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Acoustic NAMM 2009
By Larry Rosenberg
Exclusive to Folkworks
On January 15 - 18, 2009, the annual winter NAMM Show was presented to
the music industry for 2009 at the Anaheim Convention Center. NAMM
stands for "The National Association of Music Merchants" and each year
it hosts by far the largest trade shows in the music industry.
There are two NAMM trade shows each year, a winter show in
Anaheim, California, and a summer show in Nashville, Tennessee. The upcoming
dates for 2009-10, are July 17-19, 2009, in Nashville, and January 14-17, 2010,
in Anaheim, but before you mark your calendars, know that NAMM shows are not open
to the public. These giant events are trade shows designed to put wholesalers
and retailers in touch with each other and to otherwise advance the business of
music through a variety of promotional activities and educational programs. The
fact that the shows also preview much of what is new in the industry and house
fantastic exhibits by industry leaders and future leaders, some of which
feature non-stop musical entertainment, makes attending NAMM all the more
enjoyable for music insiders or anyone else lucky enough to experience the
event.
NAMM does allow access to the press and I attended on
Sunday, January 18th, 2009, as a media representative, to see the show and to
write this review of my experience as an exclusive to Folkworks. When I entered
The NAMM Show main building at the Anaheim Convention Center, I was reminded of
what I often tell first-time visitors to that other attraction in Anaheim. "Don't
try to see it all in one day," is my usual warning to those who think that
they can experience everything in Disneyland at once. It is not possible at NAMM,
either. There is so much going on, and so much going on at the same time, that
it would take many days, and a crew of several reporters, to chronicle all of
it. So, with that caveat, I will tell you that acoustic and folk music are
alive and well in the music industry with high hopes for 2009 and beyond.
I visited the booths of some of the major acoustic
instrument makers to chat with them about what is new with them and with the
industry. I was pleased to learn that no one is resting on their laurels and
all of them have projects underway to enhance our enjoyment of, and
participation in, the music we love.
Deering Banjo Company is continuing its efforts to produce
even more models of affordable Goodtime Banjos, with the most immediate project
being a somewhat shorter scale banjo which, while still capable of being tuned
to "open G," (especially popular with bluegrass fans), is suitable
for children and those adults who want a smaller banjo, perhaps for playing
while sitting on the couch with a close friend. As a serious banjo with an
appeal to younger people, this should soon be a popular choice for youngsters interested
in playing the banjo, and their parents looking to help them with their musical
adventures. Carolina Bridges of Deering said they will be donating one of these
banjos to The Topanga Banjo Fiddle Contest and Folk Festival, Inc., at the Paramount Movie Ranch, for inclusion
in the prize drawing. Topanga will be holding on the day of the 49th Festival,
Sunday, May 17th, 2009. Since one of my other hats is of a member of the board
of directors of the Topanga Banjo Fiddle Contest and Folk Festival, let me encourage
you to attend that event. Topanga is open to the public and you can see the new
banjo, and other contributions there, and have a wonderful time with all-day
acoustic music and related folk events. Tickets for this year are still
inexpensive and now available online at www.topangabanjofiddle.org.
I also chatted with professional old-time banjo player and
instructor Bob Carlin, who was appearing at the Gold Tone exhibit. In addition
to their other instruments, I saw Gold Tone's almost complete line of
"banjo related" and "mandolin related" stringed
instruments. As a banjo player, and a newly aspiring mandolin player, I
appreciate that Gold Tone has produced a line of "bass banjos" which,
while being played just like banjos or mandolins, are deeper in tone, including
a cello banjo now being made popular by Marci Marxer, and others who play on
the folk and old-time circuit. I would expect to find some of these hybrid
instruments at an Old-Time Jam or Song Circle near you soon. Gold Tone also has
now two new models of the Bob Carlin 12" pot banjo, one fancier, and more
expensive, than the original, one not as fancy or expensive.
C.F. Martin Guitar Company again had an impressive display
of their guitars in all styles and prices, including one listed at $130,000. I
also play some guitar and I have long appreciated C.F. Martin as a provider of
some of the finest acoustic guitars. I must disclose that I do own a couple of "Martins,"
which I like very much, although they are not expensive models; but it was the
beauty of the overall exhibit that attracted my attention. Taylor, Santa Cruz,
Gibson, Fender, and so many other major and minor guitar companies were also
represented and this is probably as good a time as any to ask forgiveness for
any merchant I have left out of this review. As I have said, there was simply
not enough time to spend with everyone, and, no doubt, I have unintentionally,
or intentionally due to time and space limitations, omitted some with whom I
did spend time. But, the alternative would be to not mention anyone and that
would not be as useful to the reader as these partial listings might be.
There is virtually non-stop entertainment at The NAMM Show.
This, of course, is no surprise at the music industry's premier trade event.
However, that musicians abound at NAMM may not be a surprise but, NAMM
President, Joe Lamond, was quoted in the Los Angeles Times last week as stating
that 82% of the folks who don't play music, wish they did. That all makes for a
uniquely lively and exciting mix of music performances and music appreciation
at The NAMM Show. On the Sunday I attended, I was wowed by "Raining
Jane," an "all lady" group originally from UCLA, who preformed
original folk rock on the Fender Stage, and "The Prayze Connection,"
on the Roland Stage, who conducted as powerful a Sunday gospel jam as one might
ever see or hear.
NAMM has an education campaign called "Wanna
Play?" designed to raise awareness of NAMM Members and to inform the
public of the benefits of playing music and the many opportunities to become
music makers. There was a promotional button available at the show which says,
"I play for myself," that I found to be appropriate for my own
musical performance level, but, that is the point, there is something for
everyone in making music, if not the NAMM Show itself. I encourage readers of
Folkworks to visit the NAMM web site at www.NAMM.org
at to see photos of these events and to learn more about NAMM as an
organization, and about the NAMM Shows.
I am already looking forward to my assignment to cover NAMM
2010. If you have any comments or questions about this review, or anything you
might want me to look into at next year's show, you may contact me via email
at:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
.
So, how big was The NAMM Show 2009? My answer is, "As
big as music!" And, that's big.
Larry Rosenberg is an attorney at law and editor at large in Van
Nuys, California. -- Larry Rosenberg Prize Coordinator Board of Directors 49th
Annual Topanga Banjo Fiddle Contest Join Us Sunday, May 17th, 2009 Paramount
Movie Ranch Agoura Hills, California
Visit our web site at: www.topangabanjofiddle.org
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