Here at the University of Alabama, we need to move one of our smaller grands frequently for functions in other buildings on the campus. For the past three years I have used the university moving crew to do all of the heavy lifting, while I supervise and help in other little ways. I am capable of doing the work myself, even at the ripe old age of 61, but it does hurt my back a little. I would first ask the piano technicians if they want to do the work. If they are hesitant, then I would not force them to do the work just to save the money. As others have indicated, the savings can be eaten up with lost work or even serious medical expenses and/or workmen's comp premiums. If the conservatory does not have a moving crew, then hiring the professional movers would be the only alternative. Willem Blees, RPT Piano Tuner/Technician School of Music University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL USA -----Original Message----- From: Brian Yankee <BYankee at newenglandconservatory.edu> To: caut at ptg.org Sent: Fri, 2 Jun 2006 12:14:38 -0400 Subject: [CAUT] Piano Techs as Piano Movers? Greetings. I am the Director of Performance Services at New England Conservatory in Boston. A member of our administration wants to have our Piano Technicians (whom I supervise) move our pianos (mostly a mix of Steinway B's, L's and M's) out of studios, into and out of the piano shop, etc. when the need arises. We have always hired an outside piano moving company to do all of our moves except for occasionally rolling an upright piano down a hallway from one room to another. What prompted this is a proposal to recarpet and paint seven faculty studios this summer. The proposal included an estimate of the cost to hire our movers to remove the pianos from the rooms, bring them to our piano shop for storage on their sides and then to return them to the studios once the work is done. Needless to say, the piano moving costs are considerable. Personally, I think it's inappropriate for piano techs to double as piano movers, but what do I know? I need a reality check: Is this something that piano techs at other colleges and universities do? If not, can you give me some good arguments why they shouldn't? Thanks. Brian Yankee Director of Performance Services New England Conservatory ******************************************************************* Brian S. Yankee Director of Performance Services New England Conservatory 290 Huntington Ave. Boston, MA 02115 Tel: 617-585-1271 Fax: 617-585-1270
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