There are three emotional phases that usually accompany a visit to NAMM 2020.

At first, there’s the “holy shit” internal scream at the sight of people flooding towards the main entrance. No big deal, we’ve all been there.

Immediately after checking in comes the daunting thought of “I’m not going to be able to survive this!” The myriad of sounds screaming from the exhibitors’ booths (think ‘Guitar Center’ but multiply it by 10,000) immediately drowns out this initial dread. That’s when you start feeling quite overwhelmed, but in a good way.

You then immerse yourself in the orgy of masterclasses, product demos and live performances throughout the weekend, but right when your mind and body start easing into it, you hear “Ma’am, please move aside!” boom from behind. You turn around and before you gather what’s happening, Stevie Wonder himself, surrounded by a team of bodyguards, passes you as he heads toward the elevator (they literally formed a square around him, understandably so). 

This, of course, wraps up the third and final phase, which we call the “Stevie Wonder” phase – in which madness and genius finally meet.

Welcome to Namm 2020. Let the madness begin!

Photos courtesy of Rebecca Anne

NAMM, held January 16-19 at the Anaheim Convention Center in California, focused on the mission of strengthening the music products industry and promoting the pleasures and benefits of making music.