Best and Worst of Summer NAMM 2009.

BEST

Best Buffet Item
The “mashed potato bar” at the pre-show party on Thursday night was a glorious tribute to everyone’s favorite starchy paste. Diners strove to discover just how much “stuff” (bacon, chives, candied walnuts, sour cream, cheese, olives, mushrooms), in addition to a potato base, could be forced into a large cocktail glass.

Best Use of Space
The folks at The Learning Dock made sure that their 5′ x 10′ booth got as much attention as larger displays, via a colorful, unique design.

Best View
The sunset from the porch at the lakeside house where FleaBass hosted a small get-together on Friday offered a glimpse of rural tranquility well outside of the Nashville city limits.

Best Dinner on a Budget
At a distance of .73 miles from the Convention Center (thanks, Google Maps!) and with a total charge of under $3.25 for three burgers (one each of: cheeseburger, jalapeño cheeseburger, and bacon cheeseburgers), a walk to the White Castle on Broadway provided both an economical meal option, as well as a decent cardio workout (because walking around on the show floor all day wasn’t enough…)

Best Coiffure
The trio of MI lawyer Ron Brenstock, Hap Kuffner, and MMR’s Rick Kessel share a gleaming above-the-neck aesthetic.

Best Unexpected Excitement
The “hottest place to be” in Nashville on Friday night momentarily appeared to be the Renaissance Nashville Hotel, which at approximately 8:30pm was forced to evacuate its guests due to the activation of the hotel’s “life safety system” (In my day, we just called them “fire alarms” – go figure). As the hotel noted in an official document later that night, “The emergency was quickly determined and rectified by the hotel supported by the local Fire Department.” Kudos on some swift and efficient work, guys!

Best Family Ties
For whatever reason, Summer Session 2009 seemed to bring industry families together more than usual.

WORST

Worst Realization
Though hardly surprising, just one trip to Jack’s Bar-B-Que reconfirmed that even the best pulled pork available in MMR’s home stomping-grounds of Boston doesn’t hold the tiniest, most pathetic, mini birthday candle to the BBQ offerings down South. Sigh…

Worst Attendance
Dealers and exhibitors who skipped the morning breakfast sessions. NAMM provided food for body and soul…including some of Nashville’s finest entertainers.

Worst Appearance
Long leather coats, suspenders and belts with rolled up short sleeves, fishnet stockings, multi-colored hair. Welcome to Music City USA!

Worst No-Shows…
No need to mention these folks by name (but they know who they are…). While the lack of some of the bigger players in the MI world did allow for smaller suppliers to shine at this summer’s show, the dearth of support from many of “the big kids” wasn’t exactly a strong show of solidarity. Step up to the plate, fellas – think big picture, here.

Worst Weather!
This may not be a popularly held opinion (everyone else seemed to be gushing about the “pleasant” temperatures in Nashville…), but when you never take more than a four-day weekend each summer and a trip to the NAMM Show is one of your few opportunities to enjoy some sunny, hot weather – maybe even lounge by the hotel pool for a bit – the mid-70s, breezy, partially cloudy weather that distinguished the ’09 trip was a major letdown.