20
PRESTO
January 26, 1924.
SMALL GOODS AND SUPPLIES
DEALER SELF - HELP
One Most Effective Form Is Giving All Sup-
port and Encouragement to Local Orches-
tras and Individual Musicians in
Ways Easy to Discern.
REACTION IS CERTAIN
When Small Town Dealer Realizes the Existence of
Mutual Interests Good Feeling and Good
Business Are Certain.
A musician in a small town complains that local
music dealers are not always loyal to the town or-
chestras and individual musicians and the complaint
is the more serious in that it has been stated before.
The complaint refers to small cities within a few
hours' travel of larger communities. And the charge
is that the local dealers too often fail to stand by the
town orchestras when it is proposed by some organ-
ization to import the well advertised orchestras to
provide the music for some social function or public
event.
The problem of the musicians in the smaller places
adjacent to large cities is a serious one. They find
themselves in competition with the large city organi-
zations who, because of their connections and oppor-
tunity to secure better talent, better publicity and
more businesslike directing, have acquired reputations
that far surpass those of the local orchestras.
Local Musician's Grievance.
It is naturally provoking for the local musician to
see the big town orchestra or band brought in for
most of the notable affairs of the home town. It
lessens his importance in local eyes when the lodge
dance, the charity ball and the other prominent affairs
are distinguished by the name of some well-adver-
tised out-of-town orchestra on the announcement
posters and the programs, while the local artists are
called upon only when their services are expected to
be donated.
The complaining small town musician says the duty
of the local dealer under the circumstances stated is
obvious.
The out-of-town orchestra or individual
musician does not patronize the small city store. It
comes, it plays, it pockets its check and departs with-
out as much as a "thank-you." When some strug-
gling church needs a few pieces to make music for
an entertainment and needs the music free, it is the
local orchestra that is depended upon for the help. It
is the same way in civic, community or charitable
work. It is invariably the thank-you job for the
local talent and the big fees for the imported ones.
Question of Business.
Loyal support for the town organizations is a mat-
ter of common loyalty for everybody; it is good busi-
ness for the local music dealer. It often happens that
where the town orchestra is given equal opportunity
with the big outside organizations for feature work it
develops into a bigger and better orchestra.
It is true the music dealer can be helpful in boost-
ing the local orchestra. In lodge, club, church or
social affairs he is often on the entertainment com-
mittee or anyway has a splendid opportunity to say
the good word for the home musicians. In his ad-
vertising the music dealer can occasionally remind the
public of the abilities of the local organization. It
helps the sale of a piece of music, a roll or a record
to mention in the advertising that the piece was
played on such an occasion by the local orchestra or
is on some future program.
Encouraging Local Pride.
Even in the small town orchestras there are men
who attain proficiency on their particular instrument.
Some are soloists of no mean distinction.
Thus
coupling in the advertising the local artist and the
make of instrument he uses adds to the glory of the
dealer where he handles that make and it also im-
proves the opportunity for profits in further sales.
These things get results. Musical people read them
and professional and semi-professional musicians ap-
preciate the efforts of the dealer.
The same spirit of helpfulness can be displayed by
the music dealer for the aspiring singer. The clever
and ambitious young man or woman who is giving
services free to church and social affairs is naturally
hurt when someone is brought from outside to sing
at an event for pay. The local singers buy things in
the local stores. So if the dealer uses his advertis-
ing space to direct attention to their abilities in sing-
ing such a song at this or that affair he is loyal to
his town and friendly to his neighbors. It is safe to
say they will return his friendship in good shape.
Anyway the thoughtfulness of the dealer in helping
local talent enhances interest in music generally, a
cumulative effect which is an asset for the future of
the dealer's own business. The problem of the dealer
in one small town is the same as in all other places
of the same importance. But in detail the dealer in
one place will find different considerations from those
of the dealer not so very far away. But there is one
consideration all have in common and that is that
boosting the home talent reacts beneficially on local
sales.
PRAISES MARTIN INSTRUMENTS
Baltimore Band Director Says the "Handcraft" Im-
proves Tone-Quality of the Orchestra.
A musician generally selects his make of instru-
ment in accordance with his individual taste and ex-
perience. But the director of the orchestra in which
the musician plays is also vitally interested, accord-
ing to John C. Bohl, who operates several well and
favorably known orchestras in Baltimore, Md., one
of which, Bohl's Orchestra, he personally directs.
"In the several orchestras which I am operating,"
Mr. Bohl said recently, "brass instruments of various
makes are used. It is, however, most gratifying to
observe the continued increase in the use of Martin
Handcraft Instruments among my performers, as I
find whenever these splendid instruments are used
there is a marked improvement in the tone quality of
my orchestras.
"They are distinctive for their carrying power,
purity of tone and perfect scale, and I do not hesitate
to recommend Martin Handcraft as the most perfect
brass instruments made today."
SHOWING LUDWIG DRUMS.
The Lyon & Healy Co., Wabash and Jackson
boulevard, Chicago, is featuring Ludwig .drums in a
very attractive window display this week. Two large
drums, beautifully decorated, are exhibited and make
a most effective window.
N. S. Martin is the new head of the export depart-
ment of the Vocalstyle Music Co., Cincinnati.
Q R S ROLLS FOR FEBRUARY
Word Rolls, Concert Series and Foreign Numbers
Provide Opportunities for Lively Sales.
The February bulletin of Q R S music rolls made
by the Q R S Music Co., Chicago, is characterized
by the usual variety in selection and masterly record-
ing. The following word rolls are included in the
list, in which the name of the recording artist is
printed in parenthesis:
Arizona Stars, waltz, Little-Rupp (Osborne and
Howe). Cindy (It Am Wedding Time), fox-trot,
Al Bernord (Pete Wendling). I Love You, Hawaii
—Hawaiian marimba waltz, Costello-Cortez (Scott
and Watters). I've Got a Song for Sale, fox-trot,
Jack Nelson (J. Russel Robinson). Linger Awhile,
fox-trot, Owens-Rose (Arden and Kortlander).
Lonesome Cinderella (from "Ziegfeld Follies 1923-
24"), fox-trot, Brown-Hanley (Victor Arden). Lovey
Came Back, fox-trot, Lewis-Young-Handman (Pete
Wendling). More, fox-trot and one-step, Silver-
Mitchell-Pollack (Arden and Kortlander). Noreen
(My Irish Queen), marimba waltz, Hughes-Monahan
(Osborne and Howe). Rose of Old Madrid, fox-trot,
Percy O. Brewer (Herbert Clair). Sobbin' Blues,
fox-trot, Kassel-Berton ("Sid" Lancy); So This Is
Love (from "Little Miss Bluebeard", waltz, E. Ray
Goetz (Phil Ohman); Stay Home, Little Girl, Stay
Home, marimba waltz, Brown-Hanley (Scott and
Watters); That Bran' New Gal o' Mine, fox-trot,
Van-Schenck-Davis-Akst (Pete Wendling); The
Waltz of Long Ago (from "Music Box Revue 1923-
24"), waltz, Irving Berlin (Phil Ohman); When
Lights Are Low, waltz, Kahn-Koehler-Fiorito (Scott
and Watters).
The Concert Series Rolls are: Impromptu, Op. 142,
No. 4 (F minor), Franz Schubert (Eugen d'Albert);
Gavotte, W. Sapellnikoff (the Composer); Scheher-
ezade, Symphonic Suite, Second Movement, N.
Rimsky-Korsakoff (Marguerite Volavy and Phil Oh-
man); Reflets Dans L'Eau (Reflections in the Water),
Claude Debussy (Marguerite Volavy); Liebesfreud
(Love's Joy), Fritz Kreisler (Katherine Gutchell);
Morning Study, Rudolf Friml (the Composer); Wed-
ding of the Winds, valse, John T. Hall (Richard Mer-
ton); Lullaby (from "Erminie"), Ed. Jakobowski
(Howard Brockway).
The foreign rolls include three Bohemian, three
German, three Hungarian, eight Italian, two Jewish,
three Lithuanian, five Polish and six Spanish.
SLINGERLAND
May Bell
Slingerland Banjos
are sold the country over because
they are Highest quality and sold
at a reasonable price.
Over 40 Styles of Banjos, Banjo Mandolins, Tenor Banjos
and Banjo Ukuleles, to select from.
Write for Catalogue
SLINGERLAND BANJO CO.
1815 Orchard Street
CHICAGO
FAIRBANKS
THE FAIRBANKS CO., Springfield, Ohio
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