YC8 said:
I am currently thinking about not going personally this year and having my son Jon run the booth along with Adam of Brooklyn Gear. I have been going to Namm since 1979 summer/Atlanta. I have missed a few summer shows in the last few years as well as the two shows after 911. At this point in my life I would rather stay home and run the shop to help get the Basses done quicker as we are backed up about 4-6 months at this time. Plus, I always miss a rehearsal and Concert with the 2 Orchestras I play in. Can't miss that anymore.. no no..
My plan is to be reachable by phone during the 4 days of the show hours (10am-6pm) in case I am needed for questions or to help close a deal. Namm is not at all what it used to be like.
When I started there were 300 booths then growing in a decade to over 600 and now over 1,200 booths. GC has grown to over 150 stores, Sam Ash as big as GC was, Mars came from 1 store to 50 and folded. BrookMays from a Texas chain to a nation wide chain and just folded, Wal Mart and other Mall chains now selling Guitars and music products, China now making Guitars for less that a single Lunch cost a Namm official spends.. And there is more...
At this time, I can say I dis-like going to Namm, dis-like what Namm has become as a company and Dis-like 'some' of the Namm officials personally. Although to some degree, far less than it was 10 or 20 yeras ago, Namm is a necessary evil. I still think some presence is warranted.
I met Dean Markley at the '79 show aand was told that was about the last show he personally attended. Why can't I do some of the same?
I think that in the 28 years or so I have been in business, more music stores have gone out-of-business than I lost hair on my head! I am 55 years old now and started as a musician at 16 joining the ny Union in 1968. Ten years later i started my company and played still another 10 years while running and starting up my company. Now I wanna play my fine Double Basses in the Symphony and in Jazz evenings and weekends and run the shop during the week delivering as many Basses we can make without skipping any quality at all.
So, as I try to keep the hair I still have, I would like to retire from the Namm floor permanently. To those of you that want to meet with me, there is my email, phone, TB PM as well as myself in person in the Shop just about every work day of the year. All we need for a visit is a little heads up you are coming. Even if your a block away when you call or walk in unannounced, you will still be welcome to visit.
As a matter of fact, I had a DB customer scheduled for today but couldn't make it up in time from Philly so I am coming in Monday, labor day for a private showing. I live just 5 minutes from the shop as well.
By the way Hadrien, I know this thread I started was about you but I just wanted to make my Namm precence clear. I learned of your playing just this week from my Dist. in Japan, Hajime (Sleek Elite). Perhaps you have met him there but if not, you will when you visit Japan. He will take good care of you, I promise.
... so I'm keeping both open.
Really i did not understand very well all of "the subtilities"...in those posts.
