Summertime and the Listening is Easy

We all know what it means once the time has changed and the weather can’t make up its mind …  summertime in southern Louisiana is quickly approaching!  And there's no better sidekick to any summer activity then music and when possible, live music!

It's time to cut the grass and weed the flowerbed again, bummer. But with all the negatives that come with summer, the good certainly out weight the bad.  Around our house this summer the pit will be lit and cannonballs are sure to erupt poolside all while music fills the backyard. At my home summertime is music time. There is no summer activity that music doesn’t make better and with modern technology getting your music to you is easier than ever.  Every recreational ATV out hitting the mud holes and every golf cart cruising the neighborhood this summer will have music in tow. We find music nearly everywhere during the summer and, more than any other time of the year, live music is present. We start to see more bars and lounges with Sunday patio jams and more festivals and fundraisers with live music.

Memorial Day weekend is the major live music summer kick off and southern Louisiana knows how to do it with a bang! Gonzales, Louisiana lays host every year for one of early summer's biggest events in the area: The World Jambalaya Cooking Championship. Better know as “The Jambalaya Festival,” the event runs May 22–24 right in the heart of the city. And while the festival's main attraction during the day may be the cooking and the food, at night the music is what really brings the crowds in. Some of the area's most classic Cajun and Swamp-pop bands preform on three stages through the weekend. While over in Baton Rouge, Tiger Stadium plays host to the 6th annual Bayou Country Super fest. This year's lineup, like in years past is one you don’t want to miss.  Superstars like Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert and Kenny Chesney will invade Death Vally on Saturday and Sunday and get the crowd moving! And let's not forget the extra special Friday night concert being put on by Taylor Swift as she brings her “1989” World Tour to the Red Stick.

Make sure you get out and enjoy the live, local music talent this summer as well! Give a listen to the great original artist and fun cover/tribute bands in this area. There are tons of great venues around the parish that have fully embraced local music and do a great job of making it easily accessible. Patronize venues that embrace live music and let them know you appreciate them for supporting the art.

It almost seams odd to call a gathering a party without music. Studies show that people are more likely to communicate with each other if the silence is broken by music. Think about how awkward it is to sit in a restaurant or walk around a store shopping in silence.  It feels more like you are disturbing someone by asking a question. Make sure music is part of you and your family’s life. If you are considering picking up an instrument stop by and see us at Music Inc. If you want to play your favorite summer songs for your guest at your next party, we can help with that also!  And as Bob Marley once said, "One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain.”

Finally, An Inexpensive Hobby!

Saving money is tight these days is an understatement. No matter your income status, you are undoubtedly more budget conscious now than in years past. But, everyone still needs a getaway of sorts, a place to think, to clear their mind, and to give their brain a rest. Let’s look at the cost of picking up music as a hobby versus some of the more common hobbies where people invest both time and money.    
 
Using a close family member as an example, I’ve seen, first hand, what it takes to outfit an avid fisherman. Once you’ve purchased a modest but reliable boat, poles, tackle, nets, clothing and other accessories, you can easily set yourself back for well over $20,000. Now, I understand you can by a $35 Zebco rod and cast out into the pond behind your house, but that’s not really indulging in the hobby. If you take a look at the recurring costs to fish, you can quickly tack on expenses, such as licenses, fuel, bait — and beer!  Well, maybe beer fits in with most hobbies. Fishing supplies, transportation and lodging sales amount to $48 billion dollars annually in the U.S. alone.     

Another huge hobby in America is golf. Golf is the only hobby that I have personally invested time and money in, other than music. Once again, you can start off with an affordable route but, like fishing, it can get expensive rather quickly. A green fee, or the price you pay to play a round of golf, averages around $40 and can quickly increase. A mid-level, name brand, of set of clubs and all the accessories might cost upward of $2,000. Not only will range fees and green fees add up quickly, taking lessons with a professional golfer can really hit your pocketbook. Most mid-tier golf pros teach lessons at their local club to help supplement their income with lessons averaging $30 per half-hour sessions. Lessons with a top-rated pro can reach as high as $200 an hour. Each year Americans spend $5 billion on golf equipment and apparel, and another $20 billion on green fees alone.

After reviewing what it takes to comfortably set yourself up to go fishing, or learn to play golf, it’s easy for me to provide reason that investing in, and playing music, can be less expensive. When spending the same dollar amount on an intermediate setup for fishing, or golf, an advanced musical instrument setup could be purchased at, or well below, those costs. Also, unlike the two hobbies mentioned above, in most situations there are no recurring costs associated with playing music.  In fact, it’s easier to make a return on your musical instrument investments than with many of the items you purchase to fish or golf. There are plenty hobbyist or “weekend warrior” musicians playing out live and making money relatively quickly after picking up the hobby. Also, vintage music equipment can be an extremely lucrative investment. Gear from the 1950s and '60s are worth several times their original value. The same can’t be said for old golf clubs or bass boats. The musical instrument “resale” industry produces $7 billion in annual sales, far less than the other industries listed above.

Not only is music an affordable hobby; did you know that it also provides an opportunity for self-expression, relieves stress and  promotes social skills? Take the leap, choose an instrument and dive in! We have a large selection and price range of instruments available for you to try out now! It's never to late to learn. Your mind and your wallet will be happy that you chose to play music! 

Happy Playing!
Brandt

What’s Under Your Bed?

The phrase “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” has never been more lucrative than it is today.  With television pushing shows like “Antique Road Show”, “American Pickers”, and “Pawn Stars” what once was looked at as junk is now becoming gold!
 Let me introduce myself.  My name is Brandt Bourque. I’m a native of Gonzales and have been living here the majority of my 30 years.  I have worked in the music retail industry, selling instruments, for over 12 years (six of those years at Music Inc. in Gonzales).  I also worked for Guitar Center, the largest chain store in the music industry, at their flagship Atlanta, GA location.  There, I received awards for top salesman and a “rookie of the year” award for overall excellence.  I became owner/president of Music Inc. of Louisiana in January of 2012.  Since then, Music Inc. has been awarded NAMM’s Top 100 award two years in a row. NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) awards its Top 100 award to the 100 stores in the nation that continue to drive the industry forward and show dedication to growing and cultivating the music industry.
In 2014 Music Inc. celebrated 45 years of service to Ascension Parish. After having its doors open for 45 years it’s safe to say that many of the instruments floating around south Louisiana came from Music Inc., including many that are now considered “vintage”.  Just like the antiques seen on the most popular TV shows, some “old” guitars can be worth serious money!  Would you believe that a particular model, and year, Les Paul can fetch upwards of $300,000!  Now, that’s some serious cash!  Most of these guitars are snatched up by collectors, but there are stories every year of someone finding an old case under their bed, or in a storage closet, that ends up being “the real thing” and worth a lot of money.
 Don’t overlook that old beat up dusty case.  Take it out and give it a quick look over.  Names like Gibson, Fender, Martin, Gretsch, Rickenbacker and Silvertone are sure to be of some value.  And, there are many others out there that can bring a solid return on their original purchase price.  Instrument amplifiers can be worth a bundle as well.  There are amps by Howard Dumble that can be worth up to $80,000!
 More importantly, pick up those old instruments and play!  If the old instrument is yours, it's bound to bring up memories of your youth playing with old friends or maybe the challenges you faced when you were just learning.  If the instrument belongs to a family member, ask them to teach you how to play, or to tell you the story and history of the old instrument.  You might be surprised to find out that out that it was purchased from Music Inc.  If it's an inherited instrument and you need a little help uncovering its mystery, bring it to us and we will gladly help you research its history.
As the holiday’s approach, the gift of music is one that is guaranteed to last a life time.  It's been proven; music instills discipline, sparks the imagination, enhances learning, and helps cultivate new friendships. Music Inc. can help you create a passion for the art of music.  

Stop by and say hello,
Brandt

Music Inc. named Top 100 Music Retailer 2nd Year in a Row!

Music Inc. of Louisiana in Gonzales, LA has been named one of the Top 100 musical instrument and product retailers in the world by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM). The designation will be formally presented to the Top 100 dealers at Summer NAMM, a trade show held in Nashville, TN this July.  Music Inc. is also being considered to receive the Dealer of the Year award, NAMM’s highest honor for retailers.

“We are very honored to have been selected as a “Top 100 Dealer” two years in a row within the same year that we celebrate out 45th Anniversary.  Offering new and exceptional products while maintaining the high level of customer service people have come to expect from a small town shop is what has kept customers coming back to Music Inc,” said Brandt Bourque, President at Music Inc. of Louisiana.

Music Inc. of Louisiana received the Top 100 designation in recognition of:

A demonstrated commitment to exceptional customer service
Proven community advocacy and support for music education
An exemplary retail experience worth returning for and recommending
to others
Merchandising and marketing practices that encourage repeat sales
Sound planning for future success, employing marketing and
training initiatives
Engaging and effective use of web and social media

Music Inc. could also be awarded in one of eight additional categories: Best Exterior Presentation, Best Merchandising Display, Best Marketing and Sales Promotion, Best Online Presentation, Support Music Advocacy, Music Makes a Difference, Best Emerging Dealer “Rookie of the Year,” and Best Special Event. Winners of these categories, as well as Dealer of the Year, will be announced at the July 18 ceremony in Nashville. 

Businesses vying for Top 100 status were evaluated for innovative methods, resourceful approaches, and effective implementation of retail best practices. A panel of anonymous industry judges scores each entry to determine the Top 100, the individual category winners, and Dealer of the Year. Dubbed the ‘retail Oscars’ by Music Inc. magazine, NAMM’s Top 100 Dealer Awards was created to spotlight the industry’s very best music product retailers.

“NAMM is proud to recognize this music store with the coveted Top 100 Dealer Award,” said Joe Lamond, president and CEO of NAMM. “Music Inc. of Louisiana exemplifies the passion for making music that unites all of us. They are on the front lines in bringing music and music education to their community and are truly the back bone of our industry.”

About NAMM

The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) is the not-for-profit association with a mission to strengthen the $17 billion music products industry and promote the pleasures and benefits of making music. NAMM's activities and programs are designed to promote music making to people of all ages. NAMM is comprised of approximately 9,000 Member companies located in more than 92 countries.