The TOTL arranger buyer is generally older (over 40 at least), and has the time and the money to afford a hobby like arranger playing.

It will always be that way for TOTL and to a lesser extent, MOTL.

And, the manufacturers (at least the ones that still make the TOTL/MOTL) are changing...incrementally, but changing just enough to keep up with the new crop of TOTL/MOTL buyers.

You are considering the arranger as a tool...most buyers treat it as a hobby and it's a luxury item for them.

I'm pretty sure I'm selling more arrangers than several years ago, but perhaps all the clinics and demos are helping...people will buy if they know there will be a follow-up, and also, you have to present the arranger properly; most salespeople don't know how to sell an arranger, so it's up to the manufacturer to present their products in the best light...hence the clinician/demonstrator.

By the time the next generation will be in the position to buy a TOTL arranger, the product will have evolved to meet their wants....that's also the value of incremental changes.

You like major changes before you buy...you represent a tiny portion of the arranger buying public...remember, it's a home product first, and a tool for some of us, second...a far second at that.

I think arrangers will continue to be made for some time...the entry level ones are still geared for the target buyer I mentioned above; just the older buyer with less to spend...young people don't buy arrangers, and most likely, never will...they aren't cool. When they get older, cool won't matter as much.

Arrangers don't have to be cool...they just need to change incrementally to suit the target buyer, and so far, they've been doing just fine.

Think of this. You were in your 40's (or older) before you started using an arranger...that's the target market.


Ian

[This message has been edited by ianmcnll (edited 01-19-2010).]