JAN. 19 I NAMM I SCHEDULE
Schedule of Events

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 20
8:30 A.M. — 4 P.M.
2016 Retail Boot Camp
Larry Bailin, Single Throw Internet Marketing; and Alan Friedman and Daniel Jobe, Friedman, Kannenberg & Co. Hilton Anaheim Hotel, California Ballrooms
Get to The NAMM Show a day early for an intensive one-day training designed to help you grow your business in 2016. Walk away with new ideas to sell to the socially connected consumer, an understanding of future trends in online marketing, tools to manage inventory, best practices for rental programs, tips to fine-tune employee compensation, and new ways to improve cash flow and the bottom line. Retail Boot Camp is for everyone in a music retail business, so bring the whole staff. It's free to NAMM members, but you must sign up first at namm.org. (Lunch will be served at noon.)

4:30 — 6:30 P.M.
Technology Boot Camp & Reception
Larry Bailin, Single Throw Internet Marketing; and Alan Friedman and Daniel Jobe, Friedman, Kannenberg & Co. Hilton Anaheim Hotel, California Ballrooms
As a bonus, a special two-hour Technology Boot Camp & Reception follows Retail Boot Camp. Unwind with a drink and hors d'oeuvres, and discover how to take ad vantage of critical music retail technologies — websites, POS systems and more — to make your business more efficient, profitable and visible.

THURSDAY, JAN. 21
BREAKFAST SESSION
8:30 A.M.— 9:30 A.M.
Breakfast of Champions
Joe Lamond, President and CEO of NAMM, and guests
Hilton Anaheim Hotel, Pacific Ballrooms
To celebrate its 10th anniversary, "Breakfast of Champions" will spotlight a rare and influential group: the industry game changers. During this session, they'll sit down with Lamond for intimate, one-on-one conversations about the state of the industry, where we are and where we're going. Join Lamond and these game changers, and get a head start on 2016. (Free breakfast served from 8 a.m.)

10:30 A.M.
The Mobile Web: Get Into Your Customer's Pocket
Join Grant Billings of Steinway Piano Gallery for a powerful session on successful mobile strategies for music retailers. Billings will discuss how he built a mobile website that's optimized for his business, and how you can, too. Walk away with best practices for going mobile and tips for improving your site.

11:00 A.M.
How to Win on Google
Fresh from NAMM's Retail Boot Camp, Larry Bailin, Internet marketing pioneer and best-selling author, will reveal things about SEO that no one's ever told you and also show you a real-life industry success story.

11:30 A.M.
Proven Instagram Tips to Build Your Customer Base
Instagram presents new opportunities to build your store's brand and turn fans into lifelong customers. Here, Will Thompson, founder of Habitual Social, will share instantly applicable techniques to help you improve your Instagram marketing. He'll also discuss how to take advantage of Instagram's new self-serve ads.

12:00 P.M.
How to Improve the Customer Experience Right Away
How do you create a customer experience that sets your music retail business apart — and keeps customers coming back over and over again? Find out from Tracy Leenman of Musical Innovations, NAMM's 2015 Dealer of the Year and the Top 100 Award winner for Best Customer Service.

12:30 P.M.
3 Strategies to Grow Your Lesson Program
Bertrand's Music has built one of Southern California's largest and most successful music lesson programs. In this session, Joel Bertrand, the company's vice president, will share how they did it, looking at proven ideas you can use to increase your own student base and make your program more profitable.

1:00 P.M.
Your YouTube Channel — Tips, Tricks and Analytics
Want practical ideas to improve your YouTube channel and video marketing? Jen Lowe of Boom Boom Percussion moderates a panel discussion of three YouTube and video marketing experts: Ben Werlin of MusicStoreLive, Nick Gordon of D'Addario and Michael Zapanta of MZFilms. tv. In a half-hour, you'll get a 360-degree look at how to tell your company's story using video, and how to turn that story into sales on YouTube.

1:30 P.M.
The Secrets to Selling Your Toughest Customers
Sales guru Bob Popyk will discuss ways you might not have thought of to get even your toughest customers to buy, make them regulars and save your sanity — all at the same time.

2:00 P.M.
Fill Your Lesson Rooms During the Dead Times
We all have them, those dead times when we can't seem to get any students in the door. Lesson rooms that sit empty could be providing revenue for your store and your teachers. Join Pete Gamber, music lessons guru and columnist for Music Inc., as he shows you proven ways to eliminate the dead times.

2:30 P.M.
Video Storytelling: Your Most Powerful Marketing Tool
Join filmmaker Brian Artka of size43 and Grant Billings of Steinway Piano Gallery, to discover how to tell your company's story successfully with video. Artka and Billings have collaborated on effective music retail promotional videos, and here, they'll offer their tools, tips and best practices.

3:00 P.M.
Social Media Strategies for the Music Education Market
In this session, Cris Behrens of Summerhays Music and John Mlynczak of Noteflight will cover helpful, tried-and-true tips for using social media to reach the music education market. They'll also reveal three examples of successful campaigns that you can use right away to engage educators, students and parents.

3:30 P.M.
Improve Your Rental Business, Communications and Cash Flow
Listen in as Frank Pampenella of PM Music Center shares six ideas that he's used to improve cash flow, operations and customer service in his successful rental program. He'll discuss tips for reducing late pays, improving communication between employees and road reps, and developing trust with directors.

4:00 P.M.
How to Keep Your Students Engaged in Lessons
Instagram presents new opportunities to build your store's brand and turn fans into lifelong customers. Here, Will Thompson, founder of Habitual Social, will share instantly applicable techniques to help you improve your Instagram marketing. He'll also discuss how to take advantage of Instagram's new self-serve ads.

4:30 P.M.
Turn In-Store Events Into Profits
Join David Vincent of Delve Texas, who will moderate this dynamic panel discussion and show you how to make the most of your in-store events. Discover retail success stories, along with tips for increasing foot traffic, promoting and capitalizing on events, and partnering with manufacturers.

5:00 P.M.
6 Key Strategies to Grow Your Business
Listen in as Chris White of White House of Music and Rick Drumm, industry veteran and founder of Traction Business Coaching reveal the six key components that are essential to growing your business. White and Drumm will also discuss how creating a culture of accountability and a clear vision for your store will build a foundation for real growth.

6:00 P.M.
Graham Nash
NAMM Nissan Grand Plaza Stage
Enjoy the sounds of British singer-songwriter Graham Nash.

FRIDAY, JAN. 22
BREAKFAST SESSION
8:30 A.M.— 9:30 A.M.
Unleashing Innovation — Turn Big Ideas Into Results
Josh Linkner, Tech Entrepreneur, Best-Selling Author and Jazz Guitarist
Hilton Anaheim Hotel, Pacific Ballrooms
Join four-time tech entrepreneur, New York Times best-selling author and jazz guitarist Josh Linkner for a discussion on innovation, presented in a way you've never heard before. In 60 minutes, Linkner will share tools that can expand creative output and increase the bottom line. (Free breakfast served from 8 — 8:30 a.m.)

10:30 A.M.
Create Effective Videos for YouTube, Facebook and More
Join Drum Center of Portsmouth's Shane Kinney and Tony Interlande as they share their best practices for creating videos for YouTube and other media channels, including Facebook, Instagram, eBay and websites.

11:00 A.M.
7 Ways to Improve Your Website Now (Double Session)
Sweetwater has one of the most successful and forward-thinking websites in retail. In this double session, Mike Ross, Sweetwater's senior vice president of marketing, will look at the nuts and bolts of a powerful website, discussing everything from do's and don'ts to best practices from Sweetwater.

12:00 P.M.
Instagram Insights for Music Retailers
Listen in as Michael Newman of Michael Newman Consulting presents Instagram insights and strategies from three diverse and successful music retailers that are getting the most from their Instagram marketing. He'll also look at the latest Instagram updates and changes, including advertising on the platform.

12:30 P.M.
Store Design: Tips for Better Merchandising and Branding
Looking to give your showroom a visual upgrade? Want to take your branding to the next level? Then join this panel of music retail experts: Todd Meislahn of Guitarfish, Paul Tobias of Tobias Music, Todd Heid of Heid Music and moderator Jen Lowe of Boom Boom Percussion. They'll share their tips and tricks for effective store design and merchandising.

1:00 P.M.
Music Lessons: Your Big Questions Answered
Do you run into the same issues over and over again in your lesson program? Are you seeking some sage advice? Then don't miss this session. Kevin Cranley of Willis Music will moderate a panel of music lesson gurus and retail experts: Gayle Beacock of Beacock Music, Chris White of White House Music and Daniel Jobe of Friedman, Kannenberg & Co.

1:30 p.m.
Guerilla Marketing on a Chimp's Budget, 2.0
Want to get gorilla-sized sales from a marketing budget that's too small to feed a chimpanzee? Want to grab some fast, easy sales dollars without spending money? Then stop monkeying around and come to this session. Discover how Cris Behrens of Summerhays Music uses cross-promotions, Facebook, food trucks and print ads to keep the registers ringing.

2:00 P.M.
10 Ways to Increase Your Sales With eBay and Reverb.com
This is a can't-miss session if you sell on or want to sell on auction sites. Blues Angel Music's Stephen Olsen and Sierra Williams will not only cover the ins and outs of eBay, but they'll also give you useful tips to make the most of Reverb.com.

2:30 P.M.
Gimme Some Credit! (Tips for Getting Inventory Financing)
Alan Friedman, a CPA and partner with Friedman, Kannenberg & Co., will moderate an informative discussion with three inventory finance and credit professionals dedicated to music retailing. You'll find out how to identify and obtain the right type of inventory financing for your store.

3:00 P.M.
Finding Profit in Educational Events
Recitals, student showcases, clinics, reading sessions — they're not just educational events, they're also profit opportunities. James Harding, president of Gist Piano Center and Music Inc. columnist, will show you how to turn your in-store education programs into powerful and profitable marketing events with a few easy-to-implement tips.

3:30 P.M.
5 Website Changes to Get Right — Right Now!
Join Bryan Cole, website and digital marketing expert, as he covers five key changes you'll want to make to your website to stay competitive in 2016. He'll explore video, mobile, advertising, marketing data and personas, and you'll get actionable takeaways you can implement on your website immediately.

4:00 P.M.
NAMM YP Annual Meeting
NAMM Member Center
Come network with other young MI industry professionals at this free event. Guest speaker Robin Walenta of West Music will discuss various topics including the challenges of being a woman in the music industry. Free hors d'oeuvres and networking will follow the keynote.

4:00 P.M.
Effective Facebook Ads on a Dollar a Day
Want to get real results on Facebook by spending just a dollar a day? Michael Newman will show you how. Newman, a marketing guru, industry veteran and founder of Michael Newman Consulting, will reveal how to create Facebook ads that perform even before you increase your advertising budget.

4:30 P.M.
Succession Planning: What You Need to Know
At this high-energy session, Jaimie Blackman, president of BH Wealth Management, will help you prepare for what may be the most important financial decision of your career. Blackman, who created "The Sound of Money" e-book and video series, will discuss a simple three-step process to help you get organized and understand key succession-planning issues — and help you find a succession strategy that's right for you.

5:00 P.M.
How to Create a Profitable Repair Business
Join John LeVan, owner of The Guitar Services Workshop, and discover how to take your repair business from profit drain to profit center. LeVan will cover the five fundamentals of a successful repair department: customer service, space allocation, inventory, staffing and compensation. Find out how these fundamentals can improve customer relations, sales and the bottom line in your company's repair department.

7:00 P.M.
She Rocks Awards
Hilton Anaheim Hotel
The annual awards ceremony pays tribute to women in the music and audio industry. This year, She Rocks will honor guitarist Jennifer Batten, singer/songwriter Chaka Khan and NAMM's Mary Luehrsen.

SATURDAY, JAN. 23
BREAKFAST SESSION
8:30 — 9:30 A.M.
Hug Your Haters: Customer Service in the Digital Age
Jay Baer, Digital Business Expert, Technology Advisor and Marketing Guru
Hilton Anaheim Hotel, Pacific Ballrooms
In our mobile, social, right-now world, consumers speak their minds like never before — in-store and online. This presents a huge opportunity to music businesses willing to embrace comments and complaints. Join Jay Baer, digital business expert, entrepreneur and marketing guru, as he reveals why customers are more vocal than ever and how to use this as an opportunity to grow your business and improve the customer experience. Baer will also share tips and strategies for turning bad news into good. (Free breakfast served from 8 — 8:30 a.m.)

10:30 A.M.
10 Ways to Improve Your Google Presence
Discover how search engine optimization works and how you can make it work for you with Reverb.com Brand Director Chrissy Hansen. Find out how to make the Google bots fall in love with your website, what tools are best for measuring success and why creating outstanding content that you are proud to share is always the best strategy.

11:00 A.M.
Web Mash-Up 2016 — Big Ideas for Website Success (Double Session)
In this special high-energy double session, Gordon O'Hara and Bee Bantug of Retail Up! will moderate a panel of music retailers who will share proven tips to help you have more success online. Building, promoting and managing a website — they'll cover it all! As a bonus, there will be surprise guest appearances from some of the biggest website success stories in the music retail industry.

12:00 P.M.
Social Media: How One Person Can Do It All
Ben Ash, director of social media at Sam Ash Music, will discuss the most effective ways to reach and retain your audience on multiple social media platforms — and how one man is able to do it all on his own. Hear the best practices of a music retail leader.

12:30 P.M.
5 Ways to Future-Proof Your Music Store
Join Billy Cuthrell, Progressive Music Center founder and Music Inc. columnist, to discover how to future-proof your music retail business. He'll look at five simple tools and strategies that will keep your business consistently up to date and forward-thinking. Get prepared for the next five years — and beyond.

1:00 P.M.
Host Staff Meetings That Deliver Big Results!
Don't let your meetings be a drag! Staff meetings present a huge opportunity to get people engaged and deliver big results at your store. Donovan Bankhead of Springfield Music will show you how his company organizes, plans and executes meetings that keep everyone involved and make them more results-oriented.

1:30 P.M.
Proven Ways to Increase Lesson Sign-ups
In this session, Susan Pascale, director of the Pascale Music Institute and a self-proclaimed risk-taker, will share her proven, out-of-the-box methods for attracting and retaining students.

2:00 P.M.
Simple DIY Store Design Ideas for High Impact
Join Tim Spicer of Spicer's Music, NAMM's 2015 Top 100 Award winner for Best Emerging Dealer, and get practical, do-it-yourself store design and merchandising ideas to maximize the customer experience — and ultimately boost your profits.

2:30 P.M.
How to Attract Millennial Customers, Employees and Students
The millennial generation is not to be ignored. In this session, music industry veteran and Music Inc. columnist Ravi will explain how you can attract and retain millennial customers, employees and students. He'll dissect the psyche of this younger generation and provide actionable tips and tools to help influence their decisions.

3:00 P.M.
Profit-Minded Promotions That Work
Leslie Faltin of Instrumental Music Center will explain how she's come up with her company's most successful promotions, giving you tools, examples and inspiration to create your own.

3:30 P.M.
You're Making a Profit But There's No Cash — What to Do?
In this session, Deb Barker of GE Capital will share how successful businesses manage to improve their cash flow and their bottom line. Find out how to afford a well-merchandised store, stay price competitive and have a healthy bank balance.

4:00 P.M.
Sure-Fire Ways to Improve Your Collections
Listen in as Robin Sassi and Kimberly Deverell of San Diego Music Studio discuss the do's and don'ts of collections. They'll walk you through their proven best practices for phone calls, emails and certified letters. They'll also discuss helpful ideas for filing small claims, preparing for court and collecting post-judgment.

4:30 P.M.
5 Steps for Building Your Retail Dream Team
During this session, Liz Reisman of Creative Music Center will share her system for conveying expectations to employees and getting them working together as a team. Walk away with five sure-fire ways to be the Coach K of your retail sales staff.

5:00 P.M.
Big Ideas for Retail Growth: Session and Q&A
Looking for some big ideas to grow your business in this hyper-competitive market? Then end the day with a dynamic think tank of independent music retail experts: Donovan Bankhead of Springfield Music, Gayle Beacock of Beacock Music and Gabriel O'Brien of Larry's Music Center. They'll discuss proven, practical tips that they've successfully implemented to improve and expand their own businesses. They'll also make time for a Q&A, so bring your burning questions. Kick off the new year with a focus on retail growth!

7:00 P.M.
31st Annual TEC Awards
Anaheim Convention Center
Nominees across 30 categories will be honored for creative and technical excellence. Hall of Fame inductees will include Record Plant co-founders Chris Stone and Gary Kellgren, and guitarist Jeff "Skunk" Baxter. Must have a ticket to enter.

SUNDAY, JAN. 24
BREAKFAST SESSION
8:30 — 9:30 A.M.
Best in Show
Frank Alkyer, Music Inc. and UpBeat Daily magazines, and panel
Hilton Anaheim Hotel, Pacific Ballrooms
Don't miss out on your next big seller! Join Frank Alkyer, publisher of Music Inc. and UpBeat Daily magazines, and a panel of music retail gear experts for this fast-moving Breakfast Session. They've scoured the far corners of the exhibit floor, and in 60 minutes, they'll reveal their top picks from The 2016 NAMM Show.

10:30 A.M.
Social Media on Steroids — How to Get More Exposure (Double Session)
In this session, Dan Shinder and Lori Shube of Drum Talk TV will show you how to build an audience and community that loves you and helps you achieve what you want in your musical career, for as long as you'd like.

11:30 A.M.
How to Succeed in the New Music Industry (Double Session)
This double session will feature award-winning producer, record executive and author Jeff Weber as he discusses how to build a fan base and brand, identify the new gatekeepers and activate the peer-to-peer recommendation engine to sell music in this new frontier.

12:30 P.M.
Crowdfunding: How to Fund Your Next Album Project (Double Session)
Discover how crowdfunding is enabling musicians around the world to go from demo to studio LP more efficiently. Join Udayan Sinha of the crowdfunding website Indiegogo as he introduces you to crowdfunding best practices and offers some truly inspiring success stories.

1:30 P.M.
2016 Best Tools for Schools Awards
What are the most innovative and relevant products for schools in 2016? Find out at this fast-moving session, as leaders in classroom music education reveal their favorite picks from The 2016 NAMM Show.

2:00 P.M.
Success Strategies for Women in the Music Industry (Double Session)
In this special panel discussion, top women in the music industry look at the challenges and obstacles they've faced — and how they've overcome them to create success. Hosted by Laura B. Whitmore, founder of the Women's International Music Network, this exciting and insightful panel welcomes men, too.

3:00 P.M.
Making a Living as an Indie Songwriter (Double Session)
Join Thornton Cline and his panel of experts for an insider's look at the business. Cline, an award-winning hit songwriter, will be joined by successful songwriters, artists and producers.