Business Q&A: Bringe Music Still the Place to go for Young Music Students

Starting in 1956, generations of St. Petersburg students got their first musical instruments from Bringe Music. That tradition is alive and well at the Central Avenue shop today.

Co-owners Lynn Weigand and Joan Clinger continue to broaden the base of students in central Florida who use Bringe for their musical needs. The shop has 14 employees and more than 500 students for classes and private lessons.

The store itself is filled with every conceivable instrument, cable and music book. But it's the school, the service and most importantly, the rentals that keep Bringe (pronounced Bring-Gee) a familiar name with area students as their musical studies progress.

Originally founded by Walter Bringe and later owned by Bill Findeison, the business rents and services instruments to more than 100 schools and music stores as far away as Marion County and Orlando. The storefront offers a walk-in retail business, plus services online.

Lynn Weigand took a few moments out of a busy day last week to answer questions from Patch.

Q: Do you notice the generations change among your customers?

A. That's what we pride ourselves on. Our first exposure with people a lot of times is Johnny is in 5^th grade now and wants to play an instrument so they come here and rent from us. Then they have an older or younger brother who wants to play guitar so they'll take lessons at the school and the parents will get involved. It is generational an, "Oh, when I was a kid my parents rented from you."

Q: How did you get involved to the point where you decided to buy the store?

A. I started working here in 1981 as a band department person. Bill Findeison decided it was time to retire. He had the option to sell to an outside entity or offer the business it to us, so they structured it so we were able to do that. It's got its challenges but it's nice working for yourself.

Q: What kind of influence was Bill Findeison?

A. He was a mentor. Definitely a father figure for me. I learned a lot of things from him, business-wise, and he's an incredible musician. A tuba player and band director, he still leads the Second Time Arounders. He's a fabulous musician and music director, which doesn't always go hand in hand.

Q: How do you manage to expand the range of the business?
A. We work with other music stores, and they rent our instruments for us in locations that are convenient to their customers. We also have three road guys who travel, visit schools and do repairs so the rentals are the big thing for us. A lot of people don't have a clue; they walk in the door, see the music store and think this is it.

Q: Are people still buying music instruments in stores as much as they are online?

A. The Internet has affected every industry and every brick and mortar store regardless of what they're selling. That's one area in which I hope taxes do get [implemented] to make it easier. Even if we sell an instrument at the same pric, come on! Taxes help support our schools, our government and our roads and all the other things. I think it would improve our sales if the Internet was required to charge tax.

Q: Do you bother with celebrity appearances in the store?
A. We get a lot of people who come in from different bands. Famous bands who come in and go, "We're playing down here, do you have this or that?'" It's nice to have famous people come in but it's much more gratifying and fulfilling to be involved with the neighborhood and get as many people involved in music as possible because we think it's really good for society and good for individuals. There's nothing bad about music and everything is positive. Especially with young students. It really enhances their education.”