NAESE is built around four pillars: SEE, LEARN, HEAR, and PLAY. They map to what people actually come for: the gear, the conversation, the hands-on time, and the performance. Everything else is logistics.
The expo floor is where our ecosystem comes alive. Hardware makers, boutique builders, software developers, major manufacturers, supporters and accessories… all under one roof, all of it touchable.
No glass cases, no velvet ropes. Pick it up, plug it in, turn the knob, ask the person who built it why they made that choice. NAESE is built for hands-on discovery. Come with questions. Leave with favorites you didn't know you had.
Floor hours are Friday 12:00 – 5:00 PM, Saturday 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM, and Sunday 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Re-entry is permitted with a valid badge.
Programmed for depth, not decoration.
Whether you're just finding your footing or you've been patching since before most people knew what a patch cable was, there's a room designed for you. Practical techniques, design stories, creative process, pedagogy, history, and the kind of honest conversation that doesn't happen in a product demo.
Come curious. Leave dangerous.
If people leave smarter, more curious, or more capable than when they arrived, it fits.
Programming is curated. Selection is based on fit, clarity, quality, and contribution to the overall balance of the program. Clear, well-scoped proposals stand out. See the perform / speak page for the application.
Performance at NAESE isn't an afterthought. It's part of the program.
From daytime sets to late-night performances, NAESE features artists who have something to say and formats designed for genuine listening. Intimate sets. Full performances. Electronic music treated as the serious, living art form it is.
This is not background music for a networking event. This is the thing itself.
The emphasis is on intentional sound and strong presentation, not genre purity. Performances are included with all attendee badges. Some evening events may have capacity limits or RSVP requirements depending on venue and format.
Performer applications open through the perform / speak page.
The jam spaces are where everything you saw and learned gets put to work.
Community gear — including things you just saw on the floor — or bring your own. Open pods. No agenda except sound. The jam spaces exist because music doesn't happen in a showroom; it happens when people stop shopping and start playing together.
These are those rooms.
Bring your instrument. Especially encouraged. Hands-on is what NAESE is about, and the jam spaces are where the energy from the floor and the program turns into actual music.
The best jam spaces are self-regulating, but they can get crowded. If you find yourself in a jam space that's at capacity, feel free to help keep things hospitable by politely letting people know when it's full and encouraging them to check out another pod or come back in a bit.
Jam spaces are for playing, not performing. If you want to perform, apply through the perform / speak page.
NAESE is not responsible for gear left in jam spaces. If you bring it, take it with you when you're done playing.
Jam spaces are currently in the planning stages. More details on layout, gear, and hours will be published closer to the event.
Finally, interseted in helping us staff the jam spaces? We're looking for volunteers to help keep things running smoothly. If that's you, get in touch.
// VENDOR ONLY
Attendees may leave and re-enter the venue during public expo hours with a valid badge. A full schedule with session names, performer lineups, and breakout titles will be published closer to the event and made available digitally in NAESE HQ, our online portal.
Three ways into the program.
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