FEATURES
-Here We Come to Save the Day!!We provide a plethora of accessories that manufacturers assure you will provide excellent margins.
-For Those Who Make Lesser Publicized Instruments, We Salute You!!For the first time, we pay tribute to instruments and products that get little press coverage. We provide a well-deserved spotlight for these products!
-And the Bombs Keep Coming!Another big lawsuit is filed
against the industry.
This time, there are many
more defendants.
-Drumming to Their Own BeatHow well is the drum industry holding up during these difficult times? We call on three industry experts.
-Guitar Center, Fender, and NAMM Sued
-The Health of the Independent Dealer M&SR’s fourth annual independent retailer roundtable features a new twist. For the first time, manufacturers, hand-selected by the retailers, contribute to the story.
-Born In the USA! We feature manufacturers who produce a majority of their products in the United States. Why do they make products in the USA as opposed to Asian countries? Find out.
-…And the Show Did Go On! The economy took a big bite of Summer NAMM in Nashville, but there were still bright moments.
-Jockeying For Position How is the DJ business holding up during these tough times? What’s the next hot technology? We asked the experts.
-What A Gig! Find out about plenty of manufacturer employees who still get out to play gigs. Our second annual edition is another fun read.

-Tarina Dunwoodie got to see the moment Graph Tech was born and has served the company since she was 17. She has moved up the ladder quite a bit since then.
-Stacey Montgomery-Clark Find out how SABIAN’s Stacey Montgomery-Clark juggles two young boys at home and a huge job as vice president of marketing. She loves interactive programs at the company, most notably the Vault Tour.
-Cathy Duncan Seymour Duncan’s co-founder and chairman, received a ton of on-the-job training. But she has excelled. Creativity is one of the company’s hallmarks. Find out much more about her.
-Bee Bantug Yes, the Internet CAN be your friend as a retailer. Bee Bantug, who has provided several NAMM University sessions, can help. That’s why she co-founded Retail Up! in 2002.
-Dale Krevens For Tech 21’s Dale Krevens, being vice president is not a job. It’s an adventure. Find out why.
-Melanie Ripley Grundorf Corp. Vice President Susan Grund handles a plethora of duties at her job, but she also has jammed with the Beach Boys and makes sure the bond with the company’s employees remain strong. Learn how she juggles everything at one time and changes she’s witnessed in MI.
-Susan Grund Grundorf Corp. Vice President Susan Grund handles a plethora of duties at her job, but she also has jammed with the Beach Boys and makes sure the bond with the company’s employees remain strong. Learn how she juggles everything at one time and changes she’s witnessed in MI.
-Toby Nady graduated from college with a degree in clinical psychology. What does that have to do with music? Nothing. It’s been a long, strange trip for her. But a very good and successful trip.
-• Shawna von Behren.
-• Berenice Chauvet
-• Sue Kincade
-• Tish Ciravolo
-• Vikki Hayward
-• Roxana Ramirez
-• Susan Lipp

Then, of course, there’s the attendance factor. If you spend a lot of money to attend the show and some of your most important manufacturers don’t exhibit, it can be a drag. But we do need to consider 2006 was the first year in Austin and it takes time for a trade show to become a “must-attend” event. Nashville didn’t bring the house down in its first year either. More importantly, interest in Summer NAMM is still high, said Lamond. “It’s too difficult to predict at this point what attendance will be like at this show,” he said. “[But] as long as there are NAMM members who want a summer gathering to help position their businesses for success in the second half of the year, NAMM will provide the venue. For us, it’s a service decision, not a financial one.

Everyone Enjoys a Party
We mentioned the nightlife before. Other than NAMM-hosted parties, nighttime activities include the Sixth Street scene, which is loaded with live music, or Austin’s Warehouse District, where the jazz, soul, reggae, and funk clubs are located.

But let’s say the bar/club scene is not for you. You want to take advantage of some family activities like Anaheim offers. “One unique attraction of Austin as the sun sets is the flying of more than one million fruit bats living under the Congress Avenue Bridge,” said Robertson. “It’s really something to see. The Austin Children’s Museum, a hands-on interactive museum, is at 201 Colorado Street. Other suggestions for kids are the Austin Nature & Science Center in Zilker Park, the Zilker Zephyr (a miniature train ride that runs through Zilker Park) and the interactive exhibits at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. For a complete listing, visit austintexas.org/music/attractions or summernamm.com and click on our online city map.”

That leads us to one final question. With much discussion about Summer NAMM during the past few years, you might have advice for how to improve the show. How do you contact NAMM to provide your feedback? We asked Lamond for the answer. “We are always looking for ways to improve our service to NAMM members,” he said. “This show is a large undertaking and another service and membership benefit we provide, so if there is anything we can do to make it better, send us an e-mail at info@namm.org or call 800-767-NAMM. Thanks to the Music and Sound Retailer for the opportunity to talk about Summer NAMM, and we look forward to another good show in the ‘Live Music Capital of the World!’"
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