[pianotech] undisciplined kids

[johnparham at piano88.com]

David,

Almost always, I start speaking in a little after tone so the parent
can't hear me. The parent has always ended the madness by taking charge
of their child.

-John Parham

> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: [pianotech] undisciplined kids
> From: David Nereson <da88ve at gmail.com>
> Date: Fri, January 04, 2013 4:52 pm
> To: pianotech at ptg.org
>
>
> The customer calls and wants an assessment of their piano, how much work
> it will need, what condition it's in, how much it will cost.  So you go and
> do your estimate and the dreaded 7 year old comes in and starts pounding on
> the keys.  Then you call the parent to give them your assessment, and while
> you're trying to talk to them, they *allow the kid to keep pounding away on
> the keys.  They make absolutely no effort to make the kid stop *so you can
> hear yourself think, hear the customer, and speak in a normal tone of
> voice.  I just don't get it!  ("Oh, we can't stifle his creativity; we
> can't interrupt his precious expression of musical feeling.").
>      I glance back and forth between the client and the kid, giving every
> possible body language indication that it's *really *hindering my ability
> to communicate with them and remain professional.  But no, he's just an
> innocent kid; it would be inhumane to make him stop. Today I almost reached
> over to sweep his arms away from the keys, but stopped myself.   I just
> don't get it.  If I were the insurance adjuster or tax accountant, or even
> Grandpa, would they let the kid bang away like that when we're trying to
> talk?  AAArrrggghhh!!@#%#$%^#^#@!!!!!
>     --David Nereson, RPT