how long?

[Tvak@AOL.COM]

List,

Next week I will be attending my first PTG convention, having joined this 
year.  I joined the PTG because piano tuning has become a bigger part of my 
life (and income) and I seek to improve my skills.  I want to go full time 
and I have to admit that I have become impatient as of late with progress 
toward that goal. 

I was spoiled last fall, when I had  6-10 tunings per week.  Finally, I 
thought, it's starting to happen!  But this spring has been highly 
disappointing:   5 tunings in March, 17 tunings in April, 10 in May, and only 
8 in June.  Past summers have been nearly clientless.  (2 or 3/month)  

Now I know this question is unanswerable in any quantifiable or finite 
manner, but how long does it take to build up a clientele to support oneself? 
 I noticed in the PTG survey that 33% of those surveyed earned less than $33K 
annually.  Are my expectations simply too high?

I should provide some details to my situation:  I've been listed in the 
Yellow Pages for 3 years. 

I do send out reminder cards when a year has passed, but response varies 
greatly, it seems.  

I have had evaluations by 4 different RPTs who were all very positive about 
my work.  (One hired me to assist him at peak times; another passed several 
clients to me and continues to send me referrals.)  Our chapter had Associate 
Tuning Evaluations in May, and the 2 RPTs assigned to me encouraged me to 
take the RPT exam, which I plan to take next year at the convention in 
Chicago.  (I have to mention this because I don't think the quality of my 
work is the problem.  Not that I'm satisfied with myself... )

I work at a piano store one day a week where I do floor tunings and preps, 
but I didn't count floor tunings in my monthly totals.  

So whaddyathink?  Am I just impatient?   How long does it take to build up a 
clientele to support one's self?

Tom Sivak
Chicago PTG Associate