24
PRESTO
sands of authors have themselves paid out millions of
dollars.
Will the trade journal WARN all the writers that
they can't sell song poems?
Having Poems Set to Music.
The business of being a composer, and advertising
to set a song poem to music, is as legitimate as any
other. The prices usually set on this work are rea-
sonable and, if any writer wants his song poem set
to music, he has but to take his choice of hundreds
of competent persons who can do this work intelli-
gently and well.
So far so good, and we wish to curtail no man's
legitimate income. But if this work is solicited, on
the promise that it will be accepted by the "big pub-
lisher," or that the client will then be certain to make
a "hit"; or that publication will be guaranteed, that
advertiser knows that he is misleading the lyric
writer.
Selling the Popular Song.
One noted writer, Roy McCordle, with six finished
songs, in company with a composer of note (not a
pun), called personally on twenty-five of the leading
popular song publishers, to many of whom he was
personally known, and attempted to sell one song,
get it published on a royalty, or give it to them if
they would publish it, and was told, in effect, that no
songs were ever taken by outside writers, as these
firms had writers of their own.
That was in 1915. Times have not changed much
in this respect since then. If you want personal
proof, send your song (complete words and music) to
every publisher whose address you can get, and you
will be told this same thing direct from every pub-
lisher. The only exception to this is, that they buy
songs that are on the market and seem to be winners.
In this way $25,000 was paid for "Over There" and
$15,000 for "Bubbles". But, bless you! that was not
for the songs! It was perhaps a small profit on what
the original owners had already invested to get that
song before the public.
When any one tells you that he will boost your
song up to be a "hit" for $50 ask him why he doesn't
hire out to the Big Publishers? It costs them
$25,000 to $50,000 to groom any song for a hit! And
then it often happens that the investment is lost and
the "hit" misfired.
Your One Chance.
In the face of all that is said, you might sell a
song. You might put out a song that would leap
to fame. And you might sell it for big money.
Perhaps ten writers have done so in the last ten
years.
By practice, and keeping constantly at it, you might
force the publisher to take you on as a staff writer.
Perhaps there is an opening for 25 writers, a year,,
and if you land, and if your stuff "takes," and if you
stick, you may make more than the president of the
United States!
If it is your purpose to be a song-writer, and you
are willing to make that your business, and work
for it, there is room for you. But if you would sell
a song as you do a short story—don't try! FOR YOU
CAN'T. It is not possible.
Figure Chances for Yourself.
Out of fifty popular publishers, and 300 staff
writers, we have 10,000 songs a year, 1,000 of which
make money. Five, perhaps, are hits. If that is the
record, and if you think you know it is so, w r hat
chance have you to write a hit?
There are 50,000 songs copyrighted yearly, 36,000 of
which are failures, and never heard of. You might
easily be one of those.
There are 100,000 people each year who write
"song poems," every one of whom are trying to sell
November 18, 1922.
them, or run it to a "hit." And if you are fortunate
in not having been bit for $5 to $50 to back your
"poem," you are fortunate and the whole moral of
this screed is—DON'T BITE.
THE SAME OLD STORY
TEACHER FOR INDIAN SERVICE
Receipt of Applications, United States Civil-Service
Examination, to Close November 21, 1922.
i
The United States Civil Service Commission an-
nounces an open competitive examination for music
teachers. Vacancies in the Indian Service, including
one at Haskell Institute, Lawrence, Kans., at $720 a
year, plus increase granted by Congress of $20 a
month, and vacancies in positions requiring similar
qualifications, at this or higher or lower salaries, will
be filled from this examination, unless it is found in
the interest of the service to fill any vacancy by re-
instatement, transfer, or promotion.
All citizens of the United States who meet the
requirements, both men and women, may enter this
examination; appointing officers, however, have the
legal right to specify the sex desired in requesting
certification of eligibles.
Applicants must have reached their twenty-fifth
but not their forty-fifth birthday on the date of the
examination. Applicants must submit with their ap-
plications their unmounted photographs, taken with-
in two years, with their names written thereon.
Applicants should at once apply for P'orm 1312,
stating the title of the examination desired, to the
Civil Service Commission, Washington, D. C.; the
Secretary of the United States Civil Service Board,
Customhouse, Boston, Mass., New York, N. Y., New
Orleans, La., Honolulu, Hawaii; Post Office, Phila- ,
delphia, Pa., Atlanta, Ga., Cincinnati, Ohio, Chi-
cago, 111., St. Paul, Minn., Seattle, Wash., San Fran-
cisco, Calif., Denver, Colo.; Old Customhouse, St.
Louis, Mo.; Administration Building, Balboa
Heights, Canal Zone; or to the Chairman of the
Porto Rican Civil Service Commission, San Juan, I
P. R. The exact title of the examination, as given
at the head of this announcement, should be stated
in the application form.
One More Victim of the "Song Wanted" Schemers
Tells of His Experience.
Louisiana, Mo., Nov. 13, 1922
Editor Presto: Some short time ago I noticed an
article in Presto about a campaign against song-
writing swindles. It struck me very hard, as I am
one of the victims who have been swindled that very
way.
I composed a song entitled "Are You an Angel,
My Darling, Dear?" which I had copyrighted. The
music was composed by Leopold Richard, of Chicago.
The song was put on the market in the hands of
Legters Music Co., 189 N. Clark street, Chicago.
They sent me a contract with the, agreement to pay
four per cent royalty on all copies, player rolls and
records on all instruments.
Just about a year after they had it in their hands,
they sent me a notice that they were going out of
business. But I didn't get a thing out of it. I have
a few sheets of the music on hand. So I would kindly
ask you to please advise me what to do, and, if you
can, let me know if Legters Music Co. is still in
existence or not.
I will be grateful for any advice you can give me.
Also give me the names of some reliable publishing
company that will place song in market.
Yours truly,
B. J. FORTMAN.
[Editor's Note.—Our correspondent has plenty of
company. Notwithstanding the many warnings
sounded by Presto and other publications, the mice
continue to nibble at the "Song Wanted" bait. In
this issue of Presto, in this department, our corre-
The Will B. Hill Music Co.'s store Bowling Green,
spondent will find another clear-cut warning by Mr.
Ky.,
was recently remodeled.
Lyons, who is the original foe of the song frauds, and
by whose good work, in this paper, many of the
schemers have come to grief. Read what Mr. Lyons
has to say and profit by it. A list of reliable pub-
lishers will be found in the "'Where Doubts Are Dis-
Our Motto: "He profits most who serves
pelled" columns of this issue of Presto. Of course
best/'
the "Legters Music Co." is now out of business, if it
ever existed at all. A Presto representative called at
the Clark street address, but failed to find any trace
CHAFF BROS.
of such a concern.]
SHEET MUSIC IN WYOMING.
The sheet music department is prominently feat-
ured in Laramie, Wyo., by Charles L. Clark, who has
built up a prosperous music and jewelry business.
It was a sign of progress when Mr. Clark recently
purchased the Temple of Economy building, a two-
story structure at Second and Thornburg streets.
The store fronts on two streets thereby giving him
very valuable window display space. He uses the
windows considerably for displaying his standard
and popular sheet music numbers.
PRIZE FOR COMPOSERS.
The Wisconsin State Journal, published in Madi-
son, Wis., has offered a prize of $50 for the best song
eulogizing the state of Wisconsin. The kind of song
preferred is told in the announcement. The prefer-
ence is for a composition of the order of "My Old
Kentucky Home," or "Carry Me Back to Old Vir-
ginia," something in which a sentimental feeling is
the inspiration. The fluently boosting song is not
desired. The contest closes November 30.
CABLE-NELSON PIANO CO
1\yfamifartures fine nianos and nlaver-uianos and
Pianos and Player-Pianos
tand for
atisfaction and
ervice
Made under a guarantee that
is backed by fifty-two years
of success and satisfaction.
Schafl Bros, instruments are
safe for the dealer to sell
and for the customer to buy.
TheSCHAFFBROS.Co.
186*
Huntington, Ind.
Kinder & Collins ~
Wholesales them at fair prices and terms.
The agency is a source of both profit and prestige.
209 S. State St., Republic Bldg., CHICAGO
ADAM SCHAAF, Inc.
Established 1872
MANUFACTURERS OF HIGH-GRADE
GRANDS, UPRIGHTS and PLAYER=PIANOS
Centra
Factory
.nd aBrk & o:eft.™T n St -
THE
NECESSARY WANTS
If you want a Salesman or Workers
in anv branch of the Business • if
you want a Factory, try a Want Ad
and get it. Presto Want Ads get
results and get them quick.
Office ai:d Calesrooms
CHICAGO
M1
jfc
Wabash Av€nue
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