The NAMM Show’s massive showroom floor takes every bit of an entire day to walk. The event is a tradeshow for the music industry featuring every imaginable music product. Aside from the overload of music stuff, NAMM provides better-than-average people watching opportunities akin to a main-stream Burningman. 

I never did find out who this is, but there was a long line of people waiting for his autograph.

Ultimately, the event is about people. Seeing friends, meeting famous people, and about connecting with new people.

Here’s an example: Steve Lawson, and Lobelia, have been touring the US doing house concerts featuring looping. Steve’s blog chronicles their adventures. With Steve and I mostly being aware of one another via Twitter, it was fun to finally meet face-to-face.

Made into Anaheim around mid afternoon where we were met with beautiful, unseasonably ward summer-like weather. I decided to just make this first day a destination-free stroll and will be more organized over the course of the next three days of attendance.

While I am not one that usually gets “star-struck” when I see famous people–I did run into one of my all-time heroes and had to stop and say ‘Hi.’ 

George Benson has been an idol of mine since I was 7 years old and I had the good fortune to meet him today. Needless to say–I was totally thrilled and couldn’t wipe the smile of my face for the rest of the afternoon.

George is the “Real Deal.”  

Tomorrow: Day 2.