I like this part:

http://www.namm.org/summe...0-dealer-award-winners

It's like a travel list of places I want to visit. :-)


like this place for example;

"Blue Angel Music Pensacola, FL   Outlets:1 The city of Pensacola, Florida is considered the cradle of Naval Aviation and is the home of the Navy’s world famous Blue Angels flight demonstration squadron. Blues Angel Music was opened in 1997 by then, newly retired Navy Fighter Pilot, Jim DeStafney and named after his beloved Blue Angels. Over the past 15 years Blues Angel Music has slowly grown from a 1 man guitar shop to a 14000 sq ft full line store including a retail music store, an e-commerce music store, service centers for guitars, electronics, brass and woodwind instruments, music production assistance, event promotions, music education program, and 19 employees. With the purchase of a new building last year, Blues Angel music has positioned itself to be the premier music store on the Gulf Coast. In this "down" economy when other music stores are downsizing, closing, or facing huge debt crisis, Blues Angel Music has managed to achieve continued double digit sales growth, physical plant and personnel growth, all while maintaining its profitability and debt free operation. The success of Blues Angel Music is proof that the independently owned and operated music store is thriving"


They don't even mention that the store and it's customers had to take a few years recover from the devastation of hurricane IVAN back in the early 2000s.

musicman100


ohhh ohhhh ......


Bapu started a fred upstairs  about the same thing and riled up the bakers,, well not him per se, but some respondents...

Yep...


I was one of the RILE - E Coyote's....

LOL

Isn't Summer Namm just the 'half-term' show anyway, more for the trade to meet up and conduct business until the Winter show when all the MAJOR new stuff gets announced?

I think MusikMesse in Frankfurt is probably more exciting than Summer NAMM as far as product announcements go and it's only a couple of months between the two.

Another unrelated note but I notice has been brought up here and in the thread upstairs, independant music retail has a well-known history of performing well in a bad economic climate.  It seems that many turn to making music with traditional instruments when they get laid off and made idle, along with the market gaining through more second-hand stock becoming available as yet others sell off gear to make ends meet. Not really much to do with any trade-show really, it just seems to be the nature of the beast.  So the Blue Angel's store story is quite unremarkable in that regard but it makes for good copy to say that you are on the up in an economic decline.  I note they have an e-commerce arm as well to deal with software sales. Good for them.

Well another example of the decay of the wholly roman namm empire is that now WE PLAIN FOLKS can attend!! Yes, there is a consumer day pass you can purchase.
Back in the "old days" it was strictly for merchants only and they  looked you up one side and down the other, arrogant and we dont need you commoners to darken our hallways
 
Now I understand the concept of N A Music MERCHANTS, catering to those.

But to realize the trade show has gone to hell and try to generate revenue by allowing the commoners to attend under a ruse , well thats marketing ...


Meh, I just would go to ogle at the Dean Gurls, anyway...