Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
Established 1879
September, 1953
Vol. 112-No. 9
2,882nd Issue
THE
PIONEER
REVIEW
PUBLICATION
OF
THE
MUSIC
INDUSTRY
Some Answers to Why More Piano Dealers
Don't Attend the NAMM Convention
TMMEDIATELY after the Convention,
-"-which was held in Chicago in July,
THE REVIEW was asked by an execu-
tive of a large piano manufacturing
concern the following question: "Why
don't more piano dealers attend the Con-
vention?"' In view of some of the criti-
cisms which were heard after the Con-
vention regarding the attendance on the
8th Floor where piano manufacturers
had their exhibits, THE REVIEW has,
during the last month, made a survey
of several hundred dealers who did not
attend the Convention. In making this
survey the question was asked, whether
the dealer did not attend on account of
(1) Expense, (2) Business, (3) Loca-
tion of the Convention, (4) Personal or
Other Reasons. The flood of answers
which has been received are very in-
teresting.
Too Far Away
For instance, 34% stated that they
did not attend on account of the loca-
tion, and som e of the comments on this
phase of the question included state-
ments such as "The reason the eastern
dealer does not go to Chicago is—Why
go to Chicago? Two-thirds of all pianos
built and sold are on the eastern sea-
board and the location of the Conven-
tion too far to waste time there. Why
don't they have the Convention every
other year in New York? Dealers don't
like to be gypped in Chicago as we al-
ways are."
Another dealer said that the early
part of the summer was the busiest time
of the year for him "as we do a large
summer rental of pianos, and going to
Chicago at that time is out of the ques-
tion. Chicago is a terribly hot place and
T
HE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, SEPTEMBER, 1953
we are blessed with a seashore climate.
We would very much like to attend if
the Convention were here."
"The reason I didn't attend the Con-
vention." said another dealer, "was that
I am not looking for any new lines,
second, the expense and time didn't war-
rant my attending. AH manufacturers I
do business with call on me regularly
and keep me up-to-date as to what they
have new. I enjoy visiting the Conven-
tion when it is in New York and have
a very good time, but to go to Chicago
it doesn't pay."
Another dealer simply said. "Too far
away for these kind of times."
."I may be wrong," said another deal-
er, "but we just did not think it would
be of much value to us. I would rather
take the time and money in visiting our
present manufacturers." Another dealer
believed that the Convention was held
a week too early, and he could not go
to the Convention this year or next, but
hopes to go in 1955.
Too Expensive
Those who attributed their failure to
attend the Convention to the fact that
it was too expensive all seemed to feel
that the time spent in going to and
from the Convention and the expense at-
tached thereto was not warranted. For
instance, one dealer said that "the time
necessary to travel to attend the Con-
vention is probably the main reason for
not attending. We always enjoyed the
meetings and dealer discussions, but
this year the press of business was too
great. As far as pianos are concerned,
we are satisfied with the line we handle
and receive good service from the fac-
tory representative."
That, of course, combines the two
questions regarding the press of busi-
ness and the expense of going to the
Convention, as it was more profitable
in several cases for the dealer to stay
at home and tend to his business than
go to the Convention, although those
who stated such seemed to feel that the
Convention proceedings are worthwhile
attending. However, one dealer com-
mented. "We feel that there are not
enough changes taking place in the
piano industry to warrant the expense
and time of going to the Convention."
And. as one dealer put it, "Business
kept me in my city and as far as I am
concerned Chicago is the last place to
hold a Convention."
Another dealer from the far west
states, "I attended the Convention on
Monday, as I was on my way to a Euro-
pean vacation. I sell only pianos and
organs, Baldwin only, to be exact, and
only visited the piano displays to see
what the other fellow had. There really
was nothing new. only new designs in
Styling. I mean as to pianos. It was
worth while because it gave me peace
of mind that my competitors had noth-
ing new. Chicago is the ideal location
for all future conventions. I was at the
New York convention last year . I don't
think I ever would atend another there.
The facilities there are terrible and it's
too far away."
Another dealer who attributed the
business situation to the fact that he did
not attend said "We stayed home and
did a fine business."
A unique idea was expressed in the
following opinion of one dealer who
said. "In my opinion you hold Conven-
tions at the wrong time of year, espe-
cially in the middle west. Why don't