MIAC 2007 Show Review by Katie VanSlack Canada's largest trade show for musical instruments, keyboards, published music, software, and accessories, the 36th Annual Music Industries Association of Canada (MIAC) Show and the 6th Annual Pro Audio and Lighting (PAL) Showcase, was held on Aug. 26 and 27, at the Toronto International Centre. Over 3,000 manufacturers, distributors, retailers, industry-related reps, educators, and pro audio and lighting professionals enjoyed the 170+ exhibitors, seminars, and exciting social activities. The majority of exhibitors reported good business during the two-day event, and many indicated to the Association that it was their best show ever! The success of the show this year supports Canada's position as the seventh largest music and sound products market in the world, with annual sales estimated at $760 million US. As a first this year, the Association produced its own Show Guide, which was distributed at the show and was mailed to non-participating dealers across Canada. On the eve of the show, MIAC golfers played a round at the Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham, ON to raise proceeds for the Coalition for Music Education in Canada (CMEC). About $5,000 was raised by 80 golfers - the highest participation level to date. MIAC Board Members Allan Ward and Dave Hamilton presented the donation to Ingrid Whyte, Executive Director of the CMEC, at the Industry Gala Dinner on Sunday, Aug. 26. After the golfers packed up their clubs, they attended the Chairman's Welcome Reception, which was held just in time for the Quebec buses to arrive. Dealers from Quebec came in three buses, bringing about 100 reps to Toronto from Montreal and Quebec City. Al Kowalenko, Executive Director of MIAC, advises that they hope to have three buses make this trip again for next year's show. The All Industry Jam was held right after the Welcome Reception, which pushed the industry pros to loosen up their neckties and hop on stage to lay down a few beats. The music kicked off with The Roadhouse performing, who invited players to join them on stage. Day one of the Show began with the Show Opening Ceremonies, which was the ribbon cutting tradition performed by Ward, Dave Dysart, Ron Larcombe, Larry Mansbridge, Chris Griffiths, and Kowalenko. As usual, Sunday was the busier of the two days, featuring the PAL Wine & Cheese Reception and the Drum Circle hosted by Mountain Rythym. The Drum Circle had one of the best turnouts and enthusiasm in years. The Gibson Tour Bus was also featured outside to show guests how the rock stars ride in style from show to show. There were also outdoor PAL exhibits, which were blessed with sunny skies and warm days. "We were very happy," says Jeff Carman, Division Manager of Erikson Audio and MIAC Board Member. "Well, the attendance could always be better, but we were happy with the turn out. Our sales reps, primarily from Ontario and Quebec, were both quite pleased with the number of people that they saw. In particular a Quebec rep felt that there was a good increase in the quantity and quality of people he was meeting compared to last year." Dysart, President of HHB Communications Canada, says that his favourite highlight of the show is, "Packing up," he laughs. "Seriously, seeing more professionals from both the audio and video world walking the show floor. It means that our message is getting out and qualified end-users are seeing value in our show!" The MIAC Young Professionals Committee (MYPC) held a Networking Forum on Sunday to help foster connections between individuals 39 years old and younger in the MI industry, create a positive learning and mentoring environment, and serve the MIAC Board with input from this age group. The MYPC meets every three to four months, usually in the Toronto area, and meet at MIAC, Frankfurt Messe, and NAMM. While at NAMM, MYPC joins with NAYMM for the US events. Any industry professional involved in music, sound, or who is a music or business student looking to enter the industry is welcome to join. Just contact Heather Wade, 905-405-1229 ext.235, heather.wade@power-music.com, or Larry Davidson, 905-889-0116, larry@daddariocanada.com, or visit: www.miac.net/youngprofessionals. After the show closed on day one, exhibitors, reps, and some attendees, made their way to the Industry Gala Dinner. This Gala is a favourite for many MIAC-goers, and this year's was one of the most unforgettable. Canada's number one musical comedy duo, Bowser & Blue, was the entertainment for the night. George Bowser and Rick Blue are regular headliners at the Montreal Just For Laughs comedy festival, and did an excellent job his year with their patriotic, hilarious, and musical sketches. Harvey Levy, VP of Levy's Leathers says that the Gala evening and enjoying Bowser & Blue was his highlight of the Show. "They were particularly unique being from Quebec and integrating the French," says Kowalenko. He says that next year they will continue with a comedy act as opposed to a musical act. "We've had the age-old problem that if we bring a band in, as soon as the band starts its first song people will walk out. Music is such a personal thing sometimes you can't please everybody." The Gala saw over 500 attendees, who applauded Warren Price of Mother's Music when he received the MIAC/PAL Honourary Life Membership Award for his outstanding 50-year service to the Canadian music industry. He helped develop the retail music and sound business in Western Canada. "It was really quite a surprise when Al Kowalenko had phoned," says Price. "I was very surprised, pleased of course! There are a lot of great people in the game and probably a lot of people that could have been on the list. But in any event, it was an honour and I'm very pleased that they did pick me … It awakens me to the fact that I have been around in the game for a long time and I should be doing a little more to promote MIAC, its different arms, and music in general." What better way to wrap up day one than the annual Canadian Music Trade Late Night Party. The party was packed this year and was held at a new location, the Lone Star Texas Grill. Partiers also loved the new live entertainment: the '60s organ-charged punk garage foursome, The Midways. Day two began bright and early for representatives from MIAC member companies, organizations, and designated industry guests, as they attended the MIAC Annual General Meeting (AGM). This year's 2007 Trade Show Committee Co-Chairs were members of the MIAC Board of Directors: Mansbridge of Yamaha Canada Music for MIAC 2007 and Doug Stimpson of White Radio for PAL Showcase. Many changes were announced at the AGM this year, first was the announcement of Ron Larcombe of Power Group completing his term of four years as MIAC President/Chairman and nine years on the Board. Succeeding Larcombe is Griffiths, General Manager of Gibson's Garrison Guitars Division. He is the first official retailer President in the Association's history and the youngest. "We're well poised now with Barbara [Cole, MIAC's Trade Show and Marketing Manager] having a full year under her belt, the new faces of the Board level and the new faces on the committee, as well as my term as Chairman/President. I'm looking forward to making it an even bigger and better show next year. We've got a few tricks up our sleeves that will add more value to the show," advises Griffiths. He notes that the exhibitors need the Association to provide easy load-in and tear-down, the right signage, and reasonable pricing. "But they really judge the show based on who was there and what kind of buying they're doing. While we can't necessarily influence how much they're going to spend at the show, we can certainly influence the attendance of the dealers, and I think that's our number one priority for the coming year." A new slate of MIAC Directors was approved for 2007-2008. They include: Griffiths, Brock McGinnis of Westbury National Show Systems, Jeff Sazant of SF Marketing, Pierre Beaupre of LE Group A1, Julio Cotellesso of Steve's Music Store, Dale Kroke of B&J Music, Mansbridge of Yamaha Canada, Terry Ryan of SABIAN, Scott Betz of MusicOneSelect, Paul Pinchuck of Musical Instruments Distribution Canada, Eric Teacher of Osram Sylvania, and Ron Tizzard of Yorkville Sound. New Executive Committee and Association Committee appointments will be announced later this Fall. "We've got some great contributors who got their well-deserved retirement today. While it is obviously a difficult time to loose someone who has 6+ years of experience, it also makes an opportunity to bring some fresh blood into the organization," says Griffiths. "So I really want to make sure that the new directors feel like they're part of the group and that they're contributing to the best of their ability." Carman adds that a higher attendance rate on the Monday of the show would benefit all involved, and advises that the Board is always looking for new ways to generate attendance. Langevin agrees that higher attendance is necessary for the 2008 show. "The show was good but I found it much slower than last year," he says. "If attendance does not go up many suppliers may think twice about coming back. So I think the most important thing would be to look at getting more quality people attending the show." "I was concerned about attendance leading up to the show because Summer NAMM was so poorly attended. Feedback that I was getting from retailers in Canada was that it wasn't a great year; it was a very disruptive year … I was afraid that dealers weren't going to invest in attending the show to the same extent that they had in the past. So I was extremely impressed with the attendance considering the state of the industry this year. I was also impressed with the attendance on Monday as well, which is typically a slow day. I thought attendance was very good on Monday. And I also thought there was increased attendance from Western Canada and Quebec," says Griffiths. He adds that he was also very pleased with the execution on the show as it was the first year that MIAC has had a full time Trade Show Co-ordinator, Cole, "who was new to the position and hadn't been to our show before, but is obviously very experienced. As talented as Barbara is, I was concerned about the challenge that she had to maintain a consistency and the level of execution between the shows, and I think she did an absolutely fabulous job!" "It's evolved into a really nice show, a show to be proud of. It's our show, meaning a Canadian show. You feel comfortable in it, you may not know everybody, but when you've been around a long time going there is kind of like going to home-week. It's comfortable, you're dealing with people that you know, and it's a different type of feeling than the NAMM Show. We're Canadians that go down, spend money in Canada, and buy goods from people in Canada that pay taxes here and so do we. Now with our dollar the same [as the US dollar] we should keep those precious dollars here," says Price. "I really believe that we can grow that show a lot more … making it more successful by having more people come to it, then I'm going to do what I can to make that happen. I'm just looking forward to next year." Dysart adds, "It's a lot of work being involved in MIAC, however I get a real sense of gratification when I see how the calibre of the show gets better every year." For the 2008 PAL Showcase the Association plans to take a new marketing approach in developing marketing campaigns that will heighten show awareness and draw attendees from across Canada. An Exhibitor Advisory Council will also be established to give exhibitors a voice and help in the development and growth of future shows. Check the MIAC Show website for 2008 dates and details as they become available. Kowalenko advises that the dates will be announced this October. For more information, contact: MIAC, 416-490-1871, Toll-free 877-490-MIAC, FAX 416-490-0369, Toll-free FAX 877-809-8600, info@miac.net, www.miac.net.