The Second Day of the 2004 NAMM Show Ends with a Positive Beat

An early-morning performance by the Wicked Tinkers ushered in the second day of the 2004 NAMM Show. Once the doors to the exhibit halls opened, crowds poured into the halls for a full day of attending business meetings, checking out products and getting autographs from well-known musicians in attendance.

Many sales representatives started their day at a complimentary breakfast roundtable hosted by NAMM, where special offers and free informational tools were available. There was also a special presentation on the future of trade shows. NAMM will host this same event again tomorrow.

NAMM University offered 22 free sessions during the day, including an afternoon keynote called “Creating and Sustaining the High-Performing Organization,” presented by Bob Clements, which advised those in attendance on how to integrate the disciplines of performance improvement, customer focus, learning and change into their businesses.

In the NAMM Member Success Center, there were several performances and demonstrations by musicians and industry members. Attendees flocked to the center throughout the day to take pictures with Elmo, the furry Sesame Street character, and to find out more about Member benefits and programs.

At the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus, there was a performance by Mary Coppin, a previous John Lennon Songwriting Contest winner, in addition to ongoing tours of the bus studios.

Increased show traffic throughout the day equaled strong sales for exhibitors.

“It’s been a very busy show … a lot of people in the booth, a lot of business being written,” said Steve McIlwrath, managing director of Avalon Guitars Ltd. in Newtownards, Northern Ireland. “Things look like they’re recovering, and we’re very happy with the response to our new product introductions that we launched at this NAMM Show.”

The halls, filled with a variety of products, was a buyer’s paradise.

“I’m finding excellent products as well as excellent companies—networking and marketing with different artists as well,” said Bonnie Ulshafer, director of the Academy of Music in Camarillo, Calif. “Every year I come to NAMM, and I come away with this revitalized feeling and feeling like you can save the world through music and all of those wonderful things. You get recharged, and you feel like you can make it all happen.”

The annual NAMM and Remo Drum Circle proved to be a great success, as hundreds of attendees filled the area outside the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus at the end of the show day.