NAMM brings opportunity for musicians’ futures

Led by CSC Music Professor Sandy Schaefer, nine CSC students attended the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM), a four-day trade show and conference in Anaheim, Calif. last week.

Over 100,000 people on average attend the conference from all over the world. Products for the trade show fill six football fields. The students attend round tables and have the opportunity to network with music professionals from Sony, D’Addario, and the President of NAMM, just to name a few.

Allison Hoover, 22, senior of Crete, attended NAMM four times throughout her college career.

“I went to NAMM the first time when I was 18 and had no clue what to expect” Allison said Wednesday.

NAMM is a great networking opportunity and an effective way to get an internship.

“Last year, I met Kim Giles, who is the president of her own artist services company, Beyond One Entertainment,” Allison stated,

“I got an internship and now work for her.” Allison attended the winter show in Anaheim, Calif., three times and the smaller summer conference in Nashville, Tenn. twice before getting the internship.

To anyone interested in music, Allison says they should experience NAMM.

“NAMM is where a musician can really figure out where they belong and where they want to go with their lives.”

Alex Keller, a CSC alumni, had an internship with NAMM and is now working for Audience AV in Southern California. Allison thanks Alex for encouraging her to attend NAMM,

“It really shaped me into a better business woman and helped me find my niche in the music industry”.

NAMM is an opportunity for music students that when taken advantage of, can open doors to a bright future.