Mandala Drum Blog

The great success of NAMM (National Association of Music Manufacturers) this year was due in large part to its stated purpose coinciding with a great economic need. In a time when companies across all industries are hoarding cash, cutting back and shedding employees the music instrument industry is no different. However as bleak as that sounds it brought out the best in the industry at the NAMM trade show. 

For those of you who don’t know, NAMM is the music instrument industry’s premier trade show. It is an annual gathering where all musical instrument manufacturers show the world what they have been working hard on all year. The official NAMM site summed it up this way:

Despite Unpredictable Economy, Exhibitors and Buyers Report Good Business in Anaheim

Themed ‘Come Together’, the show offered attendees the opportunity to reunite with industry peers, learn the latest business and marketing tactics and trends at daily NAMM University sessions, and ultimately make their biggest business deals for the year ahead.

‘The 2009 NAMM Show was perhaps one of the most important industry gatherings in memory’, said NAMM President and CEO Joe Lamond. ‘Our Members once again demonstrated their determination and persistence as the best and brightest from around the world gathered to experience four days of new products, NAMM University courses, networking and great live music.’

NAMM members showed up in the true spirit of business. The focus was not as directly on money, sales and investments, but rather on affiliations. This year’s show focused on handshakes agreeing to do business together.

The Mandala was well represented at the show. Danny Carey was there to promote his endorsements and Sonor was kind enough to include three Mandalas in their recreation of Danny’s full kit. Our good friend John Emrich, at FXpansion software, spent all weekend demonstrating a Mandala teamed impressively with their BFD package. Some high profile drummers approached us about joining the Mandala family (we’ll be announcing who soon).

We went to NAMM to raise awareness of our product and were proud to find that everyone had heard of us and wanted to talk. So as we have done before we must thank our loyal and talented customers. The word is out and the Mandala you have is going to become an even more capable and more amazing tool in the months ahead. USB, software driven, and position sensitive is the drum of the future. Clearer now than ever, the Mandala will do even more for drums than what the pickup did for guitars.

Now I have only alluded to our developing affiliations here. While I cannot yet reveal these affiliations I want to make it clear that the Mandala 2.0 is the future and anything we develop in the future will be compatible and expandable. We are growing and we are dedicated to maintaining excellent service and quality matched only by our commitment to drum technology.

Many thanks to our friends, customers, endorsees and affiliates who made this NAMM a success for us.

LUKE