We tried exhibiting at this show 2 years ago. TBH, it's the wrong show for us. It's more of a table top trading hall for used drums & parts. Most visitors are trawling for bargain bits.
Well, it is a bit of a rum 'un. From what I've been told, and this fits with what I saw, it's morphing from a "drumble sale" towards newer stuff, and from what I gleaned from punters, half of them are not in favour and half of them are.
"Neither fish nor fowl" sprang to mind. It's a drum show, yet real actual drumming was definitely discouraged, yesterday at least. How drum and cymbal retailers are supposed to sell to customers who have had the opportunity to make a reasonably informed decision, I cannot imagine.
Additionally, there was only the one space, which meant that the stage performers encroached on the exhibitors: you can't listen to a drum, or a cymbal, or a stick on a practice pad, while something loud is going on.
All that said, however, the atmosphere was wonderfully warm and laid-back. I met lots of people, exhibitors and punters, and every single one of them was great. Amedia did well and we made a number of new friends. (My favourite was the Slingerland gentleman from yesterday. His wife was poorly and he hadn't wanted to leave her but she had said she'd be ok and to go off and enjoy himself. He bought some new heads, hoops and a bizarre percussion thing that sounded like dustbin lids. I said they would DEFINITELY make her feel better!)
Enjoyed it this year, grabbed some bargains. Those 15" amedia hats nearly came home with me, if I'd have gone back to the stand my better half would be going mad at me ��.
Nice to meet you guys may well be in touch about those hats!
Great to meet you, I'm glad it was worth your while
Amedia aren't going away anytime soon. When the time is right, contact Alex!