Music Trade Review

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flUJIC TIRADE
VOL. LXXYI. No. 13 Published Every Saturday by Edward Lyman Bill, Inc., 373 4th Are., New York, N. Y.
Mar. 31, 1923
Single Copies 10 Cents
12.00 Per Year
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What About the Convention Business Sessions?
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ROM the standpoints of entertainment and publicity there appears to be no reason to doubt at this early
date but tha-t the June conventions in Chicago will be successful. There will be the usual round of ban-
quets, a series of noonday luncheons, such as was inaugurated two years ago'at the Drake and at which
prominent artists will appear; arrangements have been made whereby there will be band contests and
other similar events and the plans call for having various features of the convention proceedings broadcasted
by radio.
All these details go far to insure the success of the convention and in a considerable measure to swell
the attendance from among those who see in the annual gathering an opportunity to relax after several months of
business cares. But what about the business sessions themselves? These, after all, form the real basis for
the convention and make the investment of time and money on the part of the delegates productive of results.
To date there has been nothing definitely announced as to what is contemplated in discussions in the con-
vention sessions, yet the opening session is barely two months away. There are so many pertinent subjects
before the trade at the present time, the majority of them already featured in the editorial columns of The
Review, that there should be little difficulty in selecting problems for discussion that really demand some sort
of solution.
We know, of course, that a Chamber of Commerce Committee is working on a depreciation schedule as
a means for guiding retailers in making allowances that will be fair and equitable to both the dealer and the
customer and thus cut down the heavy investment in used instruments that now prevails. In addition, the
awards made in the retail advertising contest will also be announced at the convention and the retail advertising
question discussed thoroughly with actual examples before the delegates.
Two subjects, however, do not make up a convention. Of course, it is known that the officials of the
various associations, particularly the executives of the National Association of Music Merchants, are busily at
work on convention plans. But it would be well to announce those plans for the business session as they are in
part perfected. It is understood, of course, that it is practically impossible to announce any fixed and definite
convention schedule so far in advance of the meetings themselves, but in a general way the ideas being carried
out can be made public, for the information of those who are waiting to see what the program promises before
deciding to go to Chicago.
The value of any convention discussion lies in the familiarity of those in attendance with the subject
before them. That familiarity cannot, as a rule, be gained through the # reading of a paper by some individual
who, however well qualified, has a mind of his own and his own definite ideas to offer. If the members of the
various associations can be advised well in advance of the more important problems that will be taken up in the
sessions, those interested can then prepare to present facts and figures in discussion that will be really helpful
because they have been well thought out and are practical. Such a method represents a distinct improvement
over the snap judgment that is often offered under similar circumstances. Advance preparation saves much
time often devoted to aimless talk.
It is declared that the Chicago meetings in June will surpass in every way the convention in that city in
1921, which set a new record for such affairs. The committee in charge of the entertainment and publicity
details are completing plans and getting results. Jkit; it is now time to begin to spread information regarding
the business sessions for the benefit of those who believe'in the constructive qualities of association work and
who believe in mixing business with pleasure.
The time is past when the piano man attends a convention simply because of the good time he expects
to have there. To-day he goes because he expects to return with something of value to himself and his busi-
ness. An advance outline of that is the convention's best advertising.