RE Who This List is For

[Dennis Arden]

>----------------original post---------------
You've missed the point altogether. Certainly if you knew Jack Reeves, the man
>who started this list, you would be aware that an elitist attitude did not
>foster the beginning and growth of this list. Just as a car mechanic who
>services a fleet of commercial vehicles for industry would have different
>problems and priorities than a mechanic who services vehicles for individuals,
>so do we institutional  piano technicians have different priorities and
>problems than the home piano technician. Just to mention a few: coping with
>heavy use instruments, anal attention to voicing problems, dealing with
>recalcitrant administrations, etc., etc. To be successful at either discipline
>requires expertise, hard work,  and creativity; and neither is "simpler" than
>the other.
>
>Ken Sloane, Oberlin Conservatory
>
-------------------reply---------------------

Dear Mr. Sloane,

My comments were derrived from statements that I may have misconstrewed-as
you point out.  My intent was certainly not to insult or downplay (another
bad pun, sorry) the differences between "garden variety" technicians and
those who actively participate in a much more grueling atmosphere as is
presented
by institutional instruments. My comments were made as a mere suggestion
that techs who work in studio, live stage and commercial venues (such as
myself) do have the same type of trying circumstances that you describe.
Albeit, I am sure they vary to some degree. But you and I both know that
musicians, administrators and the like are extremely hard to please. No
matter how good we are. In brief, what I was attempting to suggest was that
we can all benefit from the greatly varying circumstances, climates and
instruments we come accross.  If Mr. Reeves had not wanted the technical
community at large to be involved here, it may have behooved him to restrict
listing via the many search engines on the net (which is, of course how I
came upon it).

In any event, my apologies if I was less than concise with my statements.
The real question is; Who are the "members" and who are the "guests" on this
list?

Sincerely,

Dennis Arden, (currently MCA & UA)