Teresa was one of tens of thousands of people who walked the halls of N.A.M.M. this year (National Association of Music Merchants). She attended “Bonzo Bash”, met some incredible musicians and artists and was educated on the benefits of a new device, Gear Secure, which has the potential to put an end to the theft of valuable music equipment.
In her own words and pictures…
“N.A.M.M. 2017 at The Anaheim Convention Center definitely delivered a music lover’s paradise this year. I spent my first evening in Anaheim enjoying “Bonzo Bash”, a tribute to Led Zeppelin’s legendary drummer, John Bonham. Brian Tichy (Whitesnake, Foreigner, Ozzy) and Doug Aldrich (Whitesnake, Dio) shredded on dueling guitars while Chas West (Lynch Mob, Bonham) wailed Zeppelin like a true champion.
The next morning I hit the convention floor with excitement and good shoes! My first stop was the Schecter Guitar booth where I was able to see the amazingly talented Patrick Kennison, guitarist for the Lita Ford band and Heaven Below (His own hard rock outfit). I also chatted with singer and “The Sinister Minister”, Skum Love, Schecter’s A&R genius.
Many artists were spotlighting amazing craftsmanship this year. For instance a spectacular wood carved guitar in the shape of a mermaid and a “cymbalsmith” pounding the metal to make authentic hand-crafted drum cymbals. The many incredible artisans using raw materials to create one of a kind instruments were among some of the most exciting demonstrations!
Technological advancement in music was also something that really stood out to me this year. Most interesting was a budding company with a product called Gear Secure. They have created the first tracking device that can be embedded into any instrument and tracked through an app on a musician’s cell phone. This product can locate stolen instruments and help recover expensive and sentimental equipment. The device is literally no bigger than a nickel! Gear Secure’s creator, Adam Mandel, was nice enough to enthusiastically welcome me to his booth to thoroughly explain the concept to me. This product is definitely one to watch for as it can literally put an end to equipment theft. This is a MUST have for all musicians! With a knowledgeable team and a priceless product, Gear Secure was definitely a highlight on the N.A.M.M. floor.
I saw many amazing musicians including the Appice brothers, Vinnie (Dio) and Carmine (Vanilla Fudge).
On my way out I stopped by the Coffin Case booth to see their sexy ‘Octo-woman’! I absolutely love their coffin-shaped guitar cases!
With so many exciting instruments, products, and displays seen, my day came to a happy close as I finished off a burger (which was pretty good) and literally bumped into almost everyone I know.
Even the extreme traffic I battled on the way home to my comforting couch didn’t dampen all the amazing experiences I had.
All in all, I consider my day at N.A.M.M. a success.”
-Teresa Schachtel
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