I've had the good fortune of having been to NAMM as a friend of a guest of a guy who was a dealer rep. Seriously. It's pretty liberal who gets to go; not completely "open" but darn near close. While I very much appreciated the invite and had great fun there and afterward at the variety of going-ons, I could certainly see how such an open "policy" (can you even call it that?) can frustrate dealers who are there for the real purpose of seeing wares ...then you get guys like me who, even if polite and very mindful of the real purpose of "NAMM," are still gawkers with no professional vested interest in the show. I can't help but feel sorry for all who are seriously trying to network and make a buck.
BTW, Taylor had, far and away, the best room, IMHO. Best showmanship, yes, but also the best environment for trying and listening. Not to mention killer musical guests. The other biggies were disappointments: Fender and Gibby were almost ridiculous ...as if their wares were museum pieces. Lots of the "little guys" had great personal rapport with us nobodies but I felt bad that they were saddled with noise and crowds. That said, I'd go again in a heartbeat.
Edward
