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PRESTO-TIMES
markings, which has been prepared in consultation cash; 2nd prize, $300; third prize, $200; grand cham-
with leading members of Advisory committee. It pion, $1,000.
is advisable to have a report sheet for pupil, with
Many other prizes are offered, such as conservatory
notations of standing with suggestions or compliments. scholarships. The Welte-Mignon paid the expenses
Later in the series two and three judges may be of Detroit champion with champion player's mother,
assigned, and for the grand final artists of note can accorded a trip to New York for three days, to record
easily be secured; also at these ushers may be provided reproducing records, with royalty attached. A Chi-
and prominent personages secured to act as masters cago vaudeville house has offered an engagement of
of ceremony. Printed programs and special grand several weeks at $200 a week for the Chicago
piano are in order. It will be found that many school champion.
pianos are out of tune; these cases must be
A wonderful opportunity for publicity lies in hav-
looked to.
ing all the winners of rings assemble at same time
The judge makes no decision, but rushes her report for measuring; also in large public presentation of
sheet to headquarters office for printing in paper of
prizes. Both are excellent picture, radio and movie
next day. Extra judges must be at hand on contest subjects.
nights with machines provided by merchants. It has
Slogans.
been found advantageous to have all the merchants
In
all
movements
it
is desirable to have a slogan.
and salesmen meet at headquarters on contest nights
in order to visit each school contest to iron out The Detroit slogan was:
"TEACH YOUR CHILD T H E PIANO" (the
difficulties.
basic instrument).
Publicity.
The Chicago slogan is:
The manager has many opportunities to secure co-
"EVERY
CHILD SHOULD PLAY T H E
operative advertising. While the other large daily PIANO."
papers may not in some cases print a word, the
Grand Final.
smaller papers, school papers and local magazines
The
grand
final
is
the staging of the champion of
will be glad to. Many organizations will welcome an
each division, in both public and parochial systems,
address, or announcement.
Every merchant will be glad to insert the line: to determine a grand champion of the city. It may
"Enter Your Child in the Piano Playing Contest" in seem unfair to make the elementary compete with
all his advertising, as well as display a large card the high school, but otherwise a championship would
not be determined. However, who can foresee a
in his window. Every music and record counter of
prodigy? This event should be staged in the largest
the merchants should be provided with circulars and
gathering-place, broadcasted by radio, participated in
entry-blanks, as well also as every conservatory and
musician. Every merchant and the newspaper will by notable citizens, and judged by well-known artists.
This is the climax, and should be staged as such,
place a banner on the sides of each delivery car.
In Detroit cards were placed on every street car leaving an indellible impression on the children and
and bus of the city at a half-rate charge. Every public. There should be a breathing, or practicing,
local condition is different, and thus much depends time between the intensive contest and this event. It
upon the initiative of the manager. The radio and is thought well to make the final coincident with a
movies are always anxious to cooperate in move- music convention. The movies must not be forgot-
ments of wide interest. The manager has a won- ten here. The program can be embellished with •ihe
derful opportunity in staging the grant! final, amid introduction of the finest local orchestra and artists.
Printed matter should include stationery, circular,
the utmost dignified glamour, to attract the widest
entry blank, instruction sheet for judges, judges' re-
possible interest and attention.
The publicity man is naturally the newspaper rep- port, pupils' report (optional), window cards, pro-
resentative. He must keep in close contact with the grams, letters, etc.
Cost to the Merchants.
manager and write a daily article of human interest.
He interviews prominent people and, as contest ad-
This has a wide latitude, governed by local condi-
vances, utilizes the assistance of the newspaper staff tions and desire. Detroit spent $6,500 the first year,
photographer 'to good advantage.
and is prepared to spend $10,000 this year. Chicago
has raised $15,000, and probably will spend $25,000.
Advisory and Executive Committees
These committees are a list of sponsoring citizens, The manager will cost $50 to $75 a week, perhaps
more. It would possibly be less for a small town.
headed by governor or mayor, including the fore- He works six to eight weeks.
most people interested in the promotion of such a
The office should cost nothing, equipment loaned
movement.
by
merchants. A stenographer is required, and in
The executive committee of merchants and rep-
resentative of the newspaper should meet at a lunch- the case of a big city more toward the last. The
eon two noons each week, to receive report of, and printing bill for a city of a million will run $1,000.
There are incidental office bills, such as telephones,
j^ive instructions to the manager. This committee postage, mimeographs, etc., that may run to $500,
raises the money and passes on the budget, and the more or less. Buttons can be figured at 4 ^ cents
treasurer pays all bills. Other factors which it is each, silver rings $1.65 each, gold at $5 and diamonds
advisable to include for cooperation are:
at $25 each. A grand piano will run $800. The
1. Mayor and Council.
grand final may cost $1,000, or even more, still again,
2. Conservatories and Music Teachers.
next to nothing. Advertising and unforeseen oppor-
3. Parent-Teachers Organizations.
tunities may be another $1,000.
4. Women's Clubs.
Results.
5. The Churches.
6. Prominent Citizens and Musicians.
The newspaper claims the Child Piano Playing
The mayor and council will always be found quite Contest to be a wonderful circulation and prestige
willing to aid and cooperate in any public movement builder.
for the good of all, especially where children are
The school systems recommend it as a great in-
involved.
centive to interest the child in music.
The conservatories will furnish many entries and
The merchants acclaim it as a wonderful boon to
it is from these that most of the judges will be the piano business.
Music teachers herald it as a new stimulus tr,
secured.
No public movement of this nature can be a suc- interest the child to practice, and that it arouse:- a
cess without the moral support of the women's clubs, desire in many others to learn the piano.
Parents are brought to a deeper realization of the
churches and prominent citizens.
value of the piano as a part of the child's education.
Prizes.
The public appreciates it as a constructive move-
We are dealing with children, and a number that
runs into many hundreds, if not thousands, so we ment for the benefit of the child, the home and
must select appropriate prizes and have as many as society.
possible. A child is susceptible to a mark of dis-
HONORS FOR OLD EMPLOYES.
tinction and honor, therefore it has been thought that
a button, a badge or ring, is most appropriate for a
Four new men have been added to the directorate
of Sherman, Clay & Co., San Francisco. The object
large number.
Music men would be prone to give musical instru- was to honor men who had been with the company
ments, but how inappropriate it would seem to bestow a long time. The four men are Ed. P. Little, man-
a silver-plated cornet upon a little girl who has won ager sheet music department; Richard C. A. Ahlf,
honors on the piano. However, w^hat is more logical head of the piano department; George W. Bates,
than to reward and encourage the girl or boy achiev- controller, and R. E. Robinson, general manager of
ing the distinction of being judged the champion branches. All have been with the house ever twenty
piano player of a great city, with his choice of the
finest example of the piano-maker's art? Local con-
ditions and taste will govern this matter. The Detroit
HENRY GEARMAN'S NEW WORK.
list was as follows:
Henry Gearman, who recently joined the Kohler
Every entrant, bronze button; school winner, silver
& Campbell forces at the Chicago offices, is back
ring, seal of grand piano; district winner, gold ring; from New York, where he went to confer with the
division winner, diamond ring.
home offices before getting out into his Chicago
Chicago's Prize List.
territory. Mr. Gearman is an expert in the player
The Chicago plan embraces the following list of
and reproducing line of selling and demonstrating,
and his past experience with high grade goods will
prizes:
P.ronze button, seal of grand piano to all; rmg^to be a valuable asset to him in his new position.
school and semi-final winners; division winner, $500
February 12, 1927.
ADAM SCHNEIDER ENDS
LONG CAREER WITH BAUER
At Last Monday's Meeting of Piano Club the
Popular Member of Chicago Trade
Announces His Retirement.
At the weekly noon-day meeting of the Chicago
Piano Club Secretary Roger O'Connor gave a report
of the club dinner at Chez Pierre last week, with
the interesting announcement that a profit of some
$66 on the dinner goes to the credit of the club.
There were over one hundred and thirty present,
resulting in the substantial, and rather unexpected,
ADAM SCIiNKIDIOK.
balance turned over to the treasury. Mr. O'Connor,
to whom most of ihe detail of the dinner was left,
was given a vote of thanks.
After this cheerful episode of the hour came the
formal announcement by Adam Schneider of his res-
ignation as secretary of Julius Bauer & Co. Mr.
Schneider dwelt upon his long connection with Jul : us
Bauer & Co., saying that his life, since a young
man. had been in the service of that house and that
this year is his fifty-third anniversary in the music
business in Chicago, and all in connection with Bauer
piano.;. Mr. Schneider spoke with e.notion and his
remarks were received with the attention and sym-
pathy of every listener. He said thai his headquar-
ters would remain at the Julias Bauer store for some
time yet, as it is his intention to be of any assistance
to the house that may be required of him.
Following the announcement Gordon Laughead,
president of the club, paid a glowing tribute to Mr.
Schneider. He told of his many fine traits of char-
acter as a man, and friend of the club: that Adam is
the friend of every member and that certainly every
member loves Ir'ni. He said that ihe entire music
trade of Chicago owes as much to Mr. Schneider as
any set or class of men in any line of trade or
profession can owe to another and as for the Piano
Club of Chicago it would not now be in existence
but for Mr. Schneider.
The speaker referred to the tribute given to Mr.
Schneider three years ago, on the occasion of his
fiftieth anniversary in the music business, and in-
dicated that some recognition at this time of his
fifty-third anniversary should be made.
The c'ub's entertainment of the day was by Axel
Christensen, the W H T radio artist and head of the
chain of Axel Christensen Schools of Piano Play'ng
and Leader of Leaders in Syncopation and Jazz.
Mr. Axel luid arranged for talent to assist him but
one of these was detained by illness and the other
marooned in a near-by city. So •ibis fell to the chief,
himself, to till the entire bill. This he did to the
amusement of h : s listeners and the glory of his
versatility as an entertainer. Next Monday will be
a Lincoln Birthday luncheon, when a large attend-
ance is expected and desired.
CHANGE IN SIOUX FALLS.
Mrs. P. L. Hanson, wife of I'. L. Hanson who is
the well-known traveler for The Hobart M. Cable
Co. of La Porte, lnd., has bought the music depart-
ment of the Snnver-Johnson's Store at Sioux Falls,
S. D. Mrs. Hanson gained experience in the music
business when Mr. Hanson was manager of The
Hobart M. Cable store at South Bend, Tnd.. several
years ago Air. Hansen will continue to travel for
The Hobart M. Cable Co. The Hobart M. Cable
and Packard pianos and The Columbia Phonograph
w : ll be featured in the new s'.ore in Sioux Falls.
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