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Jun
30
2006
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Business Profile: McNeil Music of Ithaca |
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by Dan Veaner
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Friday, 30 June 2006 |
 One day you're going to work, doing your job, dreaming of having your own business. You've looked into it a little, but not in a really serious way. Meanwhile you've become more and more involved in music, playing keyboard, drums, guitar, bass, you've started playing in a band, participated in a singing group. You're in the music store buying a drum set when the owner says, "You probably want to know this. We're probably going to be selling the store." The next thing you know, you own it!
"We said, what do we do now?!" says David Butalek, describing the day that McNeil Music of Ithaca became his and his wife Teresa's. What they did was shift into high gear. The store closed on a Tuesday to meet with attorneys and the landlord and reopened under their ownership the next day. "That day I went to work and said guess what, guys..."
Butalek managed software engineers at Cbord for nine and a half years and had done some computer consulting prior to that, but had never owned a full fledged business before. "Teresa and I had talked about going into business some day," he says. "The last five years we talked about it more. You get magazines, you get Entrepreneur, you read all these things, but you never do much about it other than dream."
When they learned the store was available they decided to make it a learning experience. "No way we're going to get this store, but let's start the process." So they found out about finances, talked to an accountant and an attorney and soon found themselves negotiating.
Butalek had taken guitar lessons when he was in High school, and they had both taken piano lessons in the '80s. But the couple rediscovered music about six years before buying the store. They took middle eastern drumming lessons at CSMA and had such a good time that David joined the company band at Cbord. He played the conga, tambourine and backup vocals the first year, then replaced the keyboardist when she left. Then the bass player wanted to switch to guitar, so Butalek tried bass. I fell in love with that," he says, "and got my own bass." Teresa started jamming with the band, playing the congas, then joined it herself. They still play with the band, David on bass and Teresa on keyboard.
"We ended up buying keyboard, drums, bass guitar, congas... we bought at least half the store! That was our joke -- why don't we buy the rest of that store since we have most of it already?!," Butalek says. In fact their familiarity with the store has stood them in good stead, building on the personal touch and caring for customers. "If you talk about value-added, that's the kind of thing that we do," he explains. "We care about the customer. It's more of a long term relationship than a quick sale."
Customers are encouraged to try out different instruments before buying them, finding the one they feel most comfortable with. "We are a small mom and pop kind of store," Butalek says. "We care about the customers here. We spend the time with them to help them select the instrument that they want. Or sometimes people think they want something else, but when you ask enough questions, then without trying to rush any kind of sale, trying to make sure they are comfortable with the purchase itself, so that they are satisfied with it. We give people time to come back the next day. It's about finding out what the person is comfortable with in terms of what they want, and then after they buy to be able to give them the support."
That support may extend to lessons, or instrument repair. If an instrument needs a warranty repair, the staff will deal with the manufacturer for the customer and make sure it is fixed properly. The store also rents instruments and equipment. "That was one thing I didn't realize when I bought the store, the roots this store has and how many people depend on this store being here," Butalek says. "I had some idea of that, but it's a lot deeper than I ever thought. This store has obviously been part of the community for a very long time, not only in the retail side of it, but reaching out and helping with Ithaca Festival, the churches and schools around here."
This approach is shared by the couple's staff, all accomplished musicians. Assistant manager Chris Mazer plays rhythm guitar in a band, Don Pharaoh is a drummer, and A.J. Strauss plays keyboard. All play regularly in local bands, and Strauss plays piano weekly at The Antlers restaurant. They are enthusiastic about music and encouraging to customers. Pharaoh has continued a long tradition of drummers meeting at the store on Saturday mornings.
 Teresa and David Butalek
The store carries all kinds of instruments, with a strong selection acoustic piano, electronic keyboard and guitar. It is the premier source of drums in Ithaca, with a special room in the back where drummers can feel free to play and try out different instruments. Butalek gives beginning guitar lessons, and John Nolan offers advanced guitar. The store also offers repair work on almost any instrument. "We work with local contractors," Butalek says. "We have an excellent luthier. We have somebody that does all of the electronic work. Amplifiers, keyboards, anything electronic. We have a local person that does band instrument repair. Plus we have a piano technician."
Butalek says that he and Teresa have less time than before to play music, but they still love it. That enthusiasm is catching as they interact with customers. "To say that you play an instrument doesn't mean that you have to go out and play in public," Butalek says. "Some people do that. There are a lot of musicians who just want to hold the instrument because it's pretty, they want to play the instrument because it sounds great, it's soothing. That's kind of what happened to Teresa and I -- I forgot what an important part music was in my life. Rediscovering it seven years ago was very enlightening to me."
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