Machine will not power on, am I missing something basic or...

[Drunkenclam]

it stays in attract mode til you get a ball in the start (center bottom) pocket, then there will be music and it will spin reels

Or cheat. Open the front (glass) and drop a ball straight into the start pocket. Make sure that you get a 3 or 4 ball pay out and the reels. LCD screen or real start to spin.
As Owen says, That will take it out of attract mode.