The Waning Popularity of Mechanical Music

I read with interest the articles, "Market Value of Player Pianos".
Several years ago I built a paper-roll-playing 20-note busker organ.
The local newspaper ran a story about the build and I gave a free
concert and lecture about building the organ.  We had in excess of
150 people attend.

In 2014, I built a 31/86 MIDI organ.  Again, the local newspaper did
an article announcing another free concert/lecture on Nov 16.  We had
an audience of 116 people and after the program I spent at least 45
minutes answering questions about player organs, pianos, and busker
organs.  It was a fun concert and the local retirement center where
the concert was held video'd the program.

I think that in the senior communities there is still a keen interest
in mechanical music.  Since the concert I have been approached by the
local Music and Arts Council in a neighboring town to participate in
their street fest in the summer of 2016.  The only hand-out that I have
available at this time is the one for The Carousel Organ Association
of America.

My next project is to build a fairground organ of sorts from an "A"
roll player I acquired this year from an ad on the MMD list.  I was
also given 150 wood pipes from an organ builder in Georgia to use in
this project.

I would like to suggest that owners of mechanical music instruments
should make programs available to local universities, retirement
centers, Arts and Music districts and promote your lecture/concerts
in local newspapers.  This may be more difficult if you are living
in a metropolitan area, but in small town areas, it seems to be well
received.  By the way, there were a decent amount of teens and young
adults in attendance of my performances.

Al Good
Waynesboro, Pennsylvania