NAMM

[spruce_moose]

Hey there. I'm seriously aiming to make it to NAMM from NZ in January.

I only just realised the minimum booth size is 100 square feet!! - Around $5k in my currency.. The invention I have to exhibit can fit in the palm of my hand, so I thought I'd put a call out to anyone who might be interested to split the space.

Also, has anyone ever been? Is there any point going if you can't afford a carpet and other add-ons? I get the feeling with some of the larger companies budgets it'd be easy to disappear into the background..

[fever606]

Build the shit out of all the buzz you can between now and then. If you get lucky, someone likes you enough / is interested enough to slide you one of their exhibitor badges, so you can go and shmooze without all of the unwashed masses.

If that doesn't happen, go anyway and get a nice hotel room near the convention center. You'll pay a premium but... Go on the public day, seek out and talk to anyone you had a inkling of a connection with about your widget. Give them a nicely printed invitation to your room at a specified time (make sure you don't overlap a particularly interesting demo of theirs in the Hall).

Set up shop in your hotel. Demo the shit out of your thing. Be a salesman.

Profit...?

[ProCarsteNation]

^^^

that is sound advice right there!

and buzz for your invention is already building

[spruce_moose]

That does truly appear to be sound advice! Thanks I'd be happy to break even tbh.

I was having a read of the do's and don'ts last night (a lot of don'ts..) and there could be a loophole approach somewhere, but there's a lot of risk in trying to solicit a product as a non-displaying attendee. Enough to get in all kinds of trouble.. I wonder if they would get you arrested for handing flyers to people off the premises as they entered.. I'm hoping to have an active kickstarter at the time, so an A6 with a QR code would be enough to do what I need without funding a booth solo - which is about 25% of the cost to get the first production run made..

I have another possible plan of running a local crowdfunding campaign to fundraise for the booth. The Ghostwave pedal will be ready by then and if I could pre-sell 30 of those I'd break even on the booth.

The flights are booked though so I will be in LA at the time regardless. My first time in the USA, so however this goes, it is damn exciting! I'm going to supersize EVERYTHING.

[aens_wife]

A few things. It can be way way worth it to go to NAMM, but only if you are good and ready. Ready to produce in larger numbers. Ready to handle the emails. Ready to grow. There are so many companies in the basement (Hall E), that it is easy to get lost in the shuffle. We have been a part of the show about 5 years, and attended as a guest for 2 additional years.

You also *have* to have carpet and such. The NAMM police won't let you have a booth if you don't have a floor covering. You'll also have a $130 electric bill from them at the end of the show, as well as a wifi bill if you sign up for that. The extras add up real quick.

That said, if you are ready and have something cool to show, it is kind of awesome. You get a lot of press and lots of dealers will come through your booth, if it looks cool and inviting.

ETA: I am not sure it would be worth it to stand at the front and hand our flyers or whatever. It would be a shitload of work, and 99.9% of them would end up in the trash at the entrance. There is so much paper flying and people shouting and such that you really have to be professional and ready to go to make it worth while, in our experience. I wouldn't bother attending the show again if I wasn't displaying.

[lordgalvar]

Either way, if you need help/people I could probably provide equipment, labor, or whatever. I live fairly central in Los Angeles (just off to the west side) and can help you figure it out and get around (goes for any ILFer visiting LA). It can be a daunting place and the public transit is terrible (but the EXPO train might be ready by then, which goes to Santa Monica). LA metro is huge (and some of it is kinda not worth seeing). OC is a blast too, but I would recommend a car if you can drive (Anaheim is like 40 miles to LA but it isn't that bad of a drive).

But yea, if you need tips or a tour guide or labor or something, let me know. Might be worth getting a "burner" phone too if your cell doesn't work here or has a ton of charges to work (a month to month phone. They are pretty cheap...and what my UK friends do). Winter is also the best time to visit LA in my opinion...it is a heck of a lot cooler but not cold (like 55-75).

Ghostwave looks awesome too and I will probably pick one up/preorder (wizard of pitch too).

Good Luck man!

[oldangelmidnight]

Is there any point going if you can't afford a carpet and other add-ons? I get the feeling with some of the larger companies budgets it'd be easy to disappear into the background..

You might get more attention if you sat cross-legged on the floor in an otherwise empty booth with your device held aloft in the palm of your hand.

You also *have* to have carpet and such. The NAMM police won't let you have a booth if you don't have a floor covering.

Or, I guess, lay your body down on the ground as the floor covering...

[spruce_moose]

I've got planning underway for a fundraiser gig in my practice space, so that's a start!

You also *have* to have carpet and such. The NAMM police won't let you have a booth if you don't have a floor covering. You'll also have a $130 electric bill from them at the end of the show, as well as a wifi bill if you sign up for that. The extras add up real quick.

That said, if you are ready and have something cool to show, it is kind of awesome. You get a lot of press and lots of dealers will come through your booth, if it looks cool and inviting.

Thanks for the heads up. I guess these things are quite necessary to having a functioning booth too.. They provide a bench only, right? Or not even that?

Are allowed to bring anything like posters or banners yourself, or is that something they have to make on your behalf for an additional fee?

If not, I could certainly bring pre-printed brand posters (and whatever I can fit in my suitcase) and assemble them into something large enough to see. Or maybe I should just put one of these up, and stand out front with a big dumb grin on my face

Either way, if you need help/people I could probably provide equipment, labor, or whatever.

That's very kind of you. I'd actually be super stoked if I might be able to hire your least favourite guitar and a small amp! The luggage cost and risk is not something I would be down for unless it's a last resort. My guitar is probably only valued at 200 bucks, but I'd cry if they snapped it like a twig by accidentally running it over with a forklift..

I had thought I could get away with instrument samples and a battery powered amp, but that might get laughed at. It'd be more than enough to explain the Ghostwave concept though, and the other thing needs very little explanation beyond a visual display

[aens_wife]

I've got planning underway for a fundraiser gig in my practice space, so that's a start!

You also *have* to have carpet and such. The NAMM police won't let you have a booth if you don't have a floor covering. You'll also have a $130 electric bill from them at the end of the show, as well as a wifi bill if you sign up for that. The extras add up real quick.

That said, if you are ready and have something cool to show, it is kind of awesome. You get a lot of press and lots of dealers will come through your booth, if it looks cool and inviting.

Thanks for the heads up. I guess these things are quite necessary to having a functioning booth too.. They provide a bench only, right? Or not even that?

Are allowed to bring anything like posters or banners yourself, or is that something they have to make on your behalf for an additional fee?

If not, I could certainly bring pre-printed brand posters (and whatever I can fit in my suitcase) and assemble them into something large enough to see. Or maybe I should just put one of these up, and stand out front with a big dumb grin on my face

The provide only a small sign with the name of your company and the booth number on it. No power strips, no bench, nothing : ) Most people spend BIG on this show, so anything they provided would be a waste on their part. We usually have carpet, a few tables, amps, power supplies/strips, a nice professional banner that hangs behind us, and some swag (stickers, shirts, business cards, etc.).

Let me know if you have any other questions! We are happy to help!

[spruce_moose]

Wow! I might have to go with a minimalist approach.

It gets me wondering what I could achieve out of an extra suitcase. I reckon it'd be straight forward to bring the condensed parts to build things on-site and then take them to a recycling centre afterward - only paper banners & card/MDF jigsaw display podiums.

Many things to ponder. Thanks again for the insight!

[spruce_moose]

Woo yeah! I got a cheap booth with a giant pillar in it - ok with me due to the price, but I'm wondering if it'll be easy to work with..

I've heard it's difficult to get away with building your own stuff due to the NAMM crew being pretty hardcore.

And I've already checked that I can't actually fasten or adhere anything to the pillar, but does anyone know the chances of getting away with using a fine insulated wire, wrapped once around the pillar at 90 degrees to help fasten a canopy?

I have a device that is illumination focussed, so being able to create some indoor shade would be massively handy.

[spruce_moose]

Yeeeeah! This is what I'm taking. Developed by myself and eightytape/mysteriousj on firmware.

[D.o.S.]

OOOOO

[Jero]

WHAT. THE. FFFF.

[lordgalvar]

Yes! Love the new look!