Playback - Spring 2008 - (Page 19)

s Dreams Even before hearing about NAMM’s plans to develop its Wanna Play Guitar? program for retailers, David Contois of Contois Music was already using the popular Guitar Hero video game to draw teens into his store. When David Contois first played Guitar Hero™ with his son, he could tell the game could play a role in creating more teen musicians. “The minute I tried it, I knew there was potential there to transition kids to a real instrument—and I’ve been working on that ever since.” He began holding Guitar Hero tournaments in his two Vermont music stores and has been thrilled with the response. “Our last one had about 200 kids,” says Contois. “We gave away real guitars and lessons to get them started, and we’ve signed up kids left and right for lessons.” Contois has tried a variety of promotions, including Happy Hour tournaments, local radio show promotions and selling Guitar Hero packs at his store during the holidays. “It was the most popular game of the season, and when we [announced] that we were selling it, the word caught on wicked. We also gave away a free guitar lesson with every Guitar Hero we sold.” In the meantime, NAMM developed the Wanna Play Guitar? promotion for music dealers creating a turnkey promotion that retail Members could opt-in to. “I would definitely tell other retailers to get involved in the Wanna Play Guitar? program. It’s a great way to get started and start out with promotional material. There are so many kids out there playing Guitar Hero right now, we’ve got to take note as retailers and music educators and turn these kids into guitar players. That’s what it’s all about.” To learn more about the Wanna Play Guitar? promotion and how to bring it to your store, please call NAMM at 800-767-6266 or e-mail jeffl@namm.org SPRING 2008 19

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Playback - Spring 2008

Playback - Spring 2008 Contents From the President NAMM Events Music in the News Bringing Recreational Music Making to Iraq Commercial Retail Reps in the Field New Domestic Members International Washington Watch NAMM Foundation Music Notes Resources Viewpoint

Playback - Spring 2008

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.