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MARCH 20, 1920
THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
EXHIBITORS EXPRESS OPINIONS REGARDING FUTURE MUSIC SHOWS—(Continued from page 5)
fact 1 am inclined to go farther than Mr. Con-
way, and do away with the Music Show, as an
institution, entirely, either as a public exhibit
or a display confined to the trade.
"I question if the plan of holding an exhibi-
tion in the ballroom or other assembly cham-
ber in a hotel would work out satisfactorily,
for, while it has certain features to commend
it, it is also open to many of the objectionable
features that militate against the successful
transaction of business at the public exhibits.
"My own experience has been that the most
effective way for the manufacturer to display
his wares to the piano merchant is to have
the examples of his product on exhibit in a
parlor adjoining his room in the hotel during
the week of the conventions, where he can
show his goods to the best advantage and un-
der the most favorable conditions. Here the
merchant can examine the instruments in de-
tail and talk with the manufacturer at his leisure
and without interruption or disconcerting inci-
dents to interfere with the business in hand.
"I am aware that such method has its draw-
backs, both for the manufacturer and the
dealer, since its tendency is to restrict the num-
ber of persons who will visit any one display
and the number of displays that any one man
will visit. But in the number of visits made
and conferences held between manufacturers
and merchants there will be a far greater per-
centage of profitable transactions consummated
than could be brought about in any kind of
common display that could be devised.
"I think it is obvious that in any display at-
tempted in a single room, no matter how large,
where the spaces are merely railed off, and not
partitioned, there is bound to be a great deal
of discordance and confusion, both from musi-
cal, and conversational sources, for demonstra-
tions must be given and discussions must take
place, and it is conceivable that under certain
circumstances the hall might become a bedlam
of confusing sounds. All this the individual
display is free from and it affords, besides, the
entire freedom from interruption which is
sometimes so desirable.
"I think the plan of individual displays might
be greatly strengthened if the manufacturers
could all be housed on the same floor of the
hotel, or at least in the same hotel, making it
more convenient to get about from one display
to another, though the possibility of locating
them thus probably is remote.
"But simmered down to the last analysis,
there is one final outstanding point that counts
more than all else against any general display,
cither for the public or for the trade exclusively,
and in that I agree fully with the conclusions
of Mr. Conway. This is that the expense in-
volved is out of all proportion to the results
achieved. And when all is said and done it is
results we are after.
"In conclusion I should like to emphasize
the fact that nothing T have said here is to be
taken as in any way deprecating the promotion
and development of the Music Week idea. All
the activities in this direction, outside the Music
Show, have my hearty approbation and T re-
gard the results obtained as amply justifying
(be steps taken. T should, like to.see-this line
of music^ propaganda pursued until Music Week
becomes a fixed event in every city."
Walter C. Hepperla's Suggestion
Walter C. Hepperla. president of the Premier
Grand Piano Corp.. New York, in commenting
upon the show, made a number of excellent
suggestions that should be well worth consid-
ering. He said:
"It mav be said without reservation that the
recent Music .Show and Music Festival Week
was an emphatic success.
"Music -both as an inspiring art and as a
constructive force—was sold to the public of
the metropolitan district and to the entire coun-
try as well, in a broad, intensive and compre-
hensive manner that had heretofore not been
approached.
"Despite the decidedly inclement weather—
wintry blasts and a real old-fashioned snow-
storm of the record-breaker variety—the at-
tendance at the show was remarkable for magni-
tude. Had the weather been at all favorable,
there would have been such an outpouring of
the public that the crowds which attend the
Automobile Show ;it its zenith would have been
equaled if not exceeded.
"Considering the interest and the enthusiasm
at th.s, the first National Music Show with a
public appeal, one cannot help but contrast it
with the weak ami puny initial Automobile
Show which was held at Madison Square Gar-
den in 1900. A decided difference in size and
character, to say the least.
'•'Two years hence, when the .National Music
Show is again scheduled for New York, we will
feel the great power and momentum given by
the 1920 exhibition and the varied activities in
connection therewith. It is therefore easy to
predict 100% efficiency for the 1922 show.
"I have asked many visitors, not identified
with the trade and who attended this year's
show in a general way only, what they thought
of it. They expressed their great delight with-
out one exception and were much impressed
with the character and the scope of the show.
"These casual visitors stated that the Music
Show was much more interesting to them in
every respect than the Automobile Show. They
emphasized the attractiveness of the varied
exhibits—the display of the latest instruments,
their outstanding features, etc.
"I believe that the combined musical events
and exhibits make the most practical and com-
prehensive appeal—in fact, this is the only way
to attract the interest of the public and to in-
sure its attendance.
"People enjoy the freedom of going about
among the displays; they want to inspect the
exhibits at close range, note the significant
features and identify the pianos and phono-
graphs they have read about in newspaper and
magazine advertisements.
"When you restrict this annual week to musi-
cal events only you automatically restrict the
attendance to the actually musically inclined
only—not an impressively large proportion of
the public generally. The attendance of the
general public is a requirement to make the
show the unqualified success it should be. The
show then becomes constructive propaganda
cf the jnost important character; it creates an
evening of musical diversion and interest, and
affords an opportunity, too, of seeing in con-
centrated form and area a most diversified dis-
play of musical instruments of every kind and-
discription.
"Tf the exhibits are not combined with the
Music Show events there will not be so large
a dealer attendance. And this because of the
limitations °f time. The trade meetings re-
quire so much time that a common meeting
place is necessary where the dealer can see
the various makes of instruments displayed.
"Here is a simple suggestion that should as-
sist in helping matters generally: Make it
known to the dealers through the medium of
the trade press and prior to the opening that
all their activities and negotiations at the show
must tSke place before 2 p. m.. after that the
display booths to be available for the public's
inspection until the show closes at night.
"Another suggestion: extend the number of
musical activities at the show—separate one
half of the first Hour as a big concert hall and
thus keep out sounds emanating from the booths
in the other parts of the building. In this way
there is an appeal to all the people—-those who
want to hear music only and take advantage
ot the various musical programs and those
who wish to inspect the exhibits and enjoy
the freedom of the show.
"It has occurred to me that an unfortunate
mistake was made through the oversight in
not furnishing complimentary admission tickets
to every retail salesman connected with every
retail music establishment in Greater New York.
These men should have been present and they
would also have prompted the attendance of
hundreds of desirable people among their com-
bined wide acquaintance.
"There is no doubt that the next National
Music Show can be made a much greater suc-
cess even than the successful l ( >20 show.
"Conduct the allied activities along the same
lines as this year—feature both musical events
and exhibits of instruments under one roof.
Restrict the dealers' activities at the show to
2 p. m. each day. Increase and diversify the
musical programs and set aside one half of the
first floor for a suitable concert hall.
"This summarizes several suggestions which
would, I believe, prove contributory factors in
making the next National Music Show the
standard for all succeeding ones."
The Most Successful Show
A. Dalrymple, treasurer of M. Welte & Sons,
declared: "The Music Show recently held in
this city was, in our minds, the most success-
ful of any of these exhibitions. Tt was the
first one in which the Welte line was exhibited."
E. A. Widmann's Opinion
K. A. Widmann, president of Pathe Freres
Phonograph Co., says: "We think the public
has had sufficient interest in the Music Show,
but the returns do not warrant the outlay."
FURNISHES PROGRAM FOR CONCERT
Schmidt Music Co. Prepares Instructive Booklet
for Symphony Orchestra's Appearance
DAVF.NI-ORT, T.V. March 15.—During Ihe con-
certs in this city "by the Tri-city Symphony Or-
chestra the Schmidt Music Co. took advantage
of the occasion to prepare a descriptive program
which was presented to all who attended. This
program gave a short, clear sketch of each num-
ber on the program and special notes were de-
signed to acquaint the audience with the story
which the composer sought to portray through
the medium of music. On the back cover was
a statement of the organization and purposes
of the Schmidt Music Co., setting forth in a dig-
nified way the facilities of this well-known Towa
house for supplying everything in the way of
musical equipment. By its conservatism and evi-
dent adherence to fact, this advertisement car-
ried weight and accomplished its purpose in the
best possible way.
BOARDMAN & GRAY FOR THEATRE
•\i.n.\xv, N. Y., March 15.—The F. F. Proctor
Corp. have recently bought a Boardman & Gray
concert grand piano for installation in Har-
manus-Bleckcr Hall, one of the newest and most
expensive theatres in Albany, which, like all
other Proctor theatres in that region, will use
Boardman & Gray pianos exclusively.
For over 25 years Specialists
in high grade Piano Cases
Paterson Piano
Case Co.
PATERSON, N. J.