THE PRESTO BUYERS*
GUIDE CLASSIFIES ALL
PIANOS AND PLAYERS
AND THEIR MAKERS
PRESTO
E.tabu.hed 1884
THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE WEEKLY
THE PRESTO YEAR BOOK
IS THE ONLY ANNUAL
REVIEW OF
THE MUSIC TRADES
/« c*nt. s $2.00 « T«*
WHERE YOU SHOULD MEET NEXT MONTH
Sidelong Glances at Things That Are Going to Happen in New York, and Some Things That
Are Said About Them Today by the Moving Spirits in the Coming Events
The Convention—The Music Show —Where They Will Be Held—What Will Be Done —What Will Be
Seen — And Some Comments
LOBBY OF THE HOTEL COMMODORE.
Well, are you going? Have you arranged your
affairs at home so that you can leave the store in
safe charge without losing any of the sales already
on the prospect books? Have you decided that
next month shall be the best experience of the year,
a time when you will meet other men in the same
line of business who may have ideas invaluable to
you in your own business?
* * *
Or have you decided that you can't get away, and
that the expense of travel and other incidentals will
be too heavy, in view of your income tax, and other
demands upon whatever you may have put aside for
such things?
Have you concluded that the trip will be an ex-
pense, instead of an investment, and so made up
your mind that other piano men must enjoy your
share of the novelty, instruction and social delight,
of the event?
In the latter case your Presto will bring the New
York convention and Music Show right to your
store and office, tell you what is said and done, and
serve as your alter ego as far as a second party can
do it.
* * *
This paper has already given a number of photo-
graphic illustrations of the advance scenes of the
approaching events in New York. On this page is
a view of the beautiful Hotel Commodore lobby,
where next month's meetings will be held. Next
week there will be more of pictures, and also a lot
of interesting matter concerning what you may see
if you go, and what you will miss if you don't go.
This paper is published for the trade, for the retail-
ers—and it feels its responsibility accordingly.
Other trade papers may tell about the political
situation, and solve the complex problems of the
universe in a manner surpassing the powers of the
law makers, the potentates, the presidents and the
great newspapers. Presto can not do all that and
doesn't try to do it. There are important matters
enough in the piano and general music trade to keep
this paper busy. The approaching events in New
York are the uppermost matters just now.
* * *
A letter from Manager Green, of the Music Show,
assures Presto that while he values the suggestions
which have appeared in these columns, he still be-
lieves that his own plans are best for the ends in
view. And there is nothing left but to let time and
Mr. Green's plans work out. This paper, naturally,
as an old music trade "organ," believes that Mr.
Green is only partly right, and that his Music Show
would do more for the manufacturers by whose en-
terprise the Grand Central Palace is to be made at-
tractive to the trade, were he to make better use of
the means by which pianos have been made a large
feature in American industry and life.
But Mr. Green is an accomplished showman; he
has conducted other shows successfully. No one
can more sincerely hope that he will lead the Music
Show to great success than does this trade paper.
We are doing our share wholly for whatever good
we may do to the trade and the manufacturers whose
instruments readers of this paper represent and sell.
* * *
A gentleman whose intellectual activities have
helped things along, is Alexander McDonald, of
Sohmer & Co., and chairman of the Press Committee
of the National Association of Music Merchants.
Mr. McDonald is a fluent writer and advertising
man.. He has sent to this paper a new discussion on
"Putting Pep in Your Local Association." It is
a subject that has been ably discussed by Mr. Den-
nis, of Milwaukee, and this paper has also dwelt
copiously upon the same topic. Among other things
Mr. McDonald rightly says that, "When a man
gives up an evening to attend a meeting, he has a
right to expect something from that meeting that
will justify the time he gives. Merely to meet at a
certain time, because it is 'meeting night' without
anything to meet for, justifies the absence of those
who stay away."
That is an accurate statement. The music mer-
chants are pretty busy boys, if they hope to make
any money and pay the store rent promptly. They
often feel the necessity of keeping open till late at
night—"we" have done so for years. Mr. McDonald
also thinks that "the local association should be an
active force for trade betterment—not by legislation.
The time for that has gone by. Men will not be co-
erced, but they can be persuaded. The real purpose
of the local association is discussion of trade prob-
lems to the mutual betterment of the constituent
members."
* * *
Just now there seems to be more attention paid
to purifying the trade than to doing business. It
may be right so. It may be that the piano trade is
composed of a bunch of bootleggers and crooks,
needing constant and perpetual watching and re-
forming. But we don't think so, and we have a no-
tion that there is too much reforming in connection
with the respectable business world, and perhaps not
enough solid, persistent work to the end that things
may be made better generally and so a contribution
made to the betterment of the world in all things.
As a rule the piano merchant will do the right
thing, and his neighbors and customers will do the
rest—including that of seeing that he is not doing
any dirty work, should he be so inclined.
Better methods of sale, better ways to fair profits,
better understanding of the piano itself, and freer
intercourse among the piano men, are some of the
things needed—more even than the better phrasing
of the local advertisements.
* * *
Mr. McDonald also emphasizes the value of asso-
ciations and the desirability of membership in the
(Continued on page 7.)
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