[pianotech] A new use for piano benches

[Richard W. Bushey]

Bill,

Great advise.

I haven't been bit yet, but have had a few come close.  But they always make me nervous. I've have had quite a few licks in the face while down on the floor though. That's not as painful, but is quite annoying sometimes.

Gotta love the comments customers will say when you walk in.  Just 3 days ago, as I entered the home, she had 3 or 4 dogs barking quite a bit and she said to me, yes I have several dogs, they'll bark alot, but they won't bother you.....to which I think...says who.  I seriously wonder how they think we tune these things?

I had another a couple weeks ago where the dogs had been outside, but a bad storm was moving in, I was trying to finish tuning unisons and get on my way, and she brought her 2 or 4 large dogs in the house and put them in their cages in the next room to me.  As I decended the scale from C8, I came in the range of D6 or 7 and I struck a chord with the dogs. Must have been one of those partials above human hearing that set them off, but off they went.  I tried to finish that note, but was near impossible.  So I just paused for a moment to let them calm down.  Of course they started up when I did, so I paused again.  Finally someone came down the stairs and went in to set with them for the remaining 15 min. or so until I completed the piano. Every so often, I'd hear them start up, and a "shhhh" from the room next door.

You had mentioned pets getting into your case.  I'll have to keep your caution to the customer in mind from now on, with the chemicals and such that we carry.  I have had one time where the dog, while I wasn't looking started snooping in my open case on the floor, just as I turned I saw him walk off with something (rolled up temperment strip or felt mute or something).  He walked down the hall, so instead of following, I calmly called the client in from the next room and mentioned that the dog had walked off with something (assuring her it was no big deal and I wasn't upset or anything), and as she approached from the other room, the dog returned and placed one of his toys in my box, in the same place he took my mute from.  Aw...how sweet. Take a gift, give a gift!  
I got my mute back, but yup, you gotta watch 'em!

Little boys especially are curious about all the shiny tools and gadgets in the case. I usually stop and acknowledge them and their curiousity, show them a couple things, and they usually are shy enough then to back off, since what they wanted was to snoop in private while I was busy.  Occaisionally, they will persist and I have to make sure mom keeps a closer eye on the tike.

What I'm most fearful of is them getting into a broken string piece or picking up cutters. This one little dude last week went straight for the starrett string cutters.  I quickly warned him "that one will bite!"

Love the little ones, but gotta keep them safe!

Richard W. Bushey
Richard's Piano Service
www.RichardsPianoService.com
Rbushey at RichardsPianoService.com
573-765-9903
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Bill Fritz 
  To: pianotech at ptg.org 
  Sent: Friday, April 20, 2012 7:48 AM
  Subject: Re: [pianotech] A new use for piano benches


  Dogs & cats can be a pain in the rear, when one is trying to tune... and one never knows what the little (or big) squirt will do.  Same w/ little kids.  I love kids & dogs, but not while I'm focused on tuning.

  So when I come to a house, I'll pet the dog for a bit if it seems friendly...  "I came here to pet you, not tune any piano!"

  And then I tell the customer a story:  

  "We carry sharp tools & nasty chemicals to keep pianos working their best.  I keep my chemicals capped & sealed when not in use, and tools generally in the case.  But a Tuner I know was in the middle of a job and didn't see the curious cat come over and start licking some nasty stuff.  The cat got real sick and had to go to the vet for moderate level care.  I just want you to know about this, so we can protect them (incl kids)."

  At that point 99% of the owners move their pet (or kid) into another room w/ a gate, and I can peacefully & efficiently work on their piano.  They sometimes thank me for my cautiousness.

  Bill Fritz, St Louis

        From: paul bruesch <paul at bruesch.net> 
        To: pianotech at ptg.org 
        Subject: Re: [pianotech] A new use for piano benches 
        Date: Thu, 19 Apr 2012 16:29:39 -0500 


  I'll say it. I do not like pit bulls. And I'm tempering my language. 

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