Play Meter

for your very own
n kurz-knsch
logic tester
Techs, distribs, operators, here is
your chance.
The good that names do is oft
interred in their syllables.
And if you think an operator's,
arcade's or other coin-op amusement
business captures business because
of its moniker, send it to the Name of
the Game contest in care of Name of
the Game, Play Meter, P.O. Box
24170, New Orleans, La. 70184.
originality is the key
All entries will be judged by the Play
Meter staff, their pet flies, wierd
relatives and assorted aliens.
Some entries already under consider-
ation include: Too Bitter, Tex.; Guys
& Dolls, La.; Little Pleasures, Neb.;
Mushroom Amusements, Pa.; Dad-
dy's Money, S.C.
All entries must be postmarked no
later than Dec. 25, 1975.
62
[ ontinu d from pr vious pag I
revenue, even though hi co ts are all oaring.
Unle he can get away with rai ing the prices of his
box el ction , he ha no way out.
You have to be very careful, though, about
putting your foot down and saying, "You must put
on -for -a-quarter play on your box" because the
competition will ay he can have two for a quarter.
PLAY METER: What are your commi sion
arrangement with the location owners?
MONTOOTH : We are still going 50/ 50. It seems
that we can make no headway with the operators.
The operator eems to be hi own worst enemy on
thi , retarding hi own growth.
PLAY METER: Do you think the state associa-
tion have helped the operator become a bit more
progre ive and work together more?
MONTOOTH: Ye . I do think they have helped.
Maybe in time they will do more good. There is an
acitve a ociation in Illinois, but it still hasn't done
that. It till eems to be an every -man -for -
him elf route.
PLAY METER: What 1 your stand on front
money?
MONTOOTH: I have done that on some new
machine , but not too much. It helps income a little
and you need it when you put in 10-15 boxes that
co t $300 a piece.
PLAY METER: What are some things you feel
have hurt the music business?
MONTOOTH: Franchise restaurants that don't
want music machines is one. They don't want
people hanging around. The urban development has
al o cau ed a lot of locations to close.
PLAY METER: What do you think is in the
future for the music operator?
MONTOOTH: I think there is going to be a sort of
leveling off but I might add that we have noticed a
light increase in our operation, which caused me to
think thing will keep getting better.
PLAY METER: Do you operate only one brand of
phonograph?
MONTOOTH: No, I operate three kinds --
Seeburg, AMI and Rock-Ola. I began operating all
Wurlitzer, but then it seemed it would be good for
the locations to have variety. By using all three, I
can buy whichever model best suits the place for
which I am buying. I don't necessarily buy for price.
I buy whatever I think is right.
I don't experience any problems other than the
fact I have to carry more parts. Using three
different machines allows me to rotate them longer.
PLAY METER: To what do you attribute your
uces a a phonograph operator?
MONTOOTH: In a word, salesman hip. You take
a route man that sells his location; he knows all
there is to know about records. My customers often
comment to me on how my man knows his business.
This makes him a key figure in my organization,
make him invaluable to me. He keep in touch with
the location constantly.
You have to sell your company and the records,
as well as the phonographs that play them.