Hi,
Last week, I was fortunate enough to travel from Connecticut to LA and spent 3 days at this years NAMM show.  Not being open to the general public and this being my first time, (yes a NAMM virgin) I felt quite lucky to be invited and was stunned by nearly 800,000 square feet of musical instruments, and related items on display!  A true gear heads Mecca.  I understand that nearly 100,000 persons were in attendance over the 4 days of the show.
 
I could go on about the many cool things I saw but really wanted to report on the Sonar display that was set up within the "Gibson Brands" area.  Gibson and a few other major producers had their own separate display wings on the 3rd floor of the convention center. Most other manufacturers shared space in the massive open floors of the 4 major display halls.  The advantage of being separated from the din of endless shredding on those main floors can't be stressed enough so I was excited that Sonar related demos and conversations would be at the very least listenable.  I entered with hopes of an impressive dedicated zone showing Sonar in all its glory with the all of the latest features being highlighted.  
 
Unfortunately, a single table housing a PC with a basic Sonar Platinum install, a single video monitor (not even touch responsive), a pair of Gibson Les Paul studio monitors (I guess I understand that choice), a single interface with a Les Paul going in and couple of other minor controllers!  That was it.  My home set up is vastly superior to this.  There were no demo schedules listed.  The table was unattended by any representatives when I arrived (I had a litany of questions I wanted to ask) and I stood there for several minutes before inquiring if there was a Sonar rep on the floor.  I was told he was in a meeting.  OK.  Now I must add that everyone I spoke to from Gibson was very friendly and tried to be helpful and I was told he would be there in about 30 minutes.  I left the room disappointed but determined to return and discuss things with the him later.  It wasn't until my third trip to the Gibson room that being on the next day that the gentleman I had been told to speak with was there.  He was in all fairness very polite and able to address my questions with knowledge and confidence.  I did tell him that I was disappointed in the apparent lack of attention to this products display and he responded with that most of this years Sonar business was taking place behind closed doors.  Good I guess for corporate not so good for users and customers.  There were a few other Sonar users there and we had good conversations exchanging information at what ever knowledge levels we all might have.  However, we all felt like an abandoned children at the fair.  Was Daddy at the kissing booth again?
 
I suppose I just expecting something a bit more "Sonar-centric" at the largest musical instrument show in the USA.  Perhaps next year? Did anyone else attend and what was your take in this?

 
 
May I suggest you read this thread : Namm 2016 - Gibson should be ashamed....
 
 

Ahh yes, missed that one thanks.  Seems I was more polite about this than others but I think we all feel the same way.

I didn't go and I feel a bit disappointed. Having been in sales earlier in my life I know that you can do yourself some good with enthusiasm and some selling after the sale. People like to feel they made the right choice and it's not to hard to reinforce that.

NAMM is for music retailers.  I seriously doubt that a large percentage of Sonar sales revenue comes from brick and mortar retail music stores.  It would be interesting to know.

Gary McCoy
NAMM is for music retailers.  I seriously doubt that a large percentage of Sonar sales revenue comes from brick and mortar retail music stores.  It would be interesting to know.

 I wonder if Music Creator is still sold in places like Best Buy.

Gary McCoy
NAMM is for music retailers.  I seriously doubt that a large percentage of Sonar sales revenue comes from brick and mortar retail music stores.  It would be interesting to know.

You are correct. It makes more sense for Cakewalk to spend money on videos and such that reach many more people than can be reached at NAMM.
 

rsbkeys
I did tell him that I was disappointed in the apparent lack of attention to this products display and he responded with that most of this years Sonar business was taking place behind closed doors. Good I guess for corporate not so good for users and customers. 

Users and customers aren't really supposed to be at NAMM. The closed door discussions often involve technology and partnerships, and I was involved in many of them. All of those discussions are designed to benefit SONAR users, and I think several of them will have extraordinarily cool results for SONAR 2016.
 
For you, I highly recommend Sweetwater's annual GearFest. It's a great show and it is totally consumer-centric. I have a perfect attendance record  and have watched it grow into a highlight event of the year. I always look forward to it. The workshops and seminars are outstanding, the people from Sweetwater and of course Chuck Surack take care of you,it's all very hands-on, and the manufacturers send clinicians rather than suits. It's closer to Connecticut, too   If you want to see what you missed last year, click here. I gave two SONAR-based workshops that were extremely well-received, and I'm booked again for 2016. See you there!
 
May I also recommend the Project Studio Expo that's held in conjunction with AES. I give workshops there as well. Next year AES will be in Los Angeles but will be in New York in 2017 - even closer to Connecticut.
 
If you want to see SONAR in action, those are the shows to attend. If you want to order 1,000 copies for your store - go to NAMM 

In my experience, the majority of attendees are "users", NOT retailers... Don't really understand the "retailer" meme as it really gets down to virtually every heavy hitting artist/musician/composer who can attend... does.  The "official" purpose of NAMM has NEVER been what really happens... while back room deals are happening, on the showroom floors are people like me on up to all the heavy hitters...
 
Immediate sales are not at issue to me... it's more the lost opportunity to improve the overall image/awareness of this great DAW that is at issue from where I sit... where it be artist's going... "wow... this is cool" and spreading the word to all the various groups videoing and posting vids about exciting things... 
 
Sonar's "invisibility" is unfortunate as it is an amazing powerful very inexpensive million dollar recording studio...

Vastman
it's more the lost opportunity to improve the overall image/awareness of this great DAW that is at issue from where I sit... where it be artist's going... "wow... this is cool" and spreading the word to all the various groups videoing and posting vids about exciting things... 
 
Sonar's "invisibility" is unfortunate as it is an amazing powerful very inexpensive million dollar recording studio...

Couldn't agree more. Working on it  
 
But next time you're at NAMM, let me know...I like meeting forum people in person. Even better, let me know if you're coming to GearFest - we'll have more time to talk.

Cakewalk needed to be more aggressive to club up demo/scaled down version with the makers of Audio Interface / MIDI Controller keyboard.
I feel its potential is curtained by the instant EDM versions of software getting plugged to these items specially to the new comers who are thinking to come into this field.