A great music-tech show is one where you can actually meet the builders, touch the instruments, and have real conversations. Our floor is built around exactly that.
NAESE is a show for people who make and love electronic sound. The floor is the heart of the show, and it's designed to be a welcoming, engaging, and inclusive space for discovery.
That's why our floor is centered on a tabletop booth format. It keeps the show approachable for indie makers, small and mid-sized brands, and software creators, while making it easy for attendees to flow, linger, and discover. For exhibitors who need more room for multi-station demos or larger installations, we also offer a number of larger booth footprints. Those exist to support bigger demo needs, while staying true to our core vision of a shared floor that's easy to navigate and fosters direct connections between makers and attendees.
We want to make sure the floor is a place where attendees can have meaningful interactions with makers and their work, without feeling overwhelmed or excluded.
Do you build, support, teach, or distribute tools people use to make electronic sound? You're in the right place.
Year 1 booth pricing scales with company size, with two columns — S/M for small and mid-sized companies, L for large brands with broad distribution and scale. The size tier is something you'll select on the application; if you're not sure where you fit, the form has a tooltip to help you choose.
| Package | Size | Badges | S/M | L | Notes | Reserve |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Micro-maker | 3' | 1 | $250 | — | Limited quantity. Curated cluster. Scholarship program available. | |
| Standard table | 6' | 2 | $450 | $550 | The heart of the show. | |
| Corner / endcap table | 6' | 2 | $600 | $750 | Limited quantity. | |
| Inline booth | 10' | 4 | $750 | $900 | For multi-station setups. | |
| Premium booth | 20' | 8 | $1,500 | $1,800 | Larger demos. Bring-your-own-booth subject to venue union rules. | |
| Anchor Partner | Custom | Custom | $2,500 | $3,000 | Includes sponsor bundle. Prime placement. |
Plus locked Year 1 rates, priority renewal for future years, distinctive Founding Exhibitor badge designation, and recognition on the NAESE website and in the printed program. More on First Signal Exhibitor below.
Inline booths and premium booths get the same baseline plus additional floor space for multi-instrument setups and higher-traffic experiences. Power is included — we'll confirm the included service level during exhibitor onboarding and handle high-draw needs in advance.
Bringing your own stands, risers, standees, and signage? Encouraged. Larger total booth "builds" would require Center-approved vendors per Huntington Convention Center policy, so we're keeping it simple. Not sure if your concept is a fit? Just shoot us an email at vendors@naese.co.
Retail sales are permitted during published exhibit hours, subject to the Exhibitor Manual, venue rules, and applicable law. Exhibitors are responsible for their own sales tax compliance, payment processing, receipts, and consumer obligations.
Your booth starts in NAESE Central.
Every exhibitor gets a full company profile inside NAESE Central, visible to every badge holder browsing the expo before and during the show. Upload your logo, write your bio, drop your links and socials, add photos, and attach collateral — so attendees arrive at your booth already knowing who you are.
The scanning system is built around consent: when you scan a badge, the attendee confirms what they're sharing with you. No cold scrapes, no guesswork — just qualified leads who chose to connect.
NAESE Central runs on Exp/OS, a custom-built expo management platform developed by our sibling company Mattermind specifically for NAESE. It's the only systems of its kind in the conference/expo space.
NAESE is built around hands-on demos and meaningful listening. To keep the floor welcoming and to make sure everyone can be heard, we ask exhibitors to design for headphone-only booths and demos. If you have something to show that absolutely requires speakers, let us know and we'll find a way to make it work.
We want NAESE to be a creator-friendly show for filming and reviewing content. Exhibitors are strongly encouraged to provide a clean, easy attendee output for listening and recording, such as a 3.5mm stereo jack or other clearly labeled line output. If you offer one, keep it accessible, clearly labeled, and appropriate for consumer devices. If your device requires a specific adapter or cable, please provide it at your booth. In short, NAESE is about connection, so the more outputs the better
A curated program for early-stage and independent builders who might not otherwise be able to exhibit at NAESE in Year 1.
Some of the most interesting ideas in electronic sound come from very small teams or solo builders. The Micro-Maker Scholarship exists to make sure the show floor reflects the full ecosystem, not just the biggest or best-funded companies.
Reduced-cost access to exhibit at NAESE, paired with participation in the Community Underwriter mentorship program. The intent isn't just to make exhibiting cheaper; it's to make it more successful by pairing access with guidance and support.
Recipients are selected through a curated review process. Selections are based on fit, readiness, originality, and the potential benefit of placing that maker in front of the NAESE audience. This is not first-come-first-served, and it is not a popularity contest.
Application opens with the rest of the exhibitor signup flow. vendors@naese.co for early questions.
The mentor side of the Micro-Maker Scholarship. For experienced brands who want to help the next generation level up.
Community Underwriters are experienced brands who serve as mentors to a Micro-Maker Scholarship recipient. Underwriters help scholarship recipients navigate the realities of launching and growing their businesses: sales & marketing, product development, and more.
Light, structured, and useful without being burdensome.
The mentor cohort is limited to 10. Selection is curated based on fit, temperament, and experience. If we can't offer a match this year, you stay on the mentor waitlist for the next opening.
For exhibitors who commit early to NAESE Year 1.
Limited slots. Permanent recognition. Year 1-specific benefits.
First Signal status is limited, permanent, and non-recurring. Once the window closes, it never reopens. Pricing advantages and Year 1-only swag don't carry into future years — but, the recognition does.
First Signal status does not affect booth placement, programming decisions, or awards. It is recognition for early commitment, not preferential treatment.
Just sign up as a First Signal Exhibitor, accept the First Signal Exhibitor Agreement, and purchase your chosen booth tier. The First Signal window is open now, and it closes when we hit our cap for First Signal Exhibitors. When you sign up, you're committing to exhibit at NAESE 2027 and locking in your Year 1 benefits.
Sign up through the form on the NAESE website. For questions or First Signal Exhibitor inquiries, contact vendors@naese.co.
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