Just got back last night and had a perfect time. The Slapstik guys couldn't have been nicer to me, and it was a lot of fun playing behind a drum set for the entire event. In general, they treated me a lot better than where I legitimately stand.
It was also great connecting with faces I had not seen lately /Tim Yeung, clinicians, retailers, family associates, WFD folks from previous NAMMs etc/. I especially enjoyed seeing the DW crowd, because they always turn out to be the nicest people at NAMM. This includes Jeff Almeyda and many more.
But, I especially want to publicly thank DW member Paul Quin for his amazing friendship. Man, talk about somebody with connections. Paul knows everybody. He helped introduce me to a huge crowd of people, including several companies I had been trying to get in with for a long time. With Paul's help I think I finally have my arrangement with the cymbal and stick companies I had really wanted. A highlight was some of the drummers he introduced me to. It was especially fun hanging briefly with John Blackwell who is a super nice guy. I could be wrong, but I think Paul's some kind of music retailer in Florida. If he is, then I think that's the kind of guy you want to support and buy stuff from, as opposed to the alternatives.
One funny moment occured when I needed a cab from my hotel to the convention center. All the cabs were taken, and I was trying to figure out what to do when this limo driver showed up and told me he was on his break, but would sneak me over in his stretch for $15. Supposedly Eddie Van Halen/ or somebody big like that/ was at NAMM and there was this rumor that he was heading out the same time I was in an identical limo. When I got to NAMM, there were all these photographers, and when I got out by myself there was this big groan. One of them said It's nobody and they left. That was funny.
This was my 5th NAMM, and I usually come back thinking I didn't acheive all my short term goals. But I was very satisfied this time. I also got reaffirmation that the Drummerworld folks are a good group of people. And yeah, if it seems like I've dropped a bunch of names, that's what you do when you return from one of these things.
Thanks again.
IMPORTANT EDIT.
One brief correction from my post. I just learned that Paul Quin is actually a well known lawyer in the Tampa area, and not a retailer. Apparently he's known as the "drummer's lawyer" because he devotes some of his practice to entertainment law and 90% of that to only representing drummers.
Whatever your career, I appreciate your assistance and your obvious connections.