Music Trade Review

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MARCH 20, 1920
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
EXHIBITORS EXPRESS OPINIONS
REGARDING FUTURE MUSIC SHOWS
Leading Members of the Music Industries Give Their Views as to How the Music
Show Idea Can Be Improved and Made More Profitable for the Trade
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Ever since the closing of the National Music a straight display of the product, eliminating
Show in New York there has been much dis- the curiosity-seeking, entertainment-loving pub-
lic.
We would welcome more opportunity to
cussion in the trade regarding the real value of
such an exhibition to the industry and to the talk to the music trade in a quiet way and
public, with opinions varying greatly. As is talk business all the time."
More Attractions Needed
generally known, the Music Show was held in
Fred Gretsch, of the Fred Gretsch Mfg. Co.,
midwinter, with the idea of testing out its real
value as an attraction for the public, and the big lirooklyn, N. Y., believes that the Music Show
Music Week celebration, which proved such a was a success from an artistic standpoint.
tremendous success and aroused
interest "Where we failed was in interesting the gen-
throughout the country, is due primarily to the eral public," he said.
fact that the show was to be held and interest
"There is no reason to my mind why the Music
was to be aroused. Without the show as an Show could not be made to create as much in-
incentive there would have been no Music Week, terest as the dog show, electric show or vari-
at least not on such an ambitious scale.
ous others, but in order to do so it would be
The Music Show, in the first instance, repre- necessary to have 'some really big attraction
sented a considerable outlay of money on the e\ery day that would interest every man, woman
part of the various manufacturers exhibiting, and child, whether they had any idea of ever
and it is stated by the management that pros- purchasing an instrument or not. For instance,
pects are bright for at least a reasonable rebate. if Caruso were scheduled to sing one evening,
The epidemic of "flu" which prevailed in New Kreisler to play on another, and so on, there
York at the time of the show naturally had a is no doubt in my mind that the hall would be
more or less serious effect upon the attendance, packed to the doors."
but the real drawback was the blizzard which
Believes Small Exhibit the Best
broke on Wednesday and tied up transportation
Otto Heineman, president of the General
for the balance of the week. Public attendance, Phonograph Corp., although believing that the
therefore, fell far short of expectations, in spite recent National Music Show was a great suc-
of all the interest aroused in music by the Music cess, favors a smaller exhibit held in connection
Week program.
with the various trade conventions. He said:
"Personally, 1 believe that the Music Show
There have been a number of trade members
who,
even before the last show opened, main- was a great success and that it never attracted
tained that a show, if held, should be confined so many people as it did this year. The exhibits
solely to the trade and made a business proposi- were exceptionally attractive and reflected the
tion from that angle. C. C. Conway, of the enormous growth of the music industry as a
Hallet & Davis Piano Co., in a recent article in whole, but I do not think that the shows as they
The Review, presented his views along that line have been held for the past three years will
very openly and frankly. Coming from an ex- permanently benefit the industry. I would pre-
hibitor, such views naturally carried consider- fer a national convention of the piano and talk-
able weight.
ing machine industries and a small exhibit com-
Inasmuch as from the financial standpoint the bined with it. This just about covers Mr. Con-
exhibitors at the show were most directly in- way's ideas regarding the show.
terested in the results and, therefore, might be
"1 do not believe that it is necessary for a
considered to have the best right to offer opin- company to exhibit fifty different types of talk-
ions as to whether or not the affair was a suc- ing machines or a varied line of pianos. If.every
cess, The Review has taken occasion to obtain company wanted to show one or two types of their
from the various exhibitors their opinions as instruments, either pianos or phonographs, I be-
to what, if anything, was the matter with the lieve that would be quite sufficient. The main
show just held, and along what lines they be- idea of the national conventions is to give the
lieved future shows should be conducted. The dealers an opportunity to meet and discuss
replies have been interesting and a number of topics relative to the advancement and develop-
them are presented herewith without comment. ment of the music industry. In connection with
Indorses Mr. Conway's Suggestion
such discussions and meetings a music show
R. H. Bouslog, vice-president and general should be an adjunct but not a predominating
manager of the Chute & Butler Co., declares feature."
that he is fully in accord with Mr. Conway's
Glad They Exhibited at Show
views and suggestions relative to the holding of
William W. Lawson, of the Lawson Piano Co.,
a show for the benefit of the trade exclusively. New York, in commenting upon the show, said:
Columbia Co. Favors Business Show
"Because of our opinions formed as a result
George W. Hopkins, general sales manager of former shows, we had decided not to have
of the Columbia Graphophone Co., said:
an exhibit in this year's show, but at the last
"To my mind Mr. Conway has hit a very thought that possibly benefit might be obtained
strong note in his article on the Music Show for our new phonograph manufacturing end; and
as held in New York last month. In making we are glad to say that our expectations, as
up the Columbia Graphophone Co. display we far as being able to show the goods and interest
made it purely commercial, with the idea that a great many dealers are concerned, were more
people were coming to the show to see Columbia than justified.
Grafonolas and hear Columbia records and get
"The show gave us an opportunity to acquaint
ideas as to how to present them to their cus- many dealers with the fact that we were actually
tomers. Our display was made first, last and in the business of manufacturing phonographs
all the way through in the interest of the music and had an interesting proposition for them,
trade.
and this was accomplished with far less effort
"We would be very much in favor of such a than it could have been accomplished had we
proposition as Mr. Conway set forth, namely, been forced to use the usual methods of coaxing
I OR TONE, BEAUTY
AND LASTING
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ACCOMPLISHMENT
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The WERNER INDUSTRIES CO. Cm
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dealers into a hotel room or up to the Bronx
to our factory.
"We were not particularly interested in arous-
ing public interest at this time, but the writer
personally felt that the show, as a whole, rep-
resented a tremendous waste of money and
energy as far as concerns making an impres-
sion on the general public. It seemed a shame
to have those beautiful exhibits there for a whole
week and have so few people come to see them.
"Those who have been in the musical instru-
ment manufacturing business for years must
know that merchandise of this sort has prac-
tically no appeal to the general public from the
show standpoint and if the public were to be
induced to attend the show with the idea that
the beautiful exhibits would have an advertis-
ing value, then gome attraction should have
been provided that would be an irresistible
drawing card.
"Jt was our understanding that several of the
well-known artists would appear and sing or
perform in front of the carillon tower for the
benefit of everybody in attendance, and that
these performances would be advertised; and
1 believe that had it been announced that
Caruso or some such celebrity was to sing and
the public could see and hear him for 50 cents
the place-would have been crowded and then all
the other expenditures would have been justi-
fied.
"In addition to this it would seem that had
the trade at large been permitted to distribute
free tickets 'ad libitum' nothing would have
been lost, but the real object of the show would
have come nearer to attainment."
Geo. E. Mansfield's Opinion
George E. Mansfield, general manager of Lud-
wig & Co., declares that Mr. Conway is showing
the soundest kind of judgment when he says:
"Confine the Music Show to the trade."
"Personally, I think the Music Show is a
waste of good money which could be spent to
much better advantage by the Bureau for the
Advancement of Music or in one or two other
ways which would be much more advanta-
geous to all of the people in the business," said
Mr. Mansfield. "I thoroughly agree with Mr.
Conway in everything that he says, especially in
the last part of hrs article, where he advocates
the holding of the exhibit in the hotel and hav-
ing it for the members of the trade only."
John H. Parnham's Interesting Comments
John H. Paniham, president of the Milton
Piano Co., New York, has some interesting
views to express regarding the feasibility of
manufacturers holding individual exhibits in
connection with conventions. He comments as
follows:
"1 am very glad indeed that the subject of
the future of the Music Show has been, brought
up so opportunely and forcefully by Mr. Con-
way, and I believe that a general exposition
of the matter through the columns of the music
trade press thus early in the year will serve
to arrive at a consensus of opinion that must
prove of practical benefit to all concerned.
"With the view expressed by Mr. Conway
concerning the past plan of operation of the
show I am heartily in accord, though I do not
entirely share his views as to the method of
procedure proposed as an alternative plan. In
{Continued on page 7)
P I A N O S
AND