I've been to the last five or so shows. Last year I saw two women barred at the door for presenting bogus passes. I, on the other hand, walked through with a borrowed pass.
The primary reason for the show is to pimp the gear pimps. There is not enough room to open the show to the public.
Myself, I love to see and meet the celebrities, even if I am not particularly a big fan. For example, I got photos of myself with the likes of Ted Nugent, Buddy Miles, Dick Dale, Jennifer Batten, Albert Lee, Johnny Hiland, Slash and a few more I can't recall. The line for Eddie Van Halen is always too long.
My favorite is a photo with Eddie Kramer and Jimi Hendrix' sister.
I have had a few good conversations with Seymore Duncan, John Pearse, etc. Seymore said he was at a party talking to Jimi and Jimi declined some drugs because he was more interested in talking guitars with Seymore.
Have I learned anything about the equipment at Namm? Not really; I get more of an education on GS. But that may be a function of my lack of knowledge.
One of the items that go up and down like the stock market is T-shirts. Some years everybody is giving them away and others it is not so. Some will sell the shirts.
Some of the most fun is the lower floor where they put the mom and pop manufacturers. My buddy calls it the crazy room. But here you can meet the guy who builds Foggy Mountain guitars or Z. Vex pedals.
