chad Smith both made speeches in support of after-school music education programs in the Clubs.

The exhibit halls saw a steady stream of attendees checking out the latest musical products and product demonstrations. Away from the show floor, the exhibitor, buyer and international lounges were a welcome refuge to many attendees needing to take a break, conduct business meetings and access the Internet.

Live performances and Member benefit information brought several attendees to the NAMM Member Success Center during the day. The center houses several booths where attendees can find out about market development and business service programs, NAMM technology solutions and more. There is also a model store set up to give retailers ideas to bring back to their businesses.

Today marked the beginning of the NAMM International Fastest Drummer Contest, sponsored by NAMM’s teen initiative, The Music Edge. Attendees will be competing for the fastest drummer title today through Saturday. The Top Ten Fastest Hands and Top Ten Fastest Feet in the first three days of competition will then compete in a "finals battle" on Sunday.

Attendees filled the convention center lobby near the end of the show day to view the 2004 NAMM Show Tribute, a video compilation of industry professionals who passed away last year, which was accompanied by live music performed by the Los Angeles Scots Pipe Band.

Another show-closing highlight was the evening performance and press conference by The Bacon Brothers, featuring actor Kevin and his brother, Michael, at the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus. The bus was also the site of events and performances by Jesse Ciarmataro and Sean Sullivan, which took place throughout the day.

When the doors closed on the first day of the show, the mood on the floor was positive. Many buyers and exhibitors were optimistic about the coming days of the show and the year ahead.

“For the first day, there’s been a ton of traffic,” said Jon Andrews of CBI Professional Wiring in Oriskany, N.Y. “We had a huge increase last year, we think, in large part to doing this show, and we expect no different with this year’s sales numbers—and we attribute a lot of that to NAMM. We’re going to be coming back year after year.”