The 2019 NAMM Show

It's been a whole year since I attended my first NAMM show. I feel like I've learned and grown a lot.

2018 NAMM Show, President's Innovation Award recipients with NAMM president Joe Lamond

I graduated from Salt Lake Community College (May 2018), thanks to the opportunity to attend the NAMM show and the requirements for the scholarship to attend. After that, I was able to focus on teaching private lessons and working at the music store. As of February 2019, I've worked for that company for three and a half years. It's crazy to see how quickly time flies.

This year, I attended the 2019 NAMM show as a Music Educator instead of a music student. I didn't attend all the seminars I wanted to, but I did spend a lot of time on the show floor meeting people and making connections with my colleagues. I think my favorite part of the NAMM show is learning about different products.

Wednesday - Although, I didn't get to attend the Taylor Guitar event, they unveiled a new model, the Grand Pacific. If you take a look at my previous post, when I took a tour of the factory, they didn't have anything about it because it hadn't been unveiled yet. My colleagues had the opportunity to see and play it.

Thursday - Getting to attend the NAMM show is always like a dream come true. This is my second year attending, so it's not as sensory overwhelming as it is the first time, but there's always so much to see and do. This year I spent a large majority of my time looking at guitars and basses. Seeing differences in things I'm familiar with and things I'm not. My colleagues had meetings to attend, so while I wasn't with them, I was able to walk around and find things that caught my eye. Last year, the Gibson Guitar Company did not attend the NAMM show, but they were fully present this year. I've loved Gibsons since I was a little girl, so to be able to see some legendary guitars, totally rocked my world.  I even got to sit on the Gibson guitar throne!
This year, I also got to take part in NAMM YP Mentorship Program. I got to meet with my mentor in person and we discussed our goals and plans for the future of the industry.
One of the things that I learned at SLCC, and NAMM, that I will never forget is that networking is an important part of the music journey. The people you work well with are generally people you meet and have things in common with. NAMM Young Professionals always have a networking reception. Music educators, faculty, students, emerging artists, composers, retailers, engineers and young professionals in the industry gather and meet. Being a young professional, you get to learn that YOU are the future of this industry. We are better suited for the needs to continue the advancement of the music industry in all aspects. That's why it's important to meet and get to know each other.  I met a lot of cool people who I will continue to make contact with.

We are the future of the industry.

Friday - More walking around and playing instruments. I focused more on saxes, because I'm currently in the market for a nicer pro horn. I finally had the opportunity to play the Sax Dakota straight Tenor saxophone! It's definitely a novelty instrument, but it's cool. You hear the sound a little bit more muffled from your perspective as a player, because the bell is by your foot. Overall, the balance in tone isn't bad. I like the color of it.
Wondering through the halls and exhibits, I saw my Jr High band director again. I continued test-playing saxes. Companies I looked at thoroughly: P. Mauriat, Cannonball, Trevor James, Sax Dakota and Antigua. Each company had a saxophone I liked, so now I have to save my pennies and find them near me.
After another networking event, I finally got to go back home. You don't realize how tired you get when you're walking around all day excited until you have to stop. I had been walking around every day that week, so I was exhausted by the end NAMM day 2.

I had to play the tenor because I'm primarily a tenor player.

Saturday - My last day at NAMM. It's always bittersweet. We checked out booths we liked and all the things we missed in the last two days. Meeting after meeting, and vendor after vendor we also saw some famous people along the way. The day flies by, and before you know it, it's time to go home.

(Aly, Tyler, Kyle, Mia @ the 2019 NAMM Show)

Aly, Mia, Lee

Kyle's playing "Don't Stop Believin'"

Wait... you're not Phil Collins?!

Sunday - Went to the beach before going home. It was hard to soak up the sun one last time. It was really memorable though, because I went back to Cabrillo beach and saw dolphins and a sea lion! That's the kind of thing I will never see in the wild back home in Utah.
Ten and a half hours later, I arrived home. There was still snow from the last snow storm and I was still in sandals from that morning. All good things must end, I guess.

I love attending the NAMM show because I learn something new every year. I love making meaningful connections with other musicians and retailers. Hanging out with my colleagues/friends outside of work (specifically our buildings) helps build stronger bonds. I look forward to hopefully ateending the 2020 NAMM show and gaining even more knowledge.

If I had to do it all again, I would 10/10 do it but differently. No matter what, it was still a great experience!