Troy Duncan's recent posting on how people today are discovering
mechanical music is outstanding [180712 MMDigest].  Today's society uses
the Internet to learn about and preview almost everything.  Mechanical
Music is no exception.  Millions of people every year are newly exposed
to mechanical music via the internet.

Troy's website is wonderful and informative.  It exposes millions to
these instruments.  Another example of a successful website is Martin
Molin's Wintergaten Marble Machine video, which now has over 81 million
views and 1.5 million likes.  The MMD is yet another example of the
success of electronic media.  It is a purely electronic forum and
probably has more subscribers than any of the mechanical music
collectors' groups have members.

Those of us who want to develop an interest in mechanical music in
a new generation need to accept that electronic media is our primary
method of exposing new people to these marvelous music machines.  It
therefore becomes a primary method of generating new collectors of the
genre (and members of any collectors' group.)

In the past collectors' groups were focused on their printed magazines,
printed newsletters, annual conventions and swap meets.  These things
are just as valuable as they were in the past.  However, like it or not,
the electronic alternatives have become more valuable to modern
society.  I'm ready for the collectors' groups to re-focus to what
works best for today:

*  Transporting music machines to new locations for a weekend public
demonstration is laborious, expensive and risks damage to the
instrument.  However, making a high quality video of them and putting
them on the internet is a lot easier and provides economical widespread
public exposure for years to come.

*  Magazines & newsletters in paper format are not very desirable.
Electronic delivery works better for today's world.  If the magazine is
delivered electronically, people can read it anywhere/anytime because
their iPad or smart phone is always with them.

*  Local "swap meets" are infrequently held and rarely have the item
currently looked for.  Society's favorite "swap meet" has become eBay.
As a plus, eBay is available 24/7.

*  Most members of a group do not attend its annual convention.  Usually
about 15% of a group's members attend.  Perhaps they are saving their
travel dollars to spend instead on a new music machine!  Maybe the
annual convention isn't as important as it used to be and could become
less frequent.

*  Fifteen years ago, my primary interaction with mechanical music came
once a month from the mailed publications of the collectors' groups via
Mechanical Music Digest.  The MMD forum provides daily opportunities to
learn and enjoy all aspects of mechanical music in a timely and
ubiquitous manner.  Using a discussion forum or social media to provide
daily valuable content is a powerful tool for involving and educating
people about mechanical music.

I hope the collectors' groups carefully review Troy's posting and
implement his recommendations very soon.  They need to develop and stay
relevant for tomorrow's mechanical music collectors and hobbyists.

Wayne Finger
Florida