Sound Marketing

helping music brands be heard

Category: Trade Shows

When Things are Slow, Go Faster

I came across a Facebook post recently with a quote attributed to famed race car driver Mario Andretti, who quipped, “If everything seems under control, you’re not going fast enough.” It made me pause and think about the situation in the musical instrument and pro audio markets today, along with how various constituents in our industry are dealing with continued turbulence. … [Read more...]

The Future of Trade Shows in the Musical Instrument and Pro Audio Business

After a two-year hiatus and a subsequent delay in January of 2022, the NAMM Show will once again open its doors in Anaheim in early June. Word is that this will be a smaller event than in previous years, as many vendors have chosen to pass. For my own part, I am not attending due to health reasons, and only a handful of my Reflex Marketing suppliers will have booths. Our … [Read more...]

A NAMM Show Like no Other…

The annual pilgrimage to Anaheim fell prey to COVID this year. For us on the east coast, the promise of balmy weather, a respite from winter and a generally invigorating event is just not in the cards. Instead, the industry is engaging in a variety of ways to communicate the important January messages concerning new products, programs, distribution changes and more. What’s … [Read more...]

You had a great NAMM show, what comes next?

The party’s over, now the real work begins... It was quite an event, without question a memorable one for me personally. At dawn on Friday, January 17th, I was crossing Katella Avenue after preparing for a vendor meeting at the Starbucks across from my hotel. In a freak accident, I was struck by a pickup truck and thrown to the curb. The laptop bag I carry on my right … [Read more...]

Sales Reps – Preparing for a successful Winter NAMM show…

The annual trek to Anaheim beckons; are you ready to maximize your time there? It’s a musical instrument and pro audio industry ritual, and for many of us on the east coast a welcome getaway from cold weather. Ah yes, the splendid sunshine of Southern California, rekindling longstanding relationships, visiting with vendors and dealers, and in general setting the table for … [Read more...]

NAMM is over. What’s next?

The cyclical nature of sales in the musical instrument and pro audio business

It’s post-holiday, and your company just enjoyed a successful NAMM show. In many ways, the new product releases, prospecting, dealer meetings and sheer energy emanating from the show floor kick off the New Year. The weeks that follow the annual pilgrimage to Anaheim and other periods … [Read more...]

A Trade Show Booth With No Gear? What Music Brands Can Learn From Moog

What Moog Synthesizers can teach the music industry about trade shows.

Every January, over 100,000 attendees descend upon Anaheim, California, to investigate the latest and coolest music gear at NAMM. Hundreds of vendors showcase equipment ranging from concert pianos to boutique guitar pedals to high technology DJ products—so it was an outrageous idea for Moog … [Read more...]

Five Ways Music Brands Can Pregame Their Social Media Before NAMM

Some simple planning lets your music brand do more at NAMM than ever before.

As a music manufacturer, you spend a lot of time and treasure preparing for NAMM. You want to get the most out of your experience in Anaheim by making connections, setting up appointments, forging partnerships and generally learning about changes in the music industry. Let’s face it. … [Read more...]

Five Ways Music Brands Can “Brandcast” with Periscope

The power of live streaming.

Full disclosure, I was quick to minimize Periscope when it initially launched. As a lover of social media in my personal life, I thought it was pretty cool—another fun way to post personal content and interact with friends and followers. I didn’t really appreciate its potential impact as a marketing tool. Then I took a look at the … [Read more...]