Winter NAMM 2013: Best & Worst in Show

Best Low-Maintenance Plants:

How long has it been since Daisy Rock watered these guitars?

Best Fashion Déjà vu (sort of):

Madeleine Crouch of Musical Distributors Association once again brought some fancy Western footwear to the Show. This year’s blue and black kicks were a subtle variation on last year’s red cowboy boots.

Best Mohawk:

It’s an annual challenge to come up with our “best hairstyle” shot from Anaheim, but we’re fans of the classics…

Best App:

We’re talking old-school “app,” as in appetizer – not smartphone time-waster.   Nothing ground-breaking here, but a bacon-wrapped scallop – such as those served at the NAMM Chairman’s Reception – is always a winner.

Best ‘healthy treat’:

The artfully presented (and delicious!) fresh fruit on-hand at SKB’s Rep Awards gathering was a nice contrast to a week’s worth of hotel/airport food.

Worst Example of ‘Booth Reality’ (not) Matching up with ‘Real Life Reality’:

Marshall Amps has recently been celebrating “50 Years of Loud,” but at the NAMM Show, The Marshall booth was, ironically, one of the quietest booths on the show floor.

Best Act of Altruism:

Every day at 5pm, the good folks at Alfred Publishing hosted a Happy Hour at their booth (only for of-age Show attendees, of course).   After roaming the Convention Center floor for hours on end – and usually missing out on lunch – it really hit the spot!

Best Facial  Expression  of the Show:

Dave Boonshoft of Aguilar Amplification.

Worst Waste of Time:

A 35-minute wait for a grilled cheese sandwich on the third floor of the Convention Center.  Not Peking Duck, not cheese soufflé.   Grilled cheese sandwich.

Best Ginormous Drum Kit:

Ludwig Drums wasn’t messing around with this set.

Best (Worst?) Guys-Channelling-Their-Inner-12-Year-Old-Selves Photo Opp (tie):

Fans posed with Jaclyn Swedberg, 2013 Playboy Playmate of the Year at the Clayton USA booth.

The Dean Guitars Dean Girls are perennial NAMM superstars.

Best Airport Upgrade:

The MMR team departed for home from The Long Beach Airport, which has to be the most improved transportation hub of the year:   Decent restaurants, increased amenities, and… a bank of free iPads for passengers’ use at the food court.

Worst Disappointment:

Probably one of the only downsides of the 2013 Winter gathering, when compared to last year’s NAMM Show, was… NO In-N-Out!!! NAMM giveth and NAMM taketh away, apparently.   Very sad…