[CAUT] Piano Techs as Piano Movers?

[wimblees at aol.com]

Here at the University of Alabama, we need to move one of our smaller 
grands frequently for functions in other buildings on the campus. For 
the past three years I have used the university moving crew to do all 
of the heavy lifting, while I supervise and help in other little ways. 
I am capable of doing the work myself, even at the ripe old age of 61, 
but it does hurt my back a little.

I would first ask the piano technicians if they want to do the work. If 
they are hesitant, then I would not force them to do the work just to 
save the money. As others have indicated, the savings can be eaten up 
with lost work or even serious medical expenses and/or workmen's comp 
premiums. If the conservatory does not have a moving crew, then hiring 
the professional movers would be the only alternative.

Willem Blees, RPT
Piano Tuner/Technician
School of Music
University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL USA

-----Original Message-----
From: Brian Yankee <BYankee at newenglandconservatory.edu>
To: caut at ptg.org
Sent: Fri, 2 Jun 2006 12:14:38 -0400
Subject: [CAUT] Piano Techs as Piano Movers?

Greetings.

I am the Director of Performance Services at New England Conservatory 
in Boston. A member of our administration wants to have our Piano 
Technicians (whom I supervise) move our pianos (mostly a mix of 
Steinway B's, L's and M's) out of studios, into and out of the piano 
shop, etc. when the need arises. We have always hired an outside piano 
moving company to do all of our moves except for occasionally rolling 
an upright piano down a hallway from one room to another.

What prompted this is a proposal to recarpet and paint seven faculty 
studios this summer. The proposal included an estimate of the cost to 
hire our movers to remove the pianos from the rooms, bring them to our 
piano shop for storage on their sides and then to return them to the 
studios once the work is done. Needless to say, the piano moving costs 
are considerable.

Personally, I think it's inappropriate for piano techs to double as 
piano movers, but what do I know? I need a reality check: Is this 
something that piano techs at other colleges and universities do? If 
not, can you give me some good arguments why they shouldn't?

Thanks.

Brian Yankee
Director of Performance Services
New England Conservatory


*******************************************************************
Brian S. Yankee
Director of Performance Services
New England Conservatory
290 Huntington Ave.
Boston, MA 02115
Tel: 617-585-1271
Fax: 617-585-1270