From booking your hotel and scheduling meetings to navigating the vast offerings at The NAMM Show, planning for your NAMM experience can quickly become overwhelming. However, one of the keys to a successful trade show is ensuring that you get the most out of your time and investment. The most effective way to do this is through careful pre-show planning. By taking the time to create a strategic plan before the event, you can set yourself up for success and maximize your return on investment (ROI).
Start with a Roadmap
As a the retail and combo manager at Beacock Music, The NAMM Show presents a wealth of opportunities for me. But with so many sessions, exhibitors and networking offerings, it can be difficult to know where to start. My advice? Begin by reviewing the NAMM website and identifying the sessions that are most aligned with your business goals. This will help you prioritize your time and establish your “blackout” periods — those times you’ve already committed to attending educational sessions or meetings.
Once you’ve identified the sessions that will help you grow your business, it’s essential to carve out time to meet with key vendors, financial institutions and merchant services partners. These meetings can be instrumental in driving your business forward, so ensure that your schedule allows for ample time to connect with the right people.
Education: A Cornerstone of Your NAMM Experience
Education is one of the most valuable aspects of attending The NAMM Show. With so much to learn and only a few days to accomplish your goals, it’s important to take full advantage of the educational opportunities available to you. Whether it’s the NAMM U Breakfast Sessions, the NAMM Idea Center, or specialized summits like the NAMM Marketing Summit or Retail Financial Summit, there are countless ways to gain valuable insights that can impact your business long after the show ends.
One of the best tools to help you stay organized and on track is the NAMM Show + App. Use the app to create a personalized schedule of the sessions you want to attend, and make sure you don’t miss any of the golden nuggets of knowledge that can make your trip truly worthwhile.
A Team Effort
Attending The NAMM Show is not just about individual growth; it’s about growing as a team. We travel with a small but mighty team of three-to-six employees, and it’s essential to create space for your team to think, collaborate and share insights. While it’s easy to get caught up in your own schedule, dedicating time for team discussions is a key ingredient for success.
Set aside time after the show each day for a team meeting where everyone can share the key takeaways from their sessions, meetings, and conversations. This helps ensure that each person’s insights contribute to the bigger picture and that everyone is aligned on how to apply the new information to move the business forward.
Plan for these team meetings ahead of time — whether by making restaurant reservations or booking a quiet space at the hotel. The NAMM Show draws a large crowd, and popular restaurants can have long wait times, so it’s worth securing your plans early to avoid frustration and maximize your team’s productivity.
Plan Now for Greater Rewards
The key to a successful NAMM show experience lies in thoughtful preparation. By taking time before the show to plan your sessions, meetings and networking opportunities, you set yourself up to not only navigate the event with confidence but also walk away with valuable insights and connections. The more intentional your planning, the greater your ROI will be — and you’ll return home ready to put your newfound knowledge to work and propel your business forward. MI
Ryan Kotrlik is the retail & combo manager at Beacock Music and serves on the NAMM YP Board of Directors.
