My main purpose for coming here is to not only check out some cool new toys (none of which I can afford or have a real need for) but I was also performing at the MiSi pick up booth showing off their system. MiSi is a company I hooked up with about a year ago, the make acoustic pre-amps. What’s cool and unique about them is their system are all fully active yet battery free. Whaaa! you may say, as many people did throughout the weekend. How does that work? Well they use something called “super capacitors” (space age sounding I know). What it boils down to is that the system are rechargeable. You plug it into a standard outlet for 60 seconds and you get 16 hours of play time out of it. Cool huh?! The most important thing that is they sound fantastic, none of the usual piezo “quack”. Mikhail, the guy that owns the company and designs the product, and his wife were two of the sweetest people I think I’ve ever met. They treat me like gold.

NAMM is also a major schmoozefest, and we all know this business is all about networking. The fine folks at Guitar Player Magazine we’re kind enough to set me up with a badge for the show. One of the senior v.p.’s, John, is apparently a bit of a fan of what I do so he was kind enough to mention me to the marketing manager of a major guitar manufacturer as a possible endorsee. It’s took me three day’s to manage it but I finally wrangled myself into a meeting with said manager (even if at first he thought I was someone else) so with any luck I’ll be slinging some new guitars in the near future.

In another case of dumb luck I was having some issues with a particular pedal I was using during the show so when I had a free minute I went up to the company’s booth to see if they could help me with it. I told the guy who I was and what I do and how I use this pedal all the time, in fact I rely on it for most of my shows. Next thing you know, bada bing bada boom, ten minutes later I’m chatting with that company’s artist relations guy about a possible endorsee/clinician deal. Once again a case of right place right time wins out. Nothing is set in stone but we’ll see what happens in the coming months.

On Saturday morning I was walking into the show when I spotted someone who has made a pretty big impact on my life. I’m usually not one to do this sort of thing but I just couldn’t help myself, so I went up and got my picture taken with Nicko McBrain, drummer for Iron Maiden! Anyone who knows me knows I’m the biggest Maiden fan, if only I ran into Dave Murray I would’ve melted. Later that day I was walking past the Hughes and Kettner booth and spotted Tommy Thahill guitarist for Kiss. A few months back I took my son to his first ever, rock concert which happened to be Kiss (who’s the coolest dad ever?!!) so I was able to show Mr Thahill a video if my son jumping up and down with his fist in the air singing along to “Shout it out loud” and thank him for being a part of such a great moment in my life. Of course I had to get my picture taken with him so my son could see his dad hanging with Kiss (again I say, coolest dad ever!). Shortly thereafter I happened to see a guy I recognized as another Latin guitarist from the LA area. I have an album of his which is fantastic. His name is Luis Villegas and he’s definitely worth checking out. I introduced my self to him and throughout the conversation realized we are both endorsees of Shub capos. He was booked to perform at the Shub booth the next day and invited me to stop by and sit in. An awesome impromptu little jam session happened out of that chance encounter. Too much fun!

I also had the opportunity to see some amazing performances at the show. My buddy Don Alder did a great set at the Marriot stage for Yamaha guitars. On Saturday night I got my VIP passes to the all star guitar night (thanks Guitar Player) and saw an amazing show including Larry Carlton and Mike Stern with Nathan East on bass, a surprise appearance from Stanley Jordan and an unbelievable performance by a guy named Sean Hopper, check him out. Sunday myself and my friend/great bass player, Pete along with another friend Aarron drove up to hollywood to a little club just off Hollywood Blvd to see Monte Montgomery. If you haven’t heard of Monte you should. He is one of the best guitarists, songwriters, performers you will ever hear. Hands down one of the best shows I’ve been to in my life.

On Monday morning, just to put a topper on the weekend me and my fellow Guitar Superstar alum Dave went out for breakfast and had our last little fun moment of the show. Where else but NAMM can you run into Ricki Rocket, drummer for Poison, walking into a Denny’s!

All in all a great weekend . I was on my feet for three days straight, slept on a pillow that I’m sure was carved from a log, ate my first In n’ Out burger…….it’s food! Made some new friends, hopefully started some new business relationships. Can’t wait for next year.

D