News
NAMM back at Nashville
Andy Barrett Aug 15 2007, 8:45am
Declining Summer Show figures and appeal of old venue prompts NAMM to act fast
As promised on the closing day of the Summer NAMM show in Austin, August 10th saw an announcement from the international MI trade body that next year’s show will be held at the Nashville Convention Center on June 20th to 22nd.
The decision was made after this year’s show saw both exhibitor and visitor numbers fall and the voices of complaint from within the US sector (Summer NAMM is largely an American domestic show) called for a return to Nashville. The Tennessee city had been the venue for the show for many years prior to the move, first to Indianapolis in 2005 and then Austin for the past two years, but was proving too small to host the show.
Acting quickly, the administration of NAMM contacted the Nashville centre to establish some viable dates for next year’s show. At such short notice, the dates chosen proved to be the best, despite the overlap with the InfoComm show in Las Vegas, which finishes on June 20th 2008.
NAMM is aware that some 30 potential exhibitors will be effected by this overlap, but has stated it is prepared to work with these or any other companies “to come up with solutions that will make their participation at both shows both possible and desirable”.
"As long as there are NAMM Members who need a second industry gathering to keep their businesses strong, NAMM will continue to serve them by providing the venue,” said Joe Lamond, the president and CEO of NAMM (pictured). “We’re grateful for the members that have given us their feedback and based on that, we’re pleased to say that the 2008 event will be held in Nashville."
As the industry continues to change rapidly, NAMM says it is researching what type of programming to add to the summer event that would provide the highest return on investment for exhibitors and visitors. The association is in the process of conducting a series of focus groups with key NAMM members across the US, facilitated by The Radcliffe Company, a research firm that specializes in the trade show industry. NAMM will make additional announcements in the autumn concerning new programming for 2008 Summer NAMM.
