Audrey is excited to be covering the sessions, seminars, and other knowledge-giving events coming up at The 2020 NAMM Show. As we start the new year, we will bring you information about the panels and workshops, presenters who are slated to speak, the TEC Awards, and even tips for using the NAMM app to set up a personal conference schedule in a series of articles leading up to (and beyond) The 2020 NAMM Show.
This first article is a zoomed-out overview by Audrey covering the types of sessions being offered at The 2020 NAMM Show.
For Your Business: Insights, Ideas, And Strategies For The Next Decade
The 2020 NAMM show has announced over 300 new professional development sessions for people across all areas of the music industry. Held at the NAMM U Education Center inside the Anaheim Hilton and in the NAMM Idea Center in the lobby of the Anaheim Convention Center, these sessions are designed to connect music industry professionals and inspire them to push their careers to the next level.
Each day of the 2020 NAMM Show will kick off with NAMM U Breakfast Sessions which focus on marketing and building your business. The NAMM U Breakfast Sessions are held in the Pacific Ballroom at the Anaheim Hilton. After each Breakfast Session, you can continue your entrepreneurial education by heading to the NAMM Idea Center for almost 50 other sessions covering topics such as “7 Steps for Online Marketing Success,” “How to Turn Web Visitors into Sales Opportunities,” “10 Management Hacks for Every Music Retailer,” and other subjects.
The Future Is Hear: A3E, AES Academy at NAMM
Whether you’re just getting started in pro audio or are a seasoned professional, these sessions are designed to help you develop, fine-tune, or gain new skills. Registration for an AES Academy access pass is required to attend AES programs and tracks. Advance Registration pricing begins at a rate of $25 for AES members, and the non-member rate of $150 ($75 for students) includes a full year of AES membership and benefits.
A3E: The Advanced Audio and Applications Exchange is a future-focused series of 13 seminars and nine panels which explore trends in audio applications. From finding new ways to implement artificial intelligence to understanding how Blockchain may impact how we earn royalties, the A3E seminars focus on where emerging technology and the audio industry intersect.
AES Academy at NAMM returns for its third year to cover 11 areas of the pro audio industry: Audio Education, Audio Career, Control Room, Electronic Dance Music (EDM), House of Worship, In-Ear Monitor, Line Array, Live Console, Microphone, Measurement and Optimization, and Wireless Academy. AES Academy Attendees will have the opportunity to learn from industry leaders such as Sylvia Massy (Tool, Red Hot Chili Peppers), Leslie Ann Jones (Herbie Hancock, Kronos Quartet), Kerrie Keyes (Pearl Jam, SoundGirls), and many more.
Dante’s Inferno
Audinate, the maker of Dante, returns with three training courses spanning two days, Thursday and Friday. “Dante Working Knowledge,” a newly developed hands-on training workshop, teaches the basics of networking and offers tips and tricks on Dante Controller. “Dante Certification Levels 1 & 2 Consolidated” prepares attendees for the Dante Certification test, however, if you’re new to Dante, make sure to take the Dante Working Knowledge workshop first! Audinate will also offer “Advanced Networking for AV Professionals” for those who want to dive into networking for larger enterprises. Registration is required for all Dante workshops.
TEC Tracks
For audio pros who are looking for big-picture sessions, TEC Tracks cover topics from favorite vocal chains to making synthesized instruments sound real. These panels and sessions offer something for everyone: Smart Touring, Sound Design for the 21st Century, The Power of Podcasting, and Mastering Mastering are just some of the subjects. This year, there will be over 60 free sessions for sound, studio, and stage professionals.
A special session, “Birth of a Record Special Edition: Remembering Ed Cherney,” is scheduled for Saturday afternoon. As you may know, the music industry lost a giant when Ed Cherney passed away this October. This session is a celebration of Ed’s life and career, led by Mr Bonzai (David Goggin) and other close friends and colleagues of Ed’s.
The STAR-POWERED PLUG-INS session taking place on Friday has piqued my interest, personally. From NAMM’s website: “STAR-POWERED PLUG-INS: Audio Legends Share Their MixCraft explores the intricate relationship between audio developer and multi-platinum mixer, as they work together to develop the signature plug-ins worthy of their names.”
Check out the schedule for TEC Tracks here
Looking Ahead
The 2020 NAMM Show schedule is shaping up to be focused on education and accessibility while looking toward the future. To make the most of the show, and to keep track of all of the sessions you’d like to attend, download the NAMM Shows app from Google Play or the Apple App Store.
I won’t lie, the app can be a little pokey, but it will remind you of the upcoming sessions you flag, send notifications when giveaways are about to happen, and connect you to others who are attending the show.
What About You?
Let us know in the comments what events you’re excited about attending at The 2020 NAMM Show.