10
November 17, 1928
P K E S T O-T I M E S
ENTHUSING THE
WESTERN TRADE
Incidents in His Recent Trip to Pacific Coast
in the Interests of the National Associa-
tion of Music Merchants Told
by D. L. Loomis.
Delbert L. Loomis, executive secretary of the Na-
tional Association of Music Merchants, tells some-
thing which took place at meetings of members of
the retail end of the music industry in cities in the
far West which he visited during October, just prior
to the board of control meetings of the association
in Chicago.
"In many of these cities," says Mr. Loomis, out-
side of Los Angeles and San Francisco where we
have excellent membership representation, I found
that there was only one member and sometimes none
at all. The reason for the visit to the Western cities
was because the board of control of our association
wished to have someone representing the executive
office endeavor to give an adequate picture of the
manner in which this office functions and the work
which is being done in a direct promotional way in
cooperation with the National Bureau for the Ad-
vancement of Music and in turn with the Instru-
mental Affairs Committee of the Music Supervisors'
National Conference. President Roberts was unable
to make the trip at this time and it was, therefore,
voted to send me. Through the very helpful cooper-
ation of Mr. Shirley Walker of San Francisco, vice-
president of the association, the itinerary was pre-
pared and the meetings were arranged."
The Scope of Association.
The executive secretary gave to the members of the
trade, in addition to a great deal of information as
to the actual manner in which we are now in com-
munication with 16,000 music supervisors in all parts
of the country, a complete report of the financial posi-
tion of the association, just as he would give at a
meeting of the board of control of our association.
He told them in detail how the money is contributed
through association dues and the use of the Mer-
chants' Promotion Stamps, as well as the old form
of Combination Piano Stamp, and he explained how
this money is used to secure definite action in a pro-
motional way. At the close of the talk he indicated
that we desire more members in the association, and
that joining of the association meant, above every-
thing else, becoming a very definite part of this work
of promoting the sale, not only of pianos, but of all
musical instruments.
"The reaction to this information was always in-
stantaneous and was exceedingly gratifying. In one
instance at a luncheon meeting—at which by the way
there was present the music supervisor of the city
schools—one of the members of the trade arose and
said: 'I think in this work which is being done by
the association in its cooperation with the educational
forces, which are fortunately very willing apparently
to cooperate, we are really making some very re
markable progress, and I, for one, have a very strong
desire to become a part of this work and I wish to
say right now that I will gladly join the association
if the executive secretary is prepared to take appli-
cations for membership at this time.'
Enthusiasm Apparent.
"These remarks expressed the sentiment of every
member of the trade present and resulted in 100 per
cent membership representation from that city. In
some other cities it was necessarv to follow the meet-
ings with individual calls on every member of the
trade, but these calls invariably resulted in practically
100 per cent membership.
"The enthusiasm of these western men in the
work which we are doing was inspiring. It points
the way to the fact that with anything approaching
equal co-operation on the part of members of this
trade in the eastern and middle sections of the coun-
try, it will be easily possible to build the member-
ship of our association to a figure which will consti-
tute one of the most influential and successful retail
organizations to be found anywhere in trade asso-
ciation circles and it will result in making it possible
to perfect a promotional force which will produce lit-
erally thousands of dollars worth of business every
year for our industry.
The Convention Inducement.
"By vote of the board of control at the meetings in
Chicago the next convention will be held the week
of June 3 at the Drake Hotel, Chicago, and this will
be the same week on which the annual Radio Show
will be held at the Hotel Stevens, Chicago. Holding
these two important events concurrently for the first
time will make it possible for the retail music mer-
chants to have an opportunity to attend both the
convention and the show during the same week and
thus eliminate the added expenses which have pre-
viously been incurred where merchants desired to
attend both the convention and the show. There
w T ill be an opportunity for radio merchants to visit
the exhibits of musical instruments of all kinds at the
Drake Hotel and conversely for retail music mer-
chants to visit the very complete Radio Show at the
Hotel Stevens. The Merchants' Convention Commit-
tee is at present at work preparing an exceptionally
interesting program for the business sessions.
"Arrangements will be made with the various rail-
way trunk line associations to secure the usual re-
duced railway fares for round-trip tickets to the con-
vention. Arrangements have already been made to
secure reduced rates for sleeping rooms, as well as
exhibit rooms at the Hotel Drake. It is very essen-
tial that reservations of sleeping rooms should be
made at the earliest possible moment in order that
our members may be able to secure the type of
accommodation they desire and at the price they
desire. Single rooms will be priced from $4 up and
double rooms from $6 up. The executive office will
be very glad-to handle hotel reservations."
ROY COOK'S FUNNY STORY.
When Roy J. Cook, president- elect of the Chicago
Piano & Organ Association, was being inducted into
office last week at the Great Northern Hotel, Chicago,
a speech was called for. He thereupon prefaced his
remarks by telling a little story of the election of
Franklin Pierce as president of the United States. In
those days there was only the telegraph as the source
of quick news—no radio, no telephones. Mr. Pierce,
who lived in Concord, Mass., sent his old darkey
butler down to the telegraph office on election day
for news of how the election was going. The black
man made calls at 2 p. m., 3 p. m., at 4 p m., and
each report was "No news yet, sab." But at 5 p. m.
the servant returned with this report: "Strange as it
seems, sah, mos' ridiculous as it appeahs, sab, you
has been elected."
GORDON LAUGHEAD VISITED AKRON.
Gordon Laughead, general sales manager of the
Wurlitzer. Grand Piano Company, left his Chicago
office last week for a brief run into Ohio. He was
at Akron on the day Presto-Times man called and
asked for him But he is back again and actively at
work at his desk. Mr. Laughead believes in an all-
the-year-around campaign as the salvation of the
piano business.
HOSTILE ATTITUDE OF
TEACHERS OVERCOME
Indifference and Antagonism of Music Teach-
ers Against Piano Class Instruction
Just Being Removed, Says
C. M. Tremaine.
That the indifferent and even hostile attitude to-
ward piano class instruction still manifested by many
music teachers can be and is being transformed into
sympathy and support is an inference that may justi-
fiably be drawn from some of the letters reaching
C. M. Tremaine, director of the National Bureau for
the Advancement of Music, from individual teachers
who have received the "Guide for Conducting Piano
Classes in the Schools." This booklet, it will be
remembered, was prepared by the Piano Committee
of the Music Supervisors' National Conference and it
was published and is being distributed by the bureau.
One of the recent and most interesting of these
letters is from a teacher in a leading Chicago music
school, C. V. Reavley, who writes in part:
"Yours of October 3, with books [pertaining to
piano class instruction], came to hand and besides
thanking you for the prompt courtesy, I want to say
they surely opened my eyes.
"There is no work being done at present in the
Chicago College of Music, but next year this depart-
ment will receive especial attention. I am going to
take up this work if at all possible.
"You mentioned Theo Leschetizky. Any honest
pupil of his can vouch for the broadening tendency of
his class instruction.
"Any other literature you might have I would
appreciate. I was doubtful but am convinced this is
a most wonderful field for anyone wishing to be a
benefit to mankind."
WEAVER PIANO CO.'S
SALES CONTEST IS ON
But Weaver Piano Company, Inc., York, Pa.,
Announces That It Is Not Too
Late to Enter.
Those who are contemplating becoming dealers
for the Weaver Piano Co., Inc., York Pa., can begin
immediately and enjoy the advantages of the Weaver
Sales Contest. This contest, announced on October
18, consists of a list of valuable, useful prizes, a set
of rules and a letter setting forth the details. Points
are credited to individual salesmen as follows:
Weaver Pianos—Two points for each dollar of net
retail sale price, after deducting any allowance two
points for each dollar cash paid at time sale is closed.
York Pianos—One point for each dollar of net
retail sale price, after deducting any allowance; one
point for each dollar cash paid at time sale is closed.
Ten per cent extra points for sales made to prospects
sent in to the Weaver direct mail advertising depart-
ment prior to the time sale is closed.
How to Report Sales.
All sales must be reported within 24 hours from
date of sale on regular contest blanks properly filled
in and signed. Blanks are furnished by the company.
Weaver and York piano sales only count in the
contest.
You don't have to wait until the contest is ended
to get your prizes. Whenever you have points enough
for desired prizes, send your order to the Weaver
Piano Company.
New Edition for 1929 In Preparation
PRESTO BUYERS' GUIDE
Will Contain Full Lists with Concise Classification and Description of all
American Pianos, Players and Reproducing Pianos, with Sketches of their
Makers. Essential to All Salemen. Price 50 cents, post paid.
NO PIANO DEALER OR PROSPECT CAN AFFORD TO BE WITHOUT IT.
PRESTO PUBLISHING CO
417 S. Dearborn St., CHICAGO
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