Welcome to February 2024. By now, with the season’s earth-shaking events (The NAMM Show, ISE 2024 and Groundhog Day) behind us, it’s time to get back to the daily routine. Yet somehow, all of the former offer signs of prosperity for the coming year.
If you believe in traditions, Punxsutawney Phil emerged from his burrow and did not see his shadow. That promises an early spring — a good omen for anyone involved in early-year festivals, or simply people tired of the weird winter we’ve been experiencing.
However, in terms of hard statistical evidence, both NAMM and the 20th Integrated Systems Europe conventions reported solid numbers, with 61,000 attendees for NAMM and a record 1,408 exhibitors for ISE. Maybe we shouldn’t be surprised, as fair-weather locales such as Anaheim, CA (NAMM) and Barcelona, Spain (ISE) make a lot of sense to attendees traveling from America’s frosty Midwest and Northeast or snowy northern Europe. (See our NAMM report on page 12; we’ll delve into ISE in next month’s FRONT of HOUSE.)
Technologically, there were positive signs from both shows. The growing acceptance of standards such as Dante and Milan bodes well for the entire industry. Even smaller changes — such as Neumann’s new wireless mic capsules in the (non-Sennheiser) thread-mount format opens doors for everyone. Now, if the industry could someday move to the mini-XLR standard for mic inputs on wireless beltpacks, that would be amazing, but we can dream, can’t we?
Of course, the best part about tradeshows is bringing the industry together, where ideas, concepts (and business) can be discussed face to face, whether at private meetings, cocktail parties, the show floor or chance encounters. And that… is a good thing.
