FEATURES
-Our 25-year magazine retrospective begins on p. 20 and runs all of the way to (with some stories in between). Wow, a lot has happened in that time.
-Whoa Canada! Attendees were upbeat during MIAC, which took place in Toronto in October. Is the Canadian MI retailer different than the U.S. one?
-Percussion Pointers. We serve up some tips about how you can help band directors select the right percussion products for their schools.
-The Survey Says...Reader surveys always reveal a lot of information. This year is no different. Find out what you said about several topics, including how your holiday sales are expected to stack up this year.
-Rode to Success Rode Microphones made a big splash, literally, with the launch of Opal from its Event Electronics division. Find out much more about the Las Vegas bash and the studio monitor that packs 750 watts of punch.
-Under Lock and Key
In our third annual Independent Retailer Roundtable,
we gather more participants, who provide even more information. Which manufacturers are you happy with? Find out. Did Summer NAMM work out? Find out. What bothers you the most? Find out.
-DJ For Hire These manufacturer employees still find the time to perform DJ/lighting gigs.
-An Early Summer Night’s Dream!NAMM returned with a vengeance in Nashville. Learn what people were saying and why there could be a rebirth of independent retailers in the future.

-Vikki Hayward, Gator Cases marketing manager, was a huge fan of the company years before she joined it. Learn about her future goals, why she enjoys her job, and much more.
-Roxana Ramirez, Being in the music industry, you’re probably very aware of the soundtrack of your life. If Roxana Ramirez were to have a theme song, it would probably be “We Are Family.”
-Susan Lipp, is always busy. She helped break ground on the company’s huge future facility in Madison, Wisc., last month. She does NAMM Congressional “fly-ins” too

M&SR: You’ve been to a few NAMM shows over the years. How do you like that experience?
Stevens: Yeah, although I didn’t go this year, I think I went the three years before. The thing I always found through trial and error is to go on a Sunday because everyone’s really hung over. [Laughs] It’s a little bit mellower. I’ll get one of those little guide books to see where people are located. I usually take my guitar tech with me and we hit up the people [we] want to see. There are a couple of companies I endorse, so they usually ask me to go and sign photos and stuff for a couple of hours or so. That’s cool. It’s a good way to meet fans, and you get some feedback from people. A lot of people at the last NAMM show kept asking me to do a solo record, so I guess that played somewhat of a part.

M&SR: Have you discovered companies at NAMM? How do you learn about new companies and new gear?
Stevens: Probably not at the NAMM show. I’d say the majority of companies I discover are online. I’m really notorious [for buying online]. It’s really dangerous for me. [Laughs] I’m a real night person so at 2 in the morning I get out the credit card and I’m buying stuff. It arrives a week later and I was half asleep when I bought it. I don’t even remember.

M&SR: How about new gear?
Stevens: For retailers, usually I’ll deal with Sweetwater for newer stuff. Usually you’ll see a press release or something and then I’ll email someone at Sweetwater and say, “Hey, when are you going to get this?”

M&SR: Do you get to go to brick-and-mortar stores ever?
Stevens: Not when I’m on the road. I live in Los Angeles so I deal with primarily West LA Music for pro recording stuff, and then obviously Guitar Center for some other stuff.

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