[CAUT] Jeanie's brain storm - was Boston changed to dealers...

[Jeannie Grassi]

Mark,
Please understand....my suggestions have nothing to do with PTG.  Rather, it
addresses manufacturers dealing more directly and effectively with their
pianos at the dealerships and encouraging dealers to use technicians who
have gone out of their way to get additional training.  

I was trying to come up with ideas of how that training could take place in
a more financially digestible way for everyone, technicians and
manufacturers alike.  PTG conventions can offer this and while I think
everyone seeking more training should be a member of PTG, classes at
Conventions are not only for PTG members.  (Non-members would pay more if
offered through PTG, of course.)

Practically speaking, I don't think we're in a position right now to require
anyone to do anything.  However, starting to act like it means something
certainly is a big step.  Why can't there be some accountability on
everyone's part for the quality of work offered.  Once again, I'm not
talking about PTG or RPT qualifications, I am speaking more broadly about
the quality of technical work done at dealerships and the input from
manufacturers.

jeannie

-----Original Message-----
From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Mark
Wisner
Sent: Saturday, November 21, 2009 10:03 PM
To: caut at ptg.org
Subject: [CAUT] Jeanie's brain storm - was Boston changed to dealers...

Jeanie,
Your "brainstorm" is a little like my wife's profession.  In order for
Stella to keep her license valid every year she has to pick up a specific
number of continuing education credits, which she earns by attending classes
at any one of a number of professional conventions, classes, seminars, etc.

I'm not seriously suggesting we can apply this to PGT at this time, but in a
world where pianos are more important than they are.....what a great way to
increase skills, event attendance, and importance to the "RPT" title. 

Mark Wisner



-----Original Message-----
>From: Diane Hofstetter <dianepianotuner at msn.com>
>Sent: Nov 21, 2009 9:39 PM
>To: College and University Technicians <caut at ptg.org>
>Subject: [CAUT]  Boston changed to dealers techs mfgrs and other such
>
>
>Jeannie, 
> 
> I like your "just brainstorming"!  It seems with the changes in the
economy it is becoming essential that the different parts of the piano
industry find a way to work together and support each other. Someone said on
one of these lists that one of the manufacturers lost 300 dealerships this
year.  That adds up to LOTS of pianos not sold, and even more tunings that
don't need to be done over the coming years. And, that's only one
manufacturer.
> 
>Diane Hofstetter
> 
> 
> 
>Jeannie said:
>  In fact, I had
>to turn down one of the Steinway sessions one year because I couldn't
afford
>it.  I think it would be a mistake to make it so pricey that even less
>people could attend.  
> 
>Manufacturer's classes at Conventions and Regional Conferences can be
>documented.  Paying a small fee and pre-registering for such a class, or
>series of classes might be doable for many.  In the past I've been willing
>to pay $50 or $60 for a special class and might even consider paying more
if
>it would save me the hotel and airfare of going to another facility.
>Attendees could be given some sort of certificate to attest to the fact
that
>they were there.  Instructors could actually give feedback as to whether
the
>student was on the right track or needed some additional training.  This
>certificate could be requested by dealers if the manufacturers expected
them
>to use such accredited technicians.    
> 
>Just brain storming...
>jeannie
>
>
>
>Diane Hofstetter