The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1908-01-24
HELP THE NORFOLK BAND
HOW TO MAKE A BAND A SUCCESS
IN A TOWN.
BUSINESS MEN MUST HELE
To Make Such an Organization a Sue
cess In Town, Business Men Must
See That Musicians Are Given EN-.
ployment.

Norfolk, Neb., Jan. 49, Editor
News: A few days ago there appeared
an item in The Norfolk Daily News
showing what Madison is doing to ad
vertise their city by instituting and
maintaining good brass band, and
this is not one bit more than most all
the important cities in this part OF
the country are doing at the present
time.
Is Norfolk going to stand still and
let all her sister cities have better
and stronger organization in the way
of brass band than we are?
Until about year ago Norfolk was
without a band but the organization
that we now have has been very sue
cessful since 1t was instituted and one
that Norfolk feels justly proud Of
But If Norfolk wants to keep in pace
with surrounding towns in keeping a
first class band, it has got to give EN-.
ployment to musicians who have had
experience.
The question is often asked in Nor.
folk, why is it so hard to have a good
brass band?" and the answer is very
simple.
1t has long been the case in Norfolk
that when any business man wanted
to hire any help of any kind, he would
seldom hire one who played in a band,
thinking that the band would take too
much time away from his work, but in
other cities it is just the other way
If man comes to town who is a mu.
sician the citizens will do their level
best to find him employment, while il
he is not musician his chances are
rather slim.
1t is a mistake on the part of the
business men that playing in a band
will cause their employees to lose toe
much time from their work, for there
are very few engagements that con.
fiict with ordinary work and rehear
sails always are held in the evening
when the days work is finished.
The Norfolk band has done very well
since it was instituted, and under the
leadership of Prof. Vradenburg has
helped the town wonderfully this sea
son past and every loyal citizen well
appreciates the fact and is looking for
ward to what is in store for next year
The time is ripe now for the people
OF Norfolk to cooperate with the Nor
folk band and hire a musician when
ever they want more help, as the oand
can get very good men to locate here
if positions will be furnished.
Since the band organized the gross
earnings have been over $4,000, and
the total expenses have reached near
ly $1,000, and not one cent has ever
been divided among the members
which goes to show that it is strictly
a public institution and not a source
of revenue for those who give their
time to such worthy cause.
The members of the band have pur
chased all their own instruments
which range in price from $35 to 500
and those who now have cheaper in,
struments than some of the others are
making changes and getting good
ones. All of the $4,000 gross earnings
of the band since it started have been
made by engagements with the excep
tion of about 5000, and this was donat
ed by the citizens for street concerts
the past summer, and 5000 that was
received from members who Joined
the band as there has always been
an entrance fee of $5 to all who Joined
as evidence of good faith.
Prof. Vradenburg states that, with
the band we already have, if NorfolB
will give employment to half a dozen
good musicians, we will have a band
that will not be surpassed by any in
this part of Nebraska.
To make new musicians out of new
material takes time and while the
Norfolk band is making new musi
clans other towns are hiring expert
enced men.
The band has a competent and ex
perienced director and perfect har
mony exists.
There is nothing that affords better
and more refined amusement and is &
better advertisement for a city like
Norfolk than a good hrass hand