Music Trade Review
Issue: 1930 Vol. 89 N. 11 - Page 34
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
34
Musical Merchandise Section of The Music Trade Review
Organizing Musical
Groups to Aid Sales
• .
(Continued
from
page 31)
interested and the pencils are sharpened in
earnest.
It is interesting to note, in this connection,
that time-payment losses in sales of this sort
have been negligible. The percentage of cash
sales is high; and where instruments are sold
on time, the purchasers are usually of greatcr-
than-average responsibility. A further factor
of security is the fact that most people are
especially scrupulous in meeting financial en-
gagements incurred in connection with their
lodges and other social organizations.
Since he assumes responsibility for the quality
of the instruction, this dealer prefers to employ
the teacher himself. The teacher makes the
weekly collections and ninety per cent of the
fees collected for instruction go to him as sal-
ary. The dealer is careful to keep in close
contact with the organization and, although he
is not a bandman himself, he has found that by
using ordinary common sense he can readily
detect and correct any causes of friction that
may arise.
He particularly interests himself in seeing that
the new band is making definite progress in
playing as a unit. When the new band can actu-
ally play a tune or two together, the success
of the undertaking is practically assured.
Most of the work though is done by the
instructor, who must be, of course, thoroughly
capable and reliable. He employs two men at
present and is able to keep them busy the year
around. His principal revenue is naturally from
the sale of the instruments themselves; but the
GUT STRINGS
For all instruments
With your trade name
Made by noted specialists
Satisfaction guaranteed
Write for samples now.
The Fox Musical Qut
String Mfg. Co*
We Manufacture
Everything
in
Gut Strings.
We Specialize in
Viola, Cello and
Double Bass Strings.
3210 So. Fox Street
Chicago
small but steady income from the instruction
fees is always useful.
It was six years ago that Mr. X sold his first
band. Since then, in a city of less than fifty
thousand (and, of course, in the territory im-
mediately surrounding it) he has organized and
equipped sixteen complete bands and five drum-
corps. The volume of sales in original equip-
ments totaled more than $14,000.00. His per-
centage of the instruction fees and the subse-
quent sales of accessories and new instruments
to various members of the organizations he
started ran into,real money, too.
This business was over and above his regular
retail business, which was greatly benefited by
his close contact with so many musicians. And,
since he is his own salesman in these deals,
his selling expenses are almost nothing. His
chief expenditure is in his own personal initia-
tive and energy.
There's nothing in the operation of this suc-
cessful plan that is beyond the resources and
capabilities of any good music merchant. In
every town there arc plenty of societies, at
present with no musical organizations, which
offer a profitable field of operation. Good in-
structors are plentiful.
Manufacturers and
wholesalers give complete cooperation.
There's profit and prestige for the dealer who
c;.n make a new drum corps or band grow
where none bloomed before. You are serving
your community when—by your own effort and
initiative—you gain new converts to the cause
of music as a recreation. And your effort is
doubly constructive because you are providing
the newly-fledged musicians with the means to
put their talent to actual use.
The man who does the work usually reaps the
profits. If it's left to the teacher or the pro-
fessional promoter to inspire and put over the
new band or orchestra, then it's only natural
that the teacher or promoter is going to see
that he himself gets the credit for the idea—
and the profit on the instruments. It isn't right
that the sale should go to anyone but the local
THE NEW SENSATION
The "SULTANA"
SILVER BELL
BANJO
The Bacon
Banjo Co., Inc.
Groton, Conn.
dealer.
It isn't justice.
But it does happen
just the same.
Don't let it happen in your town, though.
After all, a live retailer has the'edge in his com-
munity, over all outside competition. He knows
the community—its needs and its opportunities
—or he ought to. By reason of his background
as an established factor in the community, his
suggestions and recommendations carry added
weight and assurance. A live retailer going oul
after business is tough competition for anyone!
How is your town fixed? What is the local
American Legion 1'ost doing? Have tlie Masons,
the Odd Fellows, the K. of P.'s a band—an
orchestra—a drum corps? In thousands of
towns these same societies are supporting flour-
ishing musical organizations. The Y.M.C.A. and
Boy Scouts arc splendid prospects, too. If your
town is behind the times there's a golden oppor-
tunity for some live-wire.
Make a survey of your town with particular
regard to the openings for new musical organ-
izations. Dig up your instructors (plenty of
them around when you come to hunt them up
in earnest). Rehearse your speech and then get
busy!
1 don't know who said this first, but here's a
sound platform plank for all of us in the music
trade—
"It's more fun to play than just to listen!"
Whoever said it, lie gave us the finest, big-
gest selling argument in the world. That's the
theme to stress—that's the argument that will
nail the sale fur you.
P. D. Nash on Visit to
Gretsch Co. Headquarter?
The last week of September Vice-President
].'. D. Nash, in charge of the Western division
of the Fred Gretsch Co., spent at the company's
headquarters in Brooklyn, N. Y. His visit
at that time was the occasion of the wedding
of his daughter, Miss Mary Elizabeth Nash,
to George Wcndcberg, an executive of tin-
Western Union Telegraph Co., on Septem-
ber 25.
Regarding business, Mr. Nash made the ob-
servation that while the Fred Gretsch trade
in the Western territory was showing a steady
and consistent growth, it was the opinion of
himself and their field men that the dealers
were understocked and perhaps missed oppor-
tunities to make sales by not having a com-
prehensive enough line to meet the public-
fancies.
GUT,
Manufacturers
OF
Metal Accessories
FOR
Stringed Instruments
C. F. MARTIN & CO., Inc.
WOUND and STEEL
STRINGS
From Factory Direct to You!
NAZARETH, PENNA.
Write for our New Wholesale Catalogue of RED-O-RAY
and TONECRAFT STRINGS
Ettablished 1833
KAPLAN MUSICAL. STRING CO.
South Norwalk, Conn.,
Makers of the original MARTIN GUITAR
Guitars, Mandolins and
Ukuleles in many styles
Sand for illustrated catalogue
REG. U.S.
JggUg
PAT. OFF.
WOUND VIOLIN STRINGS
Each string packed in an Individual tube.
Dealer stocks always in perfect condition.
Gold Medal
Strings
18 Eleventh Street
Long Island City, N. Y.
for musical instruments
They all like the packing
Gold-plated Steel and Wound String*
JOBBER—DEALKK—MUSICIAN
Gibson Musical String Co.
V. C. SQUIER COMPANY
Belleville, N. J.
Order from your jobber.
BATTLE CREEK, MICH.
34
Musical Merchandise Section of The Music Trade Review
Organizing Musical
Groups to Aid Sales
• .
(Continued
from
page 31)
interested and the pencils are sharpened in
earnest.
It is interesting to note, in this connection,
that time-payment losses in sales of this sort
have been negligible. The percentage of cash
sales is high; and where instruments are sold
on time, the purchasers are usually of greatcr-
than-average responsibility. A further factor
of security is the fact that most people are
especially scrupulous in meeting financial en-
gagements incurred in connection with their
lodges and other social organizations.
Since he assumes responsibility for the quality
of the instruction, this dealer prefers to employ
the teacher himself. The teacher makes the
weekly collections and ninety per cent of the
fees collected for instruction go to him as sal-
ary. The dealer is careful to keep in close
contact with the organization and, although he
is not a bandman himself, he has found that by
using ordinary common sense he can readily
detect and correct any causes of friction that
may arise.
He particularly interests himself in seeing that
the new band is making definite progress in
playing as a unit. When the new band can actu-
ally play a tune or two together, the success
of the undertaking is practically assured.
Most of the work though is done by the
instructor, who must be, of course, thoroughly
capable and reliable. He employs two men at
present and is able to keep them busy the year
around. His principal revenue is naturally from
the sale of the instruments themselves; but the
GUT STRINGS
For all instruments
With your trade name
Made by noted specialists
Satisfaction guaranteed
Write for samples now.
The Fox Musical Qut
String Mfg. Co*
We Manufacture
Everything
in
Gut Strings.
We Specialize in
Viola, Cello and
Double Bass Strings.
3210 So. Fox Street
Chicago
small but steady income from the instruction
fees is always useful.
It was six years ago that Mr. X sold his first
band. Since then, in a city of less than fifty
thousand (and, of course, in the territory im-
mediately surrounding it) he has organized and
equipped sixteen complete bands and five drum-
corps. The volume of sales in original equip-
ments totaled more than $14,000.00. His per-
centage of the instruction fees and the subse-
quent sales of accessories and new instruments
to various members of the organizations he
started ran into,real money, too.
This business was over and above his regular
retail business, which was greatly benefited by
his close contact with so many musicians. And,
since he is his own salesman in these deals,
his selling expenses are almost nothing. His
chief expenditure is in his own personal initia-
tive and energy.
There's nothing in the operation of this suc-
cessful plan that is beyond the resources and
capabilities of any good music merchant. In
every town there arc plenty of societies, at
present with no musical organizations, which
offer a profitable field of operation. Good in-
structors are plentiful.
Manufacturers and
wholesalers give complete cooperation.
There's profit and prestige for the dealer who
c;.n make a new drum corps or band grow
where none bloomed before. You are serving
your community when—by your own effort and
initiative—you gain new converts to the cause
of music as a recreation. And your effort is
doubly constructive because you are providing
the newly-fledged musicians with the means to
put their talent to actual use.
The man who does the work usually reaps the
profits. If it's left to the teacher or the pro-
fessional promoter to inspire and put over the
new band or orchestra, then it's only natural
that the teacher or promoter is going to see
that he himself gets the credit for the idea—
and the profit on the instruments. It isn't right
that the sale should go to anyone but the local
THE NEW SENSATION
The "SULTANA"
SILVER BELL
BANJO
The Bacon
Banjo Co., Inc.
Groton, Conn.
dealer.
It isn't justice.
But it does happen
just the same.
Don't let it happen in your town, though.
After all, a live retailer has the'edge in his com-
munity, over all outside competition. He knows
the community—its needs and its opportunities
—or he ought to. By reason of his background
as an established factor in the community, his
suggestions and recommendations carry added
weight and assurance. A live retailer going oul
after business is tough competition for anyone!
How is your town fixed? What is the local
American Legion 1'ost doing? Have tlie Masons,
the Odd Fellows, the K. of P.'s a band—an
orchestra—a drum corps? In thousands of
towns these same societies are supporting flour-
ishing musical organizations. The Y.M.C.A. and
Boy Scouts arc splendid prospects, too. If your
town is behind the times there's a golden oppor-
tunity for some live-wire.
Make a survey of your town with particular
regard to the openings for new musical organ-
izations. Dig up your instructors (plenty of
them around when you come to hunt them up
in earnest). Rehearse your speech and then get
busy!
1 don't know who said this first, but here's a
sound platform plank for all of us in the music
trade—
"It's more fun to play than just to listen!"
Whoever said it, lie gave us the finest, big-
gest selling argument in the world. That's the
theme to stress—that's the argument that will
nail the sale fur you.
P. D. Nash on Visit to
Gretsch Co. Headquarter?
The last week of September Vice-President
].'. D. Nash, in charge of the Western division
of the Fred Gretsch Co., spent at the company's
headquarters in Brooklyn, N. Y. His visit
at that time was the occasion of the wedding
of his daughter, Miss Mary Elizabeth Nash,
to George Wcndcberg, an executive of tin-
Western Union Telegraph Co., on Septem-
ber 25.
Regarding business, Mr. Nash made the ob-
servation that while the Fred Gretsch trade
in the Western territory was showing a steady
and consistent growth, it was the opinion of
himself and their field men that the dealers
were understocked and perhaps missed oppor-
tunities to make sales by not having a com-
prehensive enough line to meet the public-
fancies.
GUT,
Manufacturers
OF
Metal Accessories
FOR
Stringed Instruments
C. F. MARTIN & CO., Inc.
WOUND and STEEL
STRINGS
From Factory Direct to You!
NAZARETH, PENNA.
Write for our New Wholesale Catalogue of RED-O-RAY
and TONECRAFT STRINGS
Ettablished 1833
KAPLAN MUSICAL. STRING CO.
South Norwalk, Conn.,
Makers of the original MARTIN GUITAR
Guitars, Mandolins and
Ukuleles in many styles
Sand for illustrated catalogue
REG. U.S.
JggUg
PAT. OFF.
WOUND VIOLIN STRINGS
Each string packed in an Individual tube.
Dealer stocks always in perfect condition.
Gold Medal
Strings
18 Eleventh Street
Long Island City, N. Y.
for musical instruments
They all like the packing
Gold-plated Steel and Wound String*
JOBBER—DEALKK—MUSICIAN
Gibson Musical String Co.
V. C. SQUIER COMPANY
Belleville, N. J.
Order from your jobber.
BATTLE CREEK, MICH.
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