Day One of the 2011 NAMM Show Features Capacity-Crowd at Breakfast of Champions, Celebrity Appearances, Upbeat Attendees

The first day of the NAMM Show drew a capacity-crowd to the Breakfast of Champions opening show session at the Anaheim Hilton in the early morning hours, where NAMM President and CEO Joe Lamond welcomed numerous industry laureates who shared valuable industry insight with attendees.

The Breakfast of Champions featured Vic Firth, founder of Vic Firth, Inc.; Bob Zildjian, founder of Sabian Cymbals; Ikutaro Kakehashi, founder and special consultant, Roland Corporation; Jon Haber, founder and owner of Alto Music; Sam Ash, chief operations officer of Sam Ash Music Stores; Mike Huckabee, TV commentator and former Governor of Arkansas; Bobby Roberts, manager of Bobby Roberts Company, Inc.; and Bernie Williams, former New York Yankee and musician.

Gov. Huckabee and Williams spoke about their passion for supporting music education for children.

“Music and arts programs are vital,” Huckabee said. “I like to say it this way: They're not extracurricular, they're not expendable, and they're not extraneous—they're essential.”

“As I got older in my career in baseball, the more I realized how important music was as part—not only of my mind—but of my essence as a person and it was just an amazing opportunity to do both,” Williams said.

Attendees at the Breakfast of Champions had positive feedback about the event.

“It was definitely very focusing in terms of the industry we're in—it's nice to hear from guys who've made it and who've been in it a long time, and it just kind of focuses your attention,” said Pete Lim of Firehouse Music in Conyers, Ga. “I enjoyed it. It was fun.”
   
“I thought it was fantastic,” said Kate Borkowski of Marich Music in Corning, N.Y. “They have a wide variety of guests, and they had a lot of really good insights and input for our store. There was one quote that I loved: ‘Don't worry, take action.' I thought that was a really good piece of advice. We had one of the best Christmases we've had in years, so we're off to a good start—can't wait to keep moving forward.”
  
“I'm realizing how much heart there really is in this industry,” said Kerry ‘The Shakerman' Green, attending the show with Rhythm Band Instruments of Fort Worth, Texas. “I always get inspired at the NAMM Show—absolutely. I'm embedded in the percussion industry at many levels, and I always get inspired on many levels here.”
  
Meanwhile, enthusiastic show attendees picked up their badges and formed lines outside the show floor, eager to sneak a peek at what exhibitors had in store for the year ahead.

In addition, school music education supporters attended a live SupportMusic Coalition webcast for all NAMM Members and guests seeking to learn more about how to support their local school music education programs.

Broadcasting live from the Arts Schools Network National Conference, the “Building and Engaging Support for Music and Arts Education” webcast was moderated by Mike Blakeslee, senior deputy executive director at MENC: The National Association for Music Education, and featured panelists Graham Welch, president of the International Society of Music Education (ISME); Robert Bryant, executive director of fine arts at Katy I.S.D.; Ralph S. Opacic, president and executive director of the Orange County High School of the Arts; and Karen Childress-Evans, visual and performing arts director for San Diego Unified School District.

The 2011 NAMM Show officially opened at 10 a.m. with the traditional Petiot Band marching through the halls of the Anaheim Convention Center and onto to the show floor. This year's Petiot Band featured Grand Marshals Gov. Mike Huckabee and musicians James Stroud and Bobby Roberts. The three recently collaborated with the NAMM Foundation to create an album to put musical instruments in the hands of children called “I Wanna Play!” to benefit the foundation's Wanna Play Fund.

New to the show this year is a new App and Gaming Pavilion featuring exhibitors in this growing market of high-tech music-making product companies. The new Native American Pavilion was also introduced, celebrating Native American instrument craftsmen and other contributors to the community of music making. In addition, Lounge 88 made its debut this year, offering tailored educational sessions to piano dealers from around the world.

In addition, industry members interested in the newest developments from the recording, live sound, DJ, house of worship and stage and lighting industries were able to participate in the broadest educational experience at the show's Hands On Training (H.O.T.) Zone.

Throughout the day, NAMM Member retailers attended the numerous business-enhancing NAMM University sessions including topics on “Right and Wrong Retail,” “Selling Yourself to the Bank,” and “Tapping into the SBA's Resources.”

Outside in the Arena Plaza, The John Lennon Education Tour Bus hosted a NAMM Show kickoff event celebrating music education with a performance by Natasha Bedingfield, and appearances by music education supporters Gov. Mike Huckabee and former New York Yankee Bernie Williams.

Celebrity sightings since yesterday include: Natasha Bedingfield, Dick Dale, Jack Bruce, Jackson Brown, and Eddie Van Halen.