PASIC 2008: Austin, Texas
The 2008 Percussive Arts Society International Convention took place from Nov 6-9 in Austin, Texas. As the streets around the convention center in downtown Austin echoed with the cadences of high school and collegiate drumlines, the mood inside the expo was one of cautious optimism about the MI market going forward, in spite of the turbulent economy, which weighed heavily on the minds of consumers, manufacturers, and retailers alike. As one vendor stated, “Hope comes from the idea that in good times and bad, people will continue to play music.” This optimism was not unwarranted, as foot traffic was high and sales relatively strong. In fact, another vendor, a representative from a cymbal manufacturer, mentioned that his company hit their sales target for the entire show in the very first day.
