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Hi John,
Thanks for the encouraging e-mail. I'm sorry if I misled anyone in =
thinking that i"m out to trick customers. E-mail is unfortunately that =
way, can't put tone ore xpression in it.
As for churches, no such luck. One of my tech friends has most of the =
churches, and I've talked to him about tuning them because he is tired =
of driving to our community. I do have some income at least and we're =
not starving at least. God is providing, and we pray on a daily basis =
about this tuning. He continues to help me improve my skills. i'm =
curious, what is a strobe tuner? Is that one of those electronic =
chromatic tuners that are real cheap under 100 bucks? =20
Marshall
----- Original Message -----=20
From: John Formsma=20
To: Pianotech List=20
Sent: Wednesday, January 18, 2006 5:12 PM
Subject: Re: One Piano Per....??
Marshall,
Here's what you said originally, " I'm seriously thinking about =
calling churches etc and saying, 'Hello, I'm calling to schedule your =
piano tuning', and seeing if the take me up on it, or say, 'Oh we have a =
tuner already.' "
What you wrote sounds like you are trying to trick a hapless secretary =
into thinking you are the regular tuner for the church who is calling to =
set up his regular tuning. You may not have intended it to sound this =
way when you wrote it, but that is how it appears to me.
I can understand your frustration about needing money at this time, =
but if you want to build a legitimate and lasting piano service =
business, I would not do it this way. You have to begin somewhere, and =
right now, it looks as if you are at the very bottom working your way =
up. There is nothing wrong with beginning. But there is everything wrong =
with expecting to get tunings immediately (and for full price) when your =
skills are yet unknown to most.
How about going to the area churches and tuning a few for almost =
nothing? At least you would be getting experience, and I bet churches =
would be willing to let you do some work, especially if they understand =
your need. Many churches have programs to help those in need, and it's =
not like you're asking for a handout. You are wanting to work. Even if =
you could negotiate a tuning for $15-20, it beats sitting at home =
earning nothing.
There is a blind tuner in my area who got one of "my" churches this =
way, so I know it worked for him. The music director told me that his =
work is not as good as mine, but they are using him to "help him out." =
But you have to know what you're doing and prove your skills or you will =
never last long term. Another newbie is out there turning pins (probably =
with a Strobe tuner from the way they sound), and has tuned some of "my" =
regulars. No big deal, I'm neither worried nor bitter because I know =
that without good training, they will never last long term. Chances are =
I'll get the customer again, and if I don't, there is plenty of work for =
me to do right now. I'm working on improving my skills and adding new =
things to the list of what I can do, so I'll probably be correcting =
their mistakes for quite some time. ;-)
Proverbs 14:23 says, "In all labor there is profit, But mere talk =
leads only to poverty." You cannot talk your way into work. As Dave =
Ramsey says, you have to leave the cave, kill something, and drag it =
home. ;-) Hey, I know it's tough. I don't like getting out of my comfort =
zone either. But if you want it, you gotta work hard to get it and keep =
it.
Hope this is helpful, Marshall.
John Formsma
pianotune05 wrote:=20
Hi John,
Why is it dishonest to call and schedule to tune a piano? If the =
have a tuner, they'll tell me, and have told me. I guess I'm not seeing =
the connection. I'm offering a service to tune a piano. As for =
exploding over night, I agree, it won't do that, but in a few weeks woud =
be OK. =20
Marshall
----- Original Message -----=20
From: John Formsma=20
To: Pianotech List=20
Sent: Wednesday, January 18, 2006 10:23 AM
Subject: Re: One Piano Per....??
Marshall,
This might work short term, but think about how it might affect =
your reputation down the road. I wouldn't want this to happen to me, and =
would feel misled and wouldn't use you again. I think it's a fast way to =
get a shady reputation.
Regarding churches, why not something like this? Make an =
appointment to meet with the music director PERSONALLY and explain your =
situation -- that you're new and wanting to gain experience. Then ask if =
you can tune some of the older pianos, either for free or a reduced =
rate. (Around here, there are many infrequently tuned pianos that sit in =
Sunday School rooms.) Ask the director to evaluate your work, and =
negotiate a rate correspondent with your abilities. I'm thinking maybe =
about $25-40 per piano, but I'm guessing because I don't know your =
abilities. This way, you at least get some money coming in and/or you =
are gaining valuable experience while getting your foot in the door. =
And, you will have an honest reputation. If you do good work, you will =
get some referrals eventually.=20
Don't expect your business to explode overnight.
John Formsma
pianotune05@comcast.net wrote:=20
James,=20
I figure I could get some tunings that way by perhaps catching a =
few off guard. They'll schedule me and I'm in. I'd hate to step on =
toes but I guess that's why they make steel tipped shoes. Look out, =
Marshall's comming!
Marshall
-------------- Original message --------------=20
From: "James Grebe" <pianoman@accessus.net>=20
> That sounds like a good cold call tactic.=20
> James=20
> James Grebe Piano Tuning & Repair Member of M.P.T.=20
> R.P.T. of the P.T.G. for over 30 years. "Member of the Year" =
in 1989=20
> Creator of Handsome Hardwood Caster Cups, Piano Benches, =
Writing=20
> Instruments=20
> (314) 845-8282 1526 Raspberry Lane Arnold, MO 63010=20
> BECOME WHAT YOU BELIEVE!=20
> pianoman@accessus.net=20
> ----- Original Message -----=20
> From: "pianotune05"=20
> To: "Pianotech List"=20
> Sent: Tuesday, January 17, 2006 8:44 PM=20
> Subject: Re: One Piano Per....??=20
>=20
>=20
> My curiosity is, if one guy has all of the churchs, another =
has all of the=20
> schools, another has Not! re Dam, the other has another =
college, and yet=20
> another has IUSB, plus their loyal customer base plus the =
other tunertechs=20
> whom I do not know, how do I=20
> a. keep from stepping on toes?=20
> b. find customers that they don' t have if the store the =
only one in town=20
> cannot hire me?=20
> Marshall=20
> ps. Maybe I need some sort of low vision device in order to =
see these so=20
> called pianos that are out there not being tuned. I'm =
seriously thinking=20
> about calling churches etc and saying, "Hello, I'm calling =
to schedule your=20
> piano tuning", and seeing if the take me up on it, or say, =
"Oh we have a=20
> tuner already."=20
> (grrr pulling hair out saying how much I hate this =
community!)=20
>=20
> ----- Original Message -----=20
> From: Brian Doepke=20
> To: 'An open list for piano technicians'=20
> Sent: Tuesday, January 17, 2006 4:21 PM=20
> Subject: One Piano Per....??=20
>=20
&! gt;=20
> What is the average number of households that own a piano?=20
>=20
>=20
>=20
> 1 in 75 ? 1 in 100 ?=20
>=20
>=20
>=20
> This is not a quiz, I am just asking.=20
>=20
>=20
>=20
> Brian P. Doepke=20
>=20
>=20
>=20
> AAA Piano Works, Inc.=20
>=20
> 260-432-2043=20
>=20
> 260-417-1298=20
>=20
>=20
>=20
>=20
> _______________________________________________=20
> Pianotech list info: =
https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
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