Insider’s Guide to NAMM

Thinking of going to NAMM 2025 in LA?

Get the inside scoop on what to expect at NAMM, when to come, and how to make the most of your music trip to sunny Anaheim.

🏢 What is NAMM?

NAMM, or the National Association of Music Merchants, hosts the world's largest tradeshow for music equipment manufacturers and software developers.

NAMM is also a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit. They create global networking opportunities for music educators, dealers, and professionals.

🎸 Who goes to NAMM?

NAMM is an international music conference for manufacturers and buyers. NAMM hosts nearly 50,000 attendees from 120+ countries every year.

The tradeshow features over 1,200 music vendors showcasing:

• music and recording software,
• fretted instruments like guitars and basses,
• DJ equipment,
• keyboards,
• percussion,
• and more.

NAMM is primarily for music manufacturers, distributors, and retailers.

You’ll also find about 3,500 individual brand representatives throughout the show.

Can anyone go to NAMM?

NAMM is not designed for the general public and music hobbyists. It’s a music industry trade show.

Over the last few years, the increase in popularity of NAMM among the general public has made it harder to do face-to-face business. Please respect the event’s intended purpose if you go as a fan.

However, there are still many ways to get tickets to enjoy the fun events, concerts, and live demos of new music gear.

📅 When and where is NAMM 2025?

There are two NAMM events held in the USA every year.

NAMM 2025 is January 21 to January 25, 2025.

One NAMM event is in Anaheim, California (Los Angeles), and the other is in Nashville, Tennessee.

• Winter NAMM, usually held around January, is in Los Angeles. It is a typically three-day event.
• Summer NAMM is typically in Nashville around June or July.

Is NAMM in Los Angeles?

NAMM is in Anaheim, which is not technically the city of Los Angeles.

Anaheim is about a 60-minute drive from Hollywood without traffic.

🎻 Who can attend NAMM?

To attend NAMM, you must fit one of these categories:

• NAMM members: Paid members get early access to tickets.
• Music educators: Teachers, professors, vocal coaches, piano teachers, music summer camp teachers, production schools, and anyone teaching music can apply for a NAMM badge.
• Press/Media: Gear reviewers, music industry bloggers, journalists, and newsletter curators are all welcome at NAMM.
• Students: Studying at a music college in LA or part of a college band? Check out the event.
• Producers/Engineers: Do you produce music or voiceover work? Do you have credits as an audio engineer? NAMM is for you.

Sometimes, the general public attends the event.

If you are a NAMM member, you will automatically receive an invitation in your email inbox when the show is announced. Other attendees will need to apply for a badge.

NAMM is not ideal for general musicians. Although it can be fun to play with new gear and imagine yourself at a band rehearsal with a new BOSS guitar pedal, musicians aren't the target audience of this conference.

NAMM tickets range in price from about $150 for members to $650 for non-members.

⌚ What days should I attend NAMM?

NAMM lasts for three days, from Thursday to Saturday.

Friday and Saturday are typically the busiest. Many attendees fly out Sunday morning—parties and events at the end of NAMM aren’t as common as on Friday and Saturday nights.

How can I avoid crowds at NAMM?

Friday and Saturday are typically the busiest days at NAMM. If you want to avoid the crowds, consider attending on Thursday.

Arrive early in the morning before the show floor gets too packed. It’s gratifying to have free reign of the conference hall first thing in the morning. By lunchtime, the show is hopping!

Consider taking advantage of shuttle services from your hotel not to have to deal with parking or traffic.

✈️ Flying to NAMM

Thinking of flying to Southern California for NAMM?

You have two options:

• LAX: If you’re flying from overseas, LAX will probably be where you’ll land. It’s about 30-40 minutes by car from the airport to the convention center. Allocate an hour if you’re taking a taxi or Uber to get to your hotel or Airbnb.
• John Wayne: John Wayne airport is much closer to Anaheim and NAMM in Santa Ana. It is a domestic and international airport but primarily operates flights around the Western United States. If you’re flying internationally, you likely won’t be able to get to John Wayne Airport. The drive to the Anaheim Convention Center is only about 25 minutes from John Wayne. There’s also a shuttle that will take you.

🏨 Hotels at NAMM

The Hilton and Marriott are next doors to the convention center. You might even accidentally walk through the wrong door back to your room!

During conventions, hotels are expensive.

After the show on most nights, people usually go to the hotel bars for informal after-parties.

Although you might pay more for these hotels, you should splurge. Not having to pay for Ubers, wasting time in traffic, or spending your nights alone after NAMM 10 miles from the venue are all perks.

✅ NAMM Benefits

What are the benefits of attending NAMM?

The NAMM Show floor is exciting. There's a magical, hard-to-describe energy running through everything.

Like stepping into a Guitar Center or Sam Ash for the first time as a kid and seeing endless walls of guitars, keyboards, and synthesizers.

Networking

You can meet new people at the NAMM Member Center, both LA residents and people from all over the world!

You might also make connections while wandering around the floor.

One of the best things about the show is meeting people who share your passion for music, podcasting, audio, and the entertainment industry.

You'll gain new ideas, advice, job prospects, and insights into your music business, even if you're only there for a few hours.

Learning

NAMM is a great place to learn about what’s new in music tech and the music industry.

NAMM invites manufacturers, producers, artists, and industry professionals to share their best tips, ideas, and best practices in private talks and panels.

In-person business

Face-to-face conversations can have a big impact on your business.

Whether you’re an exhibitor or a dealer wandering around the floor looking at products, you’re bound to make connections at NAMM.

Fun

When you go to NAMM, you'll feel excited. That excitement can spread to your business.

Sometimes getting away to southern California is the best way to center yourself again. Get some sunshine and great food, and surround yourself with music for an entire weekend.

🎵 LA Music Stores

I’d be remiss not to mention many of the great LA music stores.

Truetone Music

Truetone Music in Santa Monica is a guitar store with a great selection of guitars, amps, and pedals.

They have been in business for over 30 years and have a vast selection of new, used, and vintage guitars, amps, pedals, and accessories.

LA Vintage Gear

LA Vintage Gear is a Los Angeles music shop specializing in vintage and used guitars, amps, and pedals.

They also offer maintenance and repair services for instruments and equipment. Their website features an online store where customers can browse their inventory and make purchases.

Additionally, they offer consignment services for those looking to sell their vintage gear.

🧠 NAMM Insider Tips

📍 Tip #1: Anaheim is not Los Angeles.

NAMM does an excellent job of reminding attendees that the event is in Anaheim, not LA. Los Angeles is about 25 miles away.

On a good day, driving will take you about 40 minutes. But with a big convention like NAMM, expect at least 60 minutes to get to Downtown LA from Anaheim’s convention center.

If you have a free day, you can make the drive to Los Angeles and take some photos! But try to stay closer to the convention center.

🍴 Tip #2: Bring your lunch.

The convention center's food is unsurprising. Pizza, pretzels, hot dogs, convention food are everywhere. There are lots of food trucks outside, though!

Try to eat before you get there.

Having a pretzel or hot dog probably isn’t the best way to start the day. Across the street from the convention center are some restaurants, but they’re costly. You can also walk a few blocks to get to some fast-food restaurants.

In short, pack a lunch. Or expect to stand in line during a lunch rush for the food truck spaces.

🛌 Tip #3: Pick a nearby hotel. Even if it’s pricey.

The Hilton and Marriott are right next to the convention center. They’re moderately priced and fill up with the weekend convention.

After the show on most nights, people usually go to the hotel bars for informal after-parties.

Although you might pay more for these hotels, you should splurge. Not having to pay for Ubers, waste time in traffic, or spend your nights alone after NAMM 10 miles from the venue are all perks.

🍺 Tip #4: Go to the after-parties.

As you wander around NAMM, you’ll be invited to many after-parties.

Big brands will host events around the convention center after things close for the day. You can also ask around at different booths about things to do. If a company puts on a party, they’ll undoubtedly tell you about it.

NAMM also does an excellent job of letting guests know about official after-party events. Concerts, meet and greets, and sponsored events are on the schedule.

⌚ Tip #5: Get there early.

NAMM ends at 6 PM. The event starts at 10 AM. Get there early if there are vendors you want to see. It’s the best way to avoid the crowds.

📅 Tip #6: Avoid the crowds on Thursday.

If you want to see as much gear as possible and get face time with vendors, go on Thursday, which is usually the quietest day as people are still getting into town. Thursday is usually the "media" day and only runs for limited hours.

If you want to see everything that NAMM has to offer, go on Friday and Saturday. Parties, concerts, and plenty of fun events are happening all weekend.

👟 Tip #7: Wear good shoes.

Wear comfy shoes to NAMM! You’ll put in your 10,000 steps. Get inserts for your shoes, too.

You don’t realize how big the convention center is until you’ve walked it a few times all weekend.

Your Apple Watch will thank you for hitting your fitness goals and you’ll get your money’s worth for your shoes. Wear something light with good support.

🔈 Tip #8: Bring earplugs—Is it loud at NAMM?

Yes! It’s loud at NAMM. You should bring earplugs if you have sensitive ears. The main floors have guitars, drums, speakers, live demos, and music playing in all directions. It’s a chaotic place.

👕 Tip #9: Avoid (some of) the swag.

There is lots of free stuff at NAMM—pamphlets, free trials, business cards, pens, shirts, and lanyards.

Try not to hang onto too much of it. You’ll only weigh yourself down.

Trying to get a gift while you’re in California for friends back home? Check our LA gift guide.

👨‍🎤 Tip #10: Be a music fan—meet famous musicians at NAMM.

Many well-known artists, producers, engineers, and musicians come to NAMM. Sometimes it’s for a panel talk or a concert.

You can get autographs and photos from many of them in pre-designated areas after they perform. These lines can get very long, though.

Some don’t mind chatting as they wander around the showroom. But others have security to help them get straight to the stage.

🎒 Tip #11: Don’t bring a big bag.

On the way in, security will check your photo ID. On the way out, they will check your bags. Usually, you can bring a backpack, but not a big bag like a suitcase.

🚫 Tip #12: Avoid the traffic

NAMM is located in Anaheim, which is known for its traffic. (I’m sure you’re surprised to hear).

• Take the shuttle: If you’re staying in a nearby hotel, take advantage of the shuttles that run to and from the convention center.
• Use the Metro: If you’re traveling from LA, you can try to take the Metro and Metrolink. It takes about 2 hours!

If you’re driving, arrive early to avoid the worst traffic.

🎡 Tip #13: Go to Disneyland

While in Anaheim, why not take some time to explore the surrounding area?

Downtown Disney is just across the street from the convention center and offers plenty of dining and entertainment options.

You can also visit Disneyland or Disney California Adventure Park if you have time.

📦 Tip #14: Visit the Anaheim Packing District

Fullerton and the Anaheim Packing District are popular destinations for food and drinks and are just a short drive away.

Check out the Anaheim Packing District’s calendar, as they usually have live music and special events during the convention.

🎸 Tip #15: Go to LA Concerts

If you have some free time during your trip to Anaheim, there are plenty of other music events in the area that you might want to check out.

The House of Blues, The Honda Center, and The Observatory are just a few venues that host concerts and performances throughout the year.

You could also enjoy some busking in Santa Monica for an afternoon.

Be sure to check their schedules and book your tickets in advance. Enjoy the live music scene in LA!

📝 Tip #16: Create a schedule.

The NAMM show can be overwhelming, so planning your schedule is essential.

• Make a list of the vendors you want to see,
• panels you want to attend,
• and the events you want to go to.

Use the NAMM app to keep track of your schedule and receive notifications about upcoming events.

Budgeting for NAMM

Attending NAMM can be expensive. The tickets aren’t pricey, but spending time in Anaheim, driving to LA for a day, and grabbing dinner after the event all add up. It’s important to budget accordingly.

In addition to the cost of admission, consider expenses for travel, lodging, meals, and entertainment during your time in Southern California.

This is how much NAMM tickets cost in 2025:

Here's a breakdown of some potential costs at NAMM:

• NAMM ticket: The ticket cost varies depending on the ticket type and whether you're a NAMM member or not. For the 2025 NAMM event, general attendee tickets are $150, a networking pass is $325 for members and $650 for non-members, and students get in for just $70.
• Hotel: The Hilton and Marriott are located near the Anaheim Convention Center, where NAMM is held. Prices range from around $200-$400 per night, depending on the hotel and room type. A three-night stay could cost around $600-$1200.
• Meals: Food options near the convention center can be expensive. Packing your lunch and snacks can save money. Eating out for dinner could cost around $20-$50 per person per meal, depending on the restaurant, with tax and tips. Even a burger and fries at a nearby fast food place will cost $15!
• Travel: If you're flying in, airfare to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) or John Wayne Airport could cost anywhere from a few hundred to a thousand dollars, depending on where you're coming from and when you book. Taking a taxi or renting a car to get to Anaheim could cost around $50-$100 each way. There are also Uber and Lyft, but as of 2024, those have gotten more expensive than regular taxis.

A weekend at NAMM in Anaheim could cost around $1000-$3000 or more.

FAQs

Is there a mobile app for NAMM?

The NAMM app is available for download on both Android and iOS devices. This app provides a comprehensive guide to the event, including schedules, maps, and exhibitor lists.

How does NAMM compare to SXSW?

NAMM and SXSW are pretty different.

NAMM primarily focuses on music equipment manufacturers and software developers. SXSW is more of a music festival and conference.

SXSW features musicians, panels, and workshops about music marketing, media, and business. NAMM is about the newest gear, software, and music sales.

Both events offer unique opportunities for networking, learning, and experiencing the latest in music technology and culture.

Are there recording studios and booths at NAMM?

Not quite. Some vendors who sell microphones and audio equipment will rent a soundproofed room or booth at the show.

This way, guests can try out new gear in a quiet setting.

If you want the real thing, consider looking on Peerspace or checking out Pirate Studios for affordable studios near Anaheim for an afternoon.