Music Trade Review

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE
turned down in the dry, cold manner which was characteristic of the
Nestor of Wall Street.
It is impossible to find any toleration for a man who promotes
a blackmailing publication, because he is the filthiest sort of a para-
site, but one must at least recognize the business shrewdness of a
promoter who would choose his victims with such fine financial dis-
crimination. When one engages in that sort of fishing he may as
well try for pike as for shiners.
Blackmailing methods in this industry are out of date, thanks
to the growing power of clean journalism. Recent court de-
cisions have shown that blackmail is easy to prove; a mighty sight
easier than many other kinds of illegal traffic. Public sentiment
has become aroused and will have no more of journalistic black-
guardism.
A
LARGE western furniture man said to The Review: "While
I am not acquainted with the conditions which exist in the
piano trade, I am inclined to the belief that the experience of piano-
makers with expositions will not materially differ from that of the
furniture people. We are trying to abandon the whole exposition
plan. It has not brought the results which would seem to come from
such an outlay. You may talk with furniture men and you will find
that they would like to abandon the whole plan. It is expensive and
non-productive of results." When such opinions are uttered by
men who have fairly tested exposition merits they are worth consid-
ering. Then, too, they are contrary to the generally accepted belief
that the furniture people are enthusiasts upon the subject of trade
expositions.
It now seems that the reverse side of the medal shows a different
meaning.
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HERE seems to be some division of opinions as to just what
course it is best to adopt regarding the proposed piano expo-
sition in Washington next May. Some strongly favor the plan of
a centralized exhibit, where all of the participating members of the
trade can concentrate their products under one roof. The men who
favor this plan argue that by this means interest will be concentrated
and the dealers will have an opportunity of comparing the various
instruments in a manner which would be impossible, if the instru-
ments were scattered about the city in various hotels and warerooms.
The centralized plan has many adherents, and we may add many
opponents as well, for some piano men affirm that their interests can-
not be advanced by showing their instruments under such conditions.
NE large manufacturer, while discussing exposition matters
with The Review, said : "I claim, as do others, certain individ-
ual excellence and points for our pianos. They are the result of many
years of close study of piano building in all of its varied phases.
We have acquired a knowledge which is valuable to us and which has
been instrumental in building our trade. Our dealers profit by our
experience. There are many things which may be absorbed by the
expert factory men employed by some of our opponents who will
visit Washington to learn what they can. While I am willing to do
anything for trade good, I cannot believe that a central exhibit will
result in trade benefit. We will all try and get what we can from
our competitors, and in my opinion the exposition plan, if followed
for years, will result in making pianos more closely resemble each
other. In fine, they will, under such influences, lose their individ-
uality, and it will become not a question of value, because all instru-
ments will rapidly gravitate to a class, but a question of selling terms ;
in other words, the man who gives the longest selling time will gather
in the business."
HE above opinion may be of an extreme type, but it is well in a
matter of great importance to an industry to hear the extremes
as well as the conservatives. An advocate of the "under-one-roop
scheme says: "That is the only way to fairly test the respective
claims of the various makers. It will certainly make a great show-
ing to have many makers showing their products together. The
scene will be an impressive one, and well calculated to educate the
dealer in the right direction."
A
NOTHER man who occupies a high position in the trade says:
"I do not believe in the benefit of a music trade exposition to
either manufacturer or dealer. The associations will lose in the
end by introducing commercialism of such a nature. While automo-
bile shows may be great successes the conditions surrounding the
two trades are wholly different. Automobiles are performing
functions radically different, and exhibitions of them draw thousands
of purchasers, thus widening the avenues of distribution. They
stimulate trade, and such a show as we have planned will not increase
the sale of a single piano to a retail purchaser, nor do I believe that
it will promote the trade interests in our line."
NOTHER manufacturer says: "I do not believe the returns
will be commensurate with the outlay. The expense of pre-
paring, shipping and caring for an exhibit will be considerable.
There are always unlooked for expenses which will creep in which
will add materially to the cost. The total for the industry will be
a large sum, and 1 am inclined to the belief that the annual exposi-
tions will not last long."
A
REVIEW
O it will be seen that there are a number of divergent views
concerning trade expositions, and it is only right that there
should be the fullest expression of opinions. It will be a trade event
of importance, and its result may be far reaching. One thing, how-
ever, is apparent to all who have given the subject even the slightest
thought, and that is there must be plenty of work ahead for the
managers. There are many interests to consider, so that there is no
friction created, and that requires tact and plenty of hard work. The
exposition committee have no light task ahead of them. It is one
thing to say an exposition, but quite another to successfully plan and
manage it, so that unpleasantness of various kinds does, not come as
a natural legacy.
HE question is frequently asked who will exhibit at Washing-
ton? There is little data at hand concerning the exhibition,
as there is no bureau which can give out information concerning
the Washington event.
The general announcement of rules and recommendations have
appeared in The Review. The number of pianos is limited to five,
and no piano shipped to Washington can be disposed of either at
retail or to dealers of that city without first shipping them to territory
outside of that controlled by the Washington dealers. The com-
mittee recommend the rigid enforcement of these rules, but just how
far they can make them operative is problematical.
Men may consider that they are in no way bound to observe
rules laid down by an organization in which they have not member-
ship.
There is no way to compel them to follow schedules laid out by
any association, and many of them will feel free to follow their own
plans in the disposition of their wares rather than to recognize the
inflexibility of a rule which cannot be enforced in their particular
case.
'M IE executive committee of the Piano Manufacturers'Association
acted wisely in suggesting Chicago as the meeting place for the
association next year. There is a feeling in the West that there is an
inclination on the part of some of the members to kep the organiza-
tion gatherings in the East, and this action on the part of the execu-
tive committee will do away with the belief that there is any section-
alism in the organization. If an organization is to be national all
sections must be considered, and the conventions must be fairly
divided. In that way only can the broad spirit of national organiza-
tion be encouraged. To achieve the best results it is absolutely neces-
sary that sectionalism be completely eliminated. There must be
harmony of thought and purpose in order to accomplish what is most
desired in association matters.
T
HERE is a field for piano development which, owing to the
present custom duties, may be controlled almost exclusively
by our cousins across the Canadian border. There is in the Cana-
dian northwest a vast community, rich in resources, which is being
rapidly built up. Tt is made up of thousands of American farmers
who have sold their farms to cross the border and take up the
rich and virgin wheat fields of the Hudson Bay country. That
they will be large purchasers of those home accessories which are
part and parcel of a higher civilization goes without saying, for
they have money and will add materially to their wealth each year,
and this expanding market almost lies at our doors.
Tt may be worth while to note the recent progress of Canada,
and to observe the many indications at present offered that this
progress wil! continue by leaps and bounds.