npta newsletter march 2012
DESCRIPTION
NPTA Newsletter March 2012TRANSCRIPT
Fellow Piano Travelers:
We have just gone through yet another NAMM
show that I have been told was better than last
year which was better than the year before, so hopefully we are once
again on the upswing.
As promised last year, NPTA is finally becoming a legitimate organization
which will enable us to help others reap the benefits of music for years to
come. We owe Dawn a sincere thank you for her continuing efforts to
make this dream become a reality.
We had several nominees this year for the Lifetime Achievement award
Here's to another great year in Anaheim and hoping that all of my fellow Piano Travelers
had a phenomenal 2012 NAMM Show. It was good to hear that business was up this past year for most of you.
Year after year I am impressed by the consistently positive attitude of the reps in this "roller coaster" of the music industry. However, this year one negative topic came up frequently with many of you - the
expense of business travel.
Dorothy said it simply, "There's no place like home" , but if you've thought about cutting back on business travel as a way to save money during chal-
lenging economic times - maybe we should think
again.
A study conducted on behalf of the National Busi-ness Travelers Assoc. found that the average incre-mental return on investment for business travel is 15
to 1. In other words, for every dollar spent on busi-
ness travel, the company reaps an approximate $15 rise in incremental profit resulting from increased
sales. Yeah, I know, grab the car keys.
If you have some advice to share with the NPTA members on travel incentives and programs, how to travel smarter and more efficiently, or just the name of a really great restaurant, send it in to us and we'll put it in the newsletter. Maybe some members could look into the NPTA receiving association rates with hotels, car rental companies, etc. and briefly report on
it at the NPTA dinner next year.
Thanks to all for the exceptional turn out at this years NPTA reception. As always, it was great to enjoy the music, have a nice dinner and share some laughs with
our friends.
See you on the road,
Glenn
Inside th i s
i ssue :
President’s
Notes
1
Spotlight on
Members
1-2
Membership
Policy
3
NPTA Road
Stories
4
Stay Tuned 4
Year End
Report
5
Travel Tips 5
Update NPTA
Future
6
Sponsors’ List 7
Contact Us 7
Spe c ial po i nt s
of i nt e r e st :
NAMM Show Din-
ner Meeting Photos
Update NPTA
Future
Membership
Policy & Dues
Structure
“Stay Tuned”
President’s Notes
Spotlight on Members
THE PIANO RAG M a r c h 2 0 1 1 V o l . 1 6 I s s u e 2
Glenn Clutter
“Average return on investment for
business travel is 15 to 1.”
Dick Christian
National Piano Travelers Association
Past President NAMM Mtg &
Dinner Party
8–
16
HAVE
A
LAUGH!
which was awarded to Vern Schafer, truly
one of the living legends in our business.
He started the concept of “Super Stores”
with the Colton Piano chain throughout
California. He also marketed a piano line
named “Schafer & Sons” which was defi-
nitely one of the most recognized names in
California and other western states as well.
As I have said many times before, we piano
travelers of the world have one of the, if not
the, best jobs out there. Those of us that
have been around for a few years know that
as long as there are those out there con-
tinuing to promote music and the benefits
that result, the world will continue onward,
not implode as some would lead us to be-
lieve.
Once again, a great time was enjoyed by all
at the annual NPTA function held at the
Red Lion. It was great seeing all of you that
were in attendance and I sincerely hope to
see those of you that weren’t able to attend
this year in 2013.
Warmest Regards,
Dick Christian
Dick Christian from Pg. 1
T H E P I A N O R A G P A G E 2
Funny Musical Jokes
Music is the
universal
language of
mankind
- Henry
Wadsworth
Longfellow
“I only know
two pieces;
one is ‘Clair
de Lune’ and
the other one
isn’t.”
Victor Borge
NAMM Oral History has many great video
interviews with our industries past and
current leaders.
One of the newest interviews features our
NPTA Member John Larson.
http://www.namm.org/library/oral-
history/john-larson
John Larson
Spotlight on Members Continued
What a lady! What a story!
Rose Wernes Drake
NPTA and NAMM celebrate the life
of the first woman piano traveler
who passed away in January. You
won’t want to miss this great story
as she was part of our associations
great history!
http://www.namm.org/library/oral
-history/rose-wernes-drake
Once again NPTA will be issuing member
cards as shown. All 2012 paid members will
be receiving one in the next two weeks!
Silver, glass, gold and silk were used for making strings for
musical instruments.
The worlds largest piano is a Challen Concert Grand which is
11 feet and 8 inches long and weighs a ton, literally.
Fun Musical Facts & Trivia
A: Because it makes a much bigger
KABOOM when pushed off a cliff.
Fritz Kriesler and Rachmaninov had a recital
in Carnegie Hall once. In the middle of the
music, Kriesler got lost, turned to Rachmani-
nov and asked, “Where are we?” Rachmani-
nov said, “Carnegie Hall, Sir!”
“You can tune a piano, but you can’t tuna fish”
Answer: Sure you can, you just adjust it’s
scales.
Q: Why is an 11 foot concert grand better than
a studio upright?
Funny Musical Jokes
Music
produces a
kind of
pleasure
which
human
nature
cannot do
without
- Confucius
New Membership Card!
T H E P I A N O R A G , P a g e 3
The first recorded use of the flute, clarinet, oboe
and trumpet was in ancient Egypt.
Abraham Lincoln used Chickering Grand #5070
while at the White House.
New Members:
Membership is available to all independent reps, reps
employed by piano manufacturers, their executives
and employees who travel to support the piano indus-
try, i.e. clinicians, product specialists. The piano in-
dustry represents both acoustic and digital pianos.
Also included are those who have worked in this capac-
ity although they might not be a ‘traveler’ at present,
either retired or no longer in a ‘travelers position’.
New Membership Dues: $40 per year and $30 for
seniors (65 and older).
Renewal Memberships:
A renewal membership is available to all described
above who paid their previous year’s dues. Renewal
Membership Dues: $25 per year and $15 for seniors
(65 and older).
Associate Members:
Associate members are those who travel in support of
the piano industry aside from those who qualify under
New Members. These members include (but not lim-
ited to) national piano movers, independent reps,
manufacturing reps and executives of manufacturer’s
of piano lamps, benches, piano dolly’s, piano covers,
and other piano related accessories, those who travel
to train or consult, NAMM employees, publishers of
periodicals, magazines and websites that support the
Membership Policy & Dues
piano industry, travelers of finance compa-
nies who make retail credit and inventory
financing for the piano industry.
Associate Dues: Same as above.
T H E P I A N O R A G , P a g e 4
NPTA Road Stories
Send in your road stories for future newsletters.
You can change names to protect the
innocent or the guilty.
We know you have more than one!
Email to Dawn DeMars.
REWARD!REWARD!
The Best Road Story gets 4 Free The Best Road Story gets 4 Free
Drink TicketsDrink Tickets
Stay Tuned! By Chuck Clynes
Our business is all about music. Music is what sets us apart from every other form of so called, “Consumer
Durables”. Were it not for the fact that the products we make and sell produce human-made music, there’d
be nothing to separate us from furniture, computers and every other type of products people buy and sell
today. With this in mind, I must ask this question….
Why do so few manufacturers’ and retailers’ web sites include access to music?
Web sites are a great form of advertising. People who are in the market for pianos will likely visit several
piano web sites in their search for an instrument. These web sites will all provide pictures and information,
but very few of them include any form of musical entertainment, information or education. I estimate that
an easy 90% of the piano industry-associated web sites in the US today, offer no access or presentation of
music for its visitors to enjoy and learn from. This exact same observation also holds true for furniture com-
panies!
Today’s web sites are like the old display widows we used to enjoy in the stores we patronized during the “good old days.”
Just as those display windows needed to be periodically refreshed and up-dated, web sites need the same kind of attention. We
now live in the age of “You Tube”, “Face Book”, “Twitter” and a host of other forms of “social media” that can deliver instanta-
neous news and information all over the world. That delivery system includes audio as well as visual capabilities. Likewise, every
computer made in the world today includes an audio as well as visual delivery system.
Stay connected
to others
in the Industry
Re-new your
NPTA membership
Today!
Visit
www.pianotravelers.com
Travel Tips for
International Travelers
Use ATMs rather than travelers
checks, they have minimal fees and
usually better rates
Pay with local cash, while credit cards
get you a good exchange rate, many
places offering Europe's best deals —
from craft shops to bed & breakfasts
— accept only cash.
Make sure you know where your US
embassy is, in case you lose your
passport or any emergency
♪ Hotwire.com has the “hottest” hotel deals for
US travelers as reported by our members
TRAVEL TIPS
Fight jet lag by drinking lots of wa-
ter , drinking alcohol and coffee can
aggravate jet lag
Stay well on a flight by taking a lot of
Vitamin C before and
during your trip to keep
your immune system up
Get used to a new time
zone by going along with
the local meal and bed-
time schedules.
Travel Tips
Future
Travel
Tips
Coming
From
American
Express
&
AAA
Year-end Report from Dawn DeMars 2011 Treasurer’s Report
T H E P I A N O R A G , P a g e 5
Beginning cash on hand $1,490.90
Expenses as follows:
2011 Dinner $ 2,819.29
Bank Fees $ 40.00
Credit Card Fees $ 489.92
NAMM Dues $ 195.00
Postage $ 53.57
Website $ 80.00
Total Expenses $4,247.31
Net funds on hand from 2011 $ 7,171.96
There were a total of 120 members in 2011 versus 88 members in 2010.
NPTA & NPTAF
T H E P I A N O R A G , P a g e 6
NPTA Mission Statement
Since it's formation in 1904, The National Piano Travelers Association is dedicated to supporting and encouraging the progressive development of the Piano / Keyboard industry. While promoting and preserving the professionalism of the Salesman, the NPTA continues to build a strong foundation for the future of the piano industry through comradeship and integrity.
An Update on Legal Status
National Piano Traveler's Association Foundation, Inc
The National Piano Traveler's Association Foundation's mission is to improve the quality of life through the experience of playing music and specifically the piano. We do so by raising and distributing funds for music and piano
education so that millions of people can experience of joy of making music.
At our annual meeting in Jan 2011, the board was mandated by a unanimous vote to incorporate and apply for a non-profit
status. After much research and legal advice, it was decided to keep NPTA as it has been because if we incorporate the
NPTA will become a new corporation and legally will lose all its great tradition and history. The NPTA now has a legal des-
ignation as an “Unincorporated Trade Association”.
We were advised to and are in the process of creating a new corporation for non-profit or charitable activities. It was de-
cided that the new corporation be a “foundation” rather than a “non-profit”. The name of the new corporation is The Na-
tional Piano Traveler’s Association Foundation (NPTAF). The one and only stockholder of the NPTAF is the NPTA.
Your NPTA officers presented two separate Mission Statements respective of both the NPTA and NPTAF at our annual din-
ner. The membership voted unanimously to adopt both. Please see below.
The NPTAF will not have members and will be operated by a Board of Directors. It is our plan that the Board will have 13
members: The four current NPTA officers who will serve on both boards for their term in office, three current NPTA mem-
bers, one from NAMM, one from NPF, one from legal background, one from CPA background, one from private piano
teaching, and one from piano pedagogy or higher education piano background. Please note that the board will have 7 from
NPTA and 6 from other backgrounds thus the NPTA can always maintain control of the foundation.
We expect that all of this will be completed with the government later this year and the first steps will be the appointment
and decisions on individual board members, opening up a new bank account for the foundation, and following that we can
receive and all the contributors will be assured their donations will be tax deductible.
If you would like to be one of the three board members from our general membership, please send email to [email protected] or send a message on our website.
Many Thanks!
2012 Pledges and Contributions
A big “thank you” to all our members who made contributions in 2011.
Please send your pledge to us, but don’t send contributions until our
“foundation” has been finalized and has a checking account.
NPTA Board of Directors
And General Information
Glenn Clutter, President
Dick Christian, Past President
Ray Chandler, Vice President
Dawn DeMars, Secr./Treas.
and Newsletter Editor
Address:
442 Glenwood Pl Thousand Oaks, CA 91362
Phone:
(818) 416-4308
(805) 379-9888
Fax:
(818) 735-0188
Email: [email protected]
The “New” Piano Rag
Pass it On
Send this to another piano traveling friend
and send Dawn his/her name and email
address.
Let Us Know
What did you think?
Email Dawn any suggestions,
comments, or other feedback.
We will incorporate
you’re thoughts and ideas.
T H E P I A N O R A G , P a g e 7
NPTA Booth at NAMM 2012!!
We need Volunteers for the 2013 NPTA
Special thanks to Bob Dove and Meghan Orbin
for volunteering to work the booth!!!!
Also a special Thanks to Dawn DeMars and Keyboard Con-
cepts in So Cal for working the booth this past show. Next
year her staff will not be available so we will need lots of
volunteers. T H E P I A N O R A G Page 8
2012 NPTA Lifetime Achievement
Vern Schafer established his first piano retail store in Colton, CA., in
1955 and with it the Schafer & Sons Piano. The NPTA recognized
his many great accomplishments both in retail and manufacturing/
wholesale with the NPTA’s Lifetime Achievement Award for year
2011.
Several members spoke about Vern and shared their stories of their
relationship. Some spoke of his creative marketing in the retailing
of pianos. Others about his contributions as a “ Piano Traveler” of
great distinction including his development of his Schafer & Sons
Piano Line and gave him credit as the branding genius of his time.
All our members enjoyed hearing from one of his sons, Ruston, who
spoke on behalf of Vern’s family. He spoke of how proud all the
brothers are to have Vern as their father, how important family is to
Vern and of his quiet nature. And he was right as it took a lot of
coaxing but he did make some remarks and spoke of his gratitude
to the industry and to the NPTA for the recognition and award.
Continued on Page 10 T H E P I A N O R A G Page 9
Vern Schafer and Glenn Clutter
Ruston Schafer speaks about his father,
Vern Schafer
T H E P I A N O R A G , P a g e 1 0
2012 NPTA Lifetime Achievement
Joe Brattesoni speaks about Vern Schafer
Continued from Page 9… Hear Vern tell some wonderful stories in his Namm’s Oral History interview.
Use this link: http://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/vern-schafer
Other background information as follows:
The first 100 Schafer & Sons pianos were made by Currier Piano Co in N Carolina. Vern the entered into
agreements with additional manufacturers and among them were Aeolian, Story & Clark, Kinball, Kohler
& Campbell, Schimmel, Samick, Wurlitzer and Young Chang. The manufacturers produced certain mod-
els selected by Vern and modifications and specs specific to his request.
Vern worked primarily with Kohler & Campbell through the 60s then expanded into a full line of Schafer
& Sons “Classic” consoles in the 70s. Kimball produced the new Schafer & Sons grand and console pi-
anos as well as the cases and actions for his player pianos. Vern had designed and built the mechanism
from scratch to fit the new console cases from Kimball and manufactured 500 of these special player pi-
anos in Santa Ana, CA.
In 1974 Mr. Lee of Samick in Korea and Vern developed a business relationship that lasted until 1989.
From 1990-2005 Young Chang manufactured his pianos. Since that time most of the Schafer & Sons pi-
anos have been assembled in China with parts from around the world. Vern and his six sons (Vernon Jr,
Charles, James, Weston, Ruston, Duston) are running their family business together at
Colton Piano Co in Colton.
T H E P I A N O R A G , P a g e 1 1
2012 NAMM Meeting & Dinner
Come
on join
the
PARTY
Reception: Liesa Covey, Elad Sobol, Dawn DeMars, and Joe Brattesani
Ray Chandler
Mario Merdirossian
John Rajcic
T H E P I A N O R A G , P a g e 1 1
2012 NAMM Meeting & Dinner
Let there be MUSIC!!
Our own Larry Fresch sits in for a
couple tunes
“Blow Larry, Blow”
The Llew Matthews Trio
T H E P I A N O R A G , P a g e 1 2
2012 NAMM Meeting & Dinner
Left to Right:
Bruce Hindla, John Larson, Bob
Tringali, Dick Christian, Larry
Fresch, Richard Deutsch, and Sam
Eberwein
Left to Right:
Clemen von Arnim, Arnold Poppen-
berg, Hansuk Schafer, Weston
Schafer,Paul Jansen, and Bill Jansen,
Left to Right:
Jay Davison, Dave Erikson, Dave
Rooksby, Rich Pritikin, Cindy
Caruth, and Joe Bednar,
T H E P I A N O R A G , P a g e 1 3
2012 NAMM Meeting & Dinner
Left to Right: Bob Tringali, Baik
Lee, Don Glasgow, Bob Priem,
Lori Clutter, and Glenn Clutter,
Left to Right:
Lothar Kiesche, and Hannes
Schimmel– Vogel,
Left to Right:
Ray Chandler, Mario Mer-
dirossian, John Rajcic,
Connie Rajcic, Emily Ra-
jcic, and Mitch Rajcic
T H E P I A N O R A G , P a g e 1 4
2012 NAMM Meeting & Dinner
Left to Right
Tessarah McDonald, Richard
McDonald, Duston Schafer,
Ruston Schafer, Vernon
Schafer, Kathryn Schafer,
Laressa Schafer, and Ryan
Shaw,
Left to Right: Joe Bratte-
sani, Meghan Orbin, Joe
Orbin, and Tom Dorn
Great Attendance!
Everyone is having a
great time!!
T H E P I A N O R A G , P a g e 1 5
2012 NAMM Meeting & Dinner
Eat
Drink
and
Party!
T H E P I A N O R A G , P a g e 1 6
2012 NAMM Meeting & Dinner
Above: President Glenn Clutter and Sec-
retary/ Treasurer Dawn DeMars
Below: Joe Brattesani
Above: Past President Don Glasgow
Below: Vice President Ray Chandler
Above: Right to Left:
NPTA Volunteers: Liesa Covey,
Mitch Guy, Elad Sobol
Right: Secretary & Treasurer
Dawn DeMars