Page 25 - ION Indie Magazine MarchApril 2018 Issue

DAY 4, SUNDAY: After our last media breakfast, this day I was focused on visiting the B Level (basement level) area. This
is the area that is for up-and-coming music companies and new concepts and products. Placement on the C Level must be
earned! However, lots of cool and new products from all over the world are represented here.

The best thing about the NAMM show this year was the new floor layout. The North Hall (ACC building) is brand new and
just for pro audio and software. Upstairs ACC North was mostly speaker companies, while the downstairs was mostly
electronics. It was much quieter than the old Hall A and there was much less riff-raff clogging the aisles with lots of space
to walk around. Hall A itself was still about 30-40% pro-audio, 20% DJ, 20% lighting, and the remaining was comprised of
20% Chinese goods. The arena was practically empty unlike the previous years, with just 3 small lighting exhibitors…which
also served as a quiet area for eating lunch and having spur-of-the-moment meetings.

My time was topped off by running into Mark Wood, former violinist for Trans-Siberian Orchestra. He was gracious to
strike a rock and roll pose for my lens. All said, it was another amazing show at NAMM. No doubt ION will have its eye on
NAMM next year, January 24-27, 2019.

Website: https://www.namm.org/thenammshow/2018
Website: https://www.namm.org/exhibit/wn19
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nammorg
NAMM Video Recap: https://www.namm.org/