Presto

PRESTO-TIMES
October 22, 1927
to improve the musical tastes of a community
may be employed by the music dealer with
The piano playing" contests are spreading
benefit to himself and the public. But when
and it is a fact that they stir up the kind of
The American Music Trade Weekly
a music house or its owner individually does
interest that insures activitv in the piano in-
Published Every Saturday at 417 South Dearborn dustry and trade. Whether or not many pianos something unusual that entails considerable
Street, Chicago, Illinois.
expense an admirable form of progressiveness
are sold, as a result of the contest, in any com-
is presented. In a news story in this issue a
PRESTO P U B L I S H I N G CO., Publishers.
munity, it is positively true that eventually
plan
of Mr. Frank Corley, head of the Corley
Editor
F R A N K D. A B B O T T
- - - - - - - - -
the effect must be to stimulate the people to
(C. A. D A N I ELL—1904-1927.)
Co., Richmond, Va., in association with the
buy pianos. The seed must be planted before
J. FERGUS O ' R Y A N
_ _ _ - _ Managing Editor
News Leader of that city to provide a week
the harvest can be expected. It may require
Telephones, Local and Long Distance, Harrison 0234.
of grand opera for Richmond is told in detail.
Private Phones to all Departments. Cable Address ( C o m -
some waiting, but as sure as the sun shines
mercial Cable Co.'s Code), " P R E S T O , " Chicago.
In underwriting the cost of nine performances
the crop will develop.
by
the San Carlos Opera Company, Mr. Corley
Entered as second-class matter Jan 29, 1896, at the
Pianos have never been promoted in the
Tost Office, Chicago, LI., under Act of March 3, 1879.
sets a fine example of progressiveness by do-
same sense that other things have been pushed
Subscription, $2 a year; 6 months, $1.25; Foreign, $4.
ing real work in promoting a higher musical
Payable in advance. No extra charge in United States
forward. The real need of pianos has never
possessions, Cuba and Mexico. Rates for advertising on
appreciation in his city and adjacent com-
application.
been made a part of the public consciousness.
munities.
Items of news and other matter are solicited and if of
The piano has been permitted to make its ap-
* * *
general interest to the music trade will be paid for at
peal through the urge of family pride, and
space rates. Usually piano merchants or salesmen in the
Notwithstanding efforts of trade and na-
smaller cities are the best occasional correspondents, and
because of its place in the social attainments,
their assistance is invited.
tional associations to remove or ameliorate it,
rather than because it is an essential in edu-
Payment H not accepted for matter printed in the edi-
the trade-in evil continues a distressingly
torial or news columns of Presto-Times.
cation
and the mental development of the
Where half-tones are made the actual cost of produc-
prominent one. It is one that the piano dealer
tion will be charged if of commercial character of other
young. That it is not only a sign of refine-
than strictly news interest.
has
endured for a good many years and which
When electrotypes are sent for publication it is re-
ment but a necessary part of the educational
quested that their subjects and senders be carefully indi-
now
also worries the phonograph dealer and
cated.
equipment has never until now been given
decreases his profits.
Ridiculous trade-in
Forms close at noon on Thursday. Late news matter
great emphasis. The contests are doing this,
should be in not later than 11 o'clock on that day. Ad-
values on obsolete phonographs that obtain
vertising- copy should be in hand before Tuesday, 5 p. m.,
and doing it effectively.
to insure preferred position. Full page display copy
nearly everywhere leave no profit in deals ex-
should be in hand by Tuesday noon preceding publication
And the playing contest has developed into
day. Want advertisements for current week, to insure
cept for the buyers. The trade-in problem is
classification, should be in by Wednesday noon.
other realms than that of the piano. It has
one which can be solved by the local music
taken hold of the other instruments of music.
Address all communications for the editorial or business
trade associations and it is cheering to see that
departments to PRESTO PUBLISHING CO., 417 South
Bands are now forming into classes and meet-
it is being handled in a vigorous manner by
Dearborn Street, Chicago, III.
ing in competition. Study of the band instru-
several trade bodies.
ments is becoming almost a regular feature in
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1927
the music life of many cities and towns and
The necessity for well-supported organiza-
The last form of Presto-Times goes to press prominent men in community life are taking tions of the music trade was pointed out by
at 11 a. m. Thursday. Any news transpiring personal interest in the practical side of music.
after that hour cannot be expected in the cur- Which means the spread of the demand and W. W. Kerr at the convention last week, when
he talked on "State Legislation," with particu-
rent issue. Nothing received at the office that sale of musical instruments of all kinds.
is not strictly news of importance can have
lar reference to the work of lawmakers at
attention after 9 a. m. on Thursday. If they
Springfield, 111. He went over the ground of
concern the interests of manufacturers or
THE PLAYER ROLL STOCK
wire-pulling, lobbying, and told how difficult it
dealers such items will appear the week follow-
Attention to roll buying by the dealer is an was to get good laws on the books and how
ing. Copy for advertising designed for the
current issue must reach the office not later unavoidable accompaniment to interest in easy it was to get defective legislation
playerpiano output. And attention to roll buy- enacted. He advised the dealers to exercise
than Wednesday noon of each week.
ing naturally involves activity in roll selling. their power in electing good men and then
Sales of player rolls in any month are greater pushing hard for the measures that would
CREATING PIANO DESIRE
for push in presenting than for the mere in- give them a square deal.
Raven-like prophecies of a decade ago said vitation to buy.
* * *
that mechanical pianos would destroy all de-
Despite the best judgment in selection and
Mr. H. W. Otto Miessner, at the convention
sire in people for manual playing' and prac- utmost vigilance on the part of the retailer a in Chicago last week, gave the percentage of
tically halt the advance of musical culture. But certain percentage of numbers in the monthly school children who had taken up the Melody
mechanics has done the reverse of what the bulletin are slow in selling. Each month adds Way of learning to play the piano. It differed
croakers of ten or fifteen years ago said it to the accumulation of stock. All the slow in different cities, he said. In Minneapolis it
would do.
ones are not "dead ones" either. Many are ran about 50 per cent; in Philadelphia, only
classics
that are always alive and always pos- 20 per cent. Asked as to the percentage that
The player music roll has aided the advance-
sible
of
stimulation.
ment of cultural impulse in a most important
failed to complete the course, he said, "We do
way and the reproducing piano in its perfect
The old remedy for indigestion, "fast for a not lose, usually, more than ten or fifteen per
rendering- of the playing" of great artists is a spell," is an instance of where the cure is cent."
wonderful incentive to music students to de- worse than the disease. The problem of over-
* * *
velop the hest that is in them.
loaded shelves of accumulated rolls calls for
Building up a piano business on means that
Other mechanical appliances like the phono- more efficacious action than stopping off the are actually contrary to the laws is a foolish
graph and the radio have proved to he inspira- new supplies. Dealers are no longer distract- job which develops everything reprehensible
tional. The phonograph did not hinder the ed with excessively large issues of roll titles in a man's nature. It is really the hardest way
sale of manual musical instruments, it encour- each month.
to profits. Building up a piano business on
aged it. Today radio makes people want to
the
solid structure of truth concerning the in-
The clean roll stock; the one with the small
struments
and applying ethical ways in sell-
play a musical instrument themselves.
percentage of stickers, is in the store of the
ing
them
is easy in comparison. But the
The first essential for making more piano man who cured his case of music roll indiges-
wrong
way,
which may be temporarily profit-
sales is the spontaneous desire in the people tion by beneficent exercise. He is the man
able,
is
hurtful
to individuals in the trade who
to play the piano. The promotion plans for who surprised himself with the discovery that
steer
an
honest
course and, of course, has
the encouragement of piano lessons for the he could sell the most tenacious clinger by
harmful
effects
on
the music trade at large.
young are all based on the ability of piano seriously trying to. There should be no de-
* * *
playing to make one a more desirable mem- bilitating fast in new roll buying. The rule of
ber of society and to increase the power of the health in the music roll stock is to use the
The puzzle contest and credit check schemes
proficient pianist to make his or her family utmost effort to sell sparsely featured numbers have reappeared in the music trade and plans
happier. The propaganda that creates the while the well featured hot populars "sell to vigorously fight these forms of an old piano
trade evil have been formulated by the Music
piano playing desire is of various kinds, but it themselves."
Industries Chamber of Commerce. Executive
all works to the advantage of the piano dealer.
The thought created by a piano player's per- • The encouragement of music in any way, di- Secretary C. L. Dennis, at the convention of
formance over radio may be converted into rectly or indirectly, leads to the sale of pianos the Ohio state association in Cleveland re-
action by some alert piano salesman.
and other musical instruments. So any means cently, prompted decisive action by that body.
PIANO CONTESTS SPREAD
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