[CAUT] pushing pianos

[Kent Swafford]

How far is a long distance in this case?

Perhaps I can reinforce what Ron says.

Here at UMKC, the pro theater company borrows pianos at times. I insist that I move the piano by myself. They usually ignore me and gather 5-9 guys around the piano and move it for me. They once moved a D off a 2 inch platform, keyboard first; as they were half-way down the hall, they "didn't do anything; the pedals simply fell off." They had broken the lyre off our #1 piano.

I would suggest that the minimum precaution be to remove the lyre before starting the move. If you cannot remove the lyre, then at least move the piano over thresholds and such _tail-first_, so that you will push the lyre against its support rods if it happens to make contact.

The fewer people pushing, the better; one or two should be sufficient.. Really. Move at about a third the speed you would expect to be appropriate. You cannot steer or brake a fast-moving piano.


Kent


On Jul 21, 2010, at 12:10 PM, Ron Nossaman wrote:

> reggaepass at aol.com wrote:
>> In a few days, I will be moving a piano on a stage dolly a long distance with a group of high school piano students.  We are not turning it on its side on a skid board, but simply pushing it.  What collective wisdom should I be to impart to these impressionable youths about how the do-s and don't-s of pushing around pianos?
> 
> Inadvisable. If there's ANY way not to, don't.
> 
> If not:
> 
> Supervise! Someone of legal age needs to be there to fill out the accident report paperwork.
> 
> Lid down, fall board closed. I know, but it's not necessarily obvious to high school kids, some of whom have likely never thought before.
> 
> No more than three touching the piano at any given time. Trade off as they get tired, with the rest of the crew over there out of the way. Steering and speed control by mob whim can quickly become the end of piano function as we know it. Also dangerous for the moving units, whether they understand that or not.
> 
> Walking speed is at least twice as fast as you ought to be going. Enforce it.
> 
> Approaching thresholds, expansion joints, or any surface discontinuity, they will universally attempt to speed up and jump it. If you could find someone foolish enough to bet against it, you could make some easy money. The problem is that dollies don't jump obstacles. Make them slow down instead. Taze one periodically if necessary.
> 
> Lyre clearance - lyre clearance - lyre clearance etc.
> 
> There's more, but I'm starting to get the shakes...
> Ron N