So the final day of Namm was ended with some hand shakes and some good business contacts. I managed to hook up with 90% of the artist relations reps for all of the companies that i want to work with. Adam & his dad Paul are planning the last evening to catch the Vancouver Canucks vs Anaheim, well i figure ill end it where i started it, the hotel lobbies. So as the day wraps we head back to the motel to prep for a Yamaha Customer Appreciation party that goes from 6-8, free food, free drinks.
We land there right at 6pm as Adam and his dad are going to leave early for the hockey game and ill make my way to the final evenings events. Its a typical set up , a ball room, mini bars set up in the corners as servers dish up different kinds of entrees and appetizers. Yamaha had set up a piano in the middle of the room that plays itself, a nice touch for there Canadian dealers that sling there products, however a far cry from the over the top private Elton John concert that put on the evening prior. However we dig in, drinks food and start chatting with other Canadian dealers as they arrive. We had set up shop at a stand up table in good proximity to the bar and 2 of the food stations. As we finish up our food, Adam & his dad prepare to leave for the hockey game. Adam's friend "Dropping Rob" as Adam likes to call him, due to his nature of working who he met, where when etc into conversations. I'm not sure how Adam gave him the name Rob does like to drop names so i'm sure Adam doesn't say it directly to him. Nonetheless, Rob is at Namm and had made his way over to meet us, i told Adam to give his badge to him as they left so he could come and share a Corona. ( From what i gather Rob didn't show up because Adam could get the badge off his lanyard, im under the impression Adam just didn't want him to go in and instead of telling him just pretended to need the badge for some other reason.
As Adam & his dad are leaving the stand up table 2 other gentleman step up and start chatting with me Bill Thorton, who works at MI the prestigious music institute as an audio engineer teacher. I was briefly aware of MI right before i left for La durning a brief conversation in Toronto about Berkley's musical program. MI was then brought up to me by Ewen at the hostel just before i left for Namm. In any case, welcome Bob to the Yamaha party. To my right is a gentleman by the name of Bob, he's got stories written all over him, a hand full of food and a Zildjian Cymbals badge around his neck. Me and Bob kick it off straight away being an odd person out at a Yamaha party as I'm a musician from Toronto and he's an Audio teacher from MI. So naturally i assume he pumps Yamaha products but in any case we move into a conversation regarding that and MI. I naturally would assume that most of these companies would court Bill to use their products, makes sense does it not? An Audio Engineer teacher at a prestigious school? influencing 500 plus kids into the industry workforce thinking "said" product is the best and they must use that well recording. However Bill tells me its not the case , but does tell me that they have some incredible one of stuff that is just a play ground for recording buffs. I remember chatting with him about recording abit but coming to the same notion, who cares what you use, where or how as long as the final product speaks for your labours. I feel that defines my process each time, It can start simple or big, but im always after the best final recording i can, even if the tools are not there at the beginning.
This brings me to Bob, he looks at Bill and says "lets grab a roadie and get out of here" Bill says "sure, hey Brent what are you doing , do you want to come with us?""Sure" i reply, im on an adventure at this point anyway. Me and Bob hit the bar one last time before we head out, we take 1 beer each and 1 unopened that i watch Bob throw in his black plastic bag, (think typical trade show bag) and we walk out. Bob has seemed to have everything dialled in as to what is going on at Namm, he's got an app going with underground parties, unexpected shows etc.
So here we go, the last night of Namm .......put on your seat belt and enjoy the ride.
No comments:
Post a Comment