Phil, Tuning always comes first over shop work as the money is immediate and may not be there when you want it to be. I have had various shops through the years and them money comes but not immediate. Jim James Grebe Piano Tuning & Repair Member of M.P.T. R.P.T. of the P.T.G. for over 30 years. "Member of the Year" in 1989 Creator of Handsome Hardwood Caster Cups, Piano Benches, Writing Instruments (314) 845-8282 1526 Raspberry Lane Arnold, MO 63010 BECOME WHAT YOU BELIEVE! pianoman at accessus.net ----- Original Message ----- From: "Phil Bondi" <phil at philbondi.com> To: "Newtonville" <pianotech at ptg.org> Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2006 4:38 AM Subject: Time Management: Shop work and tuning appointments. > Hi all. > > I'll try to be as thorough as possible for my situation: > > My business is reaching a point where I need to make a decision on how to > handle the increased shop work and keep my stable of tuning clients. The > question is: > > For those of you, like myself, who work alone, how do you handle your time > for the shop and the tuning clients? > > My shop is now located here at my home (well, almost). That scenario has > changed in the last month. My shop use to be away from my home, but now > it's here. That's a biggie for me, since now I can just go down to the > shop and do some work without worrying about how dirty I might get working > in a shop and then going to see my clients..or vice versa. > > Here's my thought on what may work for me: > > Since I am an early riser, I'm thinking that I could use those early > morning hrs. to my advantage in the shop. My mind is usually freshest when > I first wake up (yes, I have a mind!) and then schedule tuning > appointments in the late morning/afternoon. The reason I feel this > scenario might work for me is because I tend to think that "when I come > home, I'm done" for the day..so if I schedule appointments in the morning > knowing that shop work still awaits me, I may not get as much done once I > 'get home'. > > I have been in this business for almost 10 years now, and I have felt this > evolution coming for awhile - now it's here - my shop is almost completely > moved from its old location to the new one - shop work will continue to > make its way towards me - and I tune on average 4 a day. > > Also, I don't want Ruth to feel she's married to a business. Her happiness > is very important to me. She understands this is going to be an evolution > process, and I have no intention of leaving her out of this loop. We need > time together, of course. She is not the early riser that I am. I make a > great cup of coffee!! > > Anyway, the shop work is going to increase even more this summer/fall when > I plan to introduce refinishing and touch-up to my shop skills. I'm not > there yet, but I plan on being there fairly soon. Some have said to me: > "Why do you want to learn refinishing?" - because there is a huge need for > it in this area (and I suspect alot of other areas also), and learning > this art will keep me in the shop and off the roads. I have had to turn > down alot of work over the years because I have not felt comfortable > charging people for refinishing when I know my skills are not where "I" > want them to be. Those of you that have been in that business know how to > treat a finish by looking and touching a piece. I admire that skill. It is > my intention to have the ability to approach that level of competency in > the near future, with of course, continuing education in that field. > > So - if you're still reading and wish to comment and make a > recommendation, I welcome it. I could have gone private with this, seeking > advice from past trusted sources, but there is such a wealth of knowledge > here in this forum that I do not want to leave out anyone who might offer > a scenario that could be beneficial to me..and others. > > -Phil Bondi(Fl) > >
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