Do_It-Yourself Assistance?

[Delwin D Fandrich]

Robert Goodale wrote:

> I came across a rather interesting old business card in a piano
> today.  The card simply says "Piano Tuner".  The scarry part is
> what comes next....
>
> * TUNING
> * DO-IT-YOURSELF ASSISTANCE
> * ONSIGHT REPAIRS
> * ADJUSTING
>
> I'm not sure what "Do-It-Yourself Assistance" means but I'm
> pretty certain I don't  want to find out.  I am assuming this
> person is not a guild member.  <;-)
>
> Rob Goodale, RPT

-------------------------------------------

Rob,

Why not?  And I would hope that he or she is a Guild member.  The chances of
the "Piano Tuner" giving good and accurate advice and information would be
improved somewhat.

I've helped a number of talented -- and one or two not-so-talented -- amateurs
repair their own pianos over the years.  Some have done well, others not.
Usually, if the work did not come out well, I've then gotten the job of fixing
it right.  (They remembered me because I was the one that was kind to them and
didn't ridicule their efforts.)  If the job went well then the owner has this
wonderful sense of accomplishment and ends up with a both a working piano and
a much better understanding of what the instrument is all about.

And I ended up with the fees I earned from consulting with him/her -- you do
charge your normal hourly rates for consulting, don't you? -- and helping out
over the really rough spots.  And I usually ended up with a tuning customer.

Regards,

Del