Day Two of 2009 Summer NAMM

NAMM, the trade association of the international music products industry, hosted the second day of 2009 Summer NAMM today at the Nashville Convention Center.

NAMM President and CEO Joe Lamond kicked off Saturday’s NAMM U Breakfast Session by presenting Vanderbilt University Professor Bill Ivey with the Music for Life Award, in honor of his vast contributions to the advancement of music and the arts. Joe then introduced the morning’s speaker, author and retail expert Bob Negen, who led Your Retail Stimulus Plan: Jump Start Your Sales No Matter What’s Happening. Bob’s innovative ideas and unparalleled enthusiasm had attendees speaking his praises, as they left with tons of tips and techniques for jump-starting their sales without spending a fortune.

“I thought the session was extremely beneficial from both a business and personal standpoint,” said Tony Johnson of Blues Angel Music in Pensacola, Fla. “I don’t think they could have picked a better person to teach that seminar. We’re going use 90 percent of the ideas and concepts he suggested and apply them to our business immediately.”

As soon as the show floor opened, the aisles quickly filled with buyers in search of the hottest new items to set their businesses apart this fall and holiday selling season. With more than145 first-time exhibitors on hand, there were lots of exciting innovations from which to choose.

“It’s great because I have a new store, and kids love all the latest gadgets and stuff,” said Glenn Grenanya from the Drum Shop in Cookeville, Tenn. “So finding cool new products that you can’t see anywhere else will really differentiate us from the competition.”

On the flip side, new exhibitor Michael Nash of ComputerizedGuitar.com of Baxter, Tenn. is thrilled with all the dealer attention his prototype has already received. “I didn’t know what to expect but I keep saying, coming here has felt like a family reunion. The response has been just overwhelming. I’ve had all kinds of dealers want me to come to their stores and showcase my product. I feel like I’ve won the lottery.”

Even today’s show close couldn’t stop the music, as the NAMM Community came together on the third floor of the convention center for the annual All-Industry Drum Circle. And, just a few steps away at The Hang, hundreds of attendees gathered to check out the FORTUNE Battle of the Corporate Bands competition, as regional semi-finalists competed for a spot in the finals, October 2-3, 2009 at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio. The corporate bands competing represent such diverse organizations as the Gaylord Opryland of Nashville, Tenn.; The Ladders of New York, NY; Enernoc of Boston, Mass.; Johnson & Johnson of Morristown, N.J.; Healthways from Franklin, Tenn.; Chevron from Pascagoula, Miss.; and St. Jude’s Hospital from Memphis, Tenn.

Tomorrow’s highlights include the popular NAMM U Breakfast Session Best in Show, where a panel of industry insiders will share their picks for this year’s hottest must-have items just in time for the holidays. A fun, fast-paced snapshot of what to see before leaving Nashville! 

For more information, interested parties can log on to www.namm.org.