Hi Bill: How reminiscent of many Concert prep times I have experienced. The way you write really shows the pressure one is up against in a situation like that. To some it may seem like you are advocating sloppy work, but actually this is the best way to do it under these circumstances. It can make the difference between success and failure in a concert. My personal feeling is that in a situation like this the charges need to be adjusted upward considerably. Kinda like comparing the charges at an Emergency hospital room to the charges for an office visit with the doctor. Venues which allow their piano to get in this kind of shape need to have a little shock therapy. They seem to understand the $ signs better than any calm presentation of the needs of concert piano preparation in advance. Once you really get their attention, they are more likely to have these things taken care of ahead of time. Otherwise, they will just get another technician. But, who needs them anyway? I like the sign which I once saw in an office: "Your lack of planning is not my emergency." I hate being brought in the last minute to have to cover for their lack of adequate care of their instrument. But when you are there, this approach will bail them out. Then an appointment needs to be made to come back later and refine all of the regulation and voicing.. Jim C. Sr.
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