Full of themselves

[Jay/Deb Mercier]

One question:  Who doesn't deal with people like Rob has described? In any
profession - piano teaching, car sales, banking, machinist, piano tuning,
whatever the profession, there will always be the people that brag up and
down how wonderful they are.  I run into these people on the street, in my
home and at a piano tuning client's home.  I take them with a grain of salt
and ignore them.  The "I'm only into myself" syndrome is an unfortunate
aspect of a few people that we can only hope will start thinking about
others someday.

Jay
mercier@minnewaska.com



>Hi all,
>
>I thought I'd bring up a topic here that has been bothering me for a
>while. Lately I have been dealing with quite a few "professional
>pianists". Sure, they are nice people and are at peace with the world.
>My concern and frustration, however, is the mind reading and having the
>correct responses and disposition to satisfy their egos.
>
>Example #1: A couple of weeks ago I was called on referal to work on a
>well respected pianists brand new Mason & Hamlin BB. He just had it
>shipped out here all the way from New York where he had picked it out.
>This was after trying out dozens of pianos via numerous dealers
>including S&S Hall. Upon arrival I inspected the piano and assured him
>of what a fine instrument he had purchased. He then proceeded to tell me
>all about how he had performed at such & such hall in N.Y., lectured
>here, toured there, all about the music he has had published, and so on
>and on. I consider this acceptable of course, as I think that any
>accomplished artist has the right to brag a little. I assure him that I
>am professional and have extensive concert experience and am used to
>working with respected pianists.
>
>Other than the obvious needs of a new piano one of his primary concerns
>was a number of sluggish keys. He immediately began telling me all about
>"what the problem might be" and suggested I look at this and that. I
>acknowleged his interest and politely told him that I intended to do a
>complete assessment to determine exactly what the problem was. He then
>began educating me on "what I shouln't do" based on his interpretaion of
>what his former tech in N.Y. told him. It wasn't long before I had
>isolated the problem to tight front key bushings. I explained that some
>light easing would cure the problem. In a panic he picked up the phone
>and called the dealer in N.Y. and told them what I was "planning to do
>to his piano", wanting to know if this is REALY what should be done. In
>the next room I could hear him explaining once again to the dealer about
>how professional he is and that he was not about to let "some guy ease
>the keys on my piano". Sheeesh!!!  Eventually he passes the phone to me
>and I talk to the dealer. We discuss the problem and it is agreed that I
>know what I'm talking about.
>
>Very slowly and carefully I talk him through the proccess and allow him
>to closely watch what I'm doing. Eventually he calms a bit and in about
>an hour I have his piano back
>together and working perfectly. He then tells me one more time about how
>great he is and that he expects nothing but the best because he's
>"professional".
>
>EXAMPLE #2: A couple of days ago I got a similar call from a
>"professionl" with a rebuilt S&S A. I talked to him this evening and he
>is already telling me about how great he is. The laughable part about
>this is that he wants the work done yesterday and decided he just
>couldn't wait for me to check my messages and to call him back. Instead
>he called a local "tooner" (the polite way of saying it knowing the guys
>reputation), who is now scheduled to tune the piano tomorrow. Now he
>says he still wants ME to come and work on his piano afterward. <pulling
>out hair>. I just can't wait to see the piano after the fact and here
>all about what a great pianist he is all over again. He has already told
>me about how he doesn't like the sound of our new (highly praised) D in
>our hall here because "the piano isn't old enough". Aaaaaague!!!
>
>I guess what this all boils down to is that there are many pianists out
>there who think they are Gods gift to pianos. They seem to beleive that
>they have a built-in radar that can detect a good piano from a bad piano
>and a good tech from a bad tech. They also know everything there is to
>know about what is wrong with their piano, which if were true,
>controdicts why they called me. SOOOOO, for those of you who deal with
>these kinds of people regularly, what kind of techniques do you use to
>keep them in their box and not drive you crazy? How do you keep them out
>of your way while you are working? I think I'm handling myself pretty
>well in these cases but I would like to hear from other's experiences
>and diplomacy. Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
>
>Rob Goodale, RPT
>Northern Arizona U.
>Flagstaff, AZ
>