CD ROM Project Rant

[Richard O. Snelson]

As one of the newbe's on the street, I felt a good library and PTG membership was
one of the most valuable assets I could have. I now have a "nearly" complete set of
the journals and a large collections of books. I've spent well over $1,000 for the
books and journals and use them daily in my new piano business. I'm missing a few
journals and hope to get some help filling those back years. (I'll send a list of
the missing.) I do have some doubles and would gladly help others out by trading.

In the last 6 months I've been to the PA. and Salt Lake conventions, spend several
day with the great Jim Coleman in Tempe and will be in KC and then on to Minn with
Randy Potter for a week. I've completely remodeled a 1200 sq foot metal building to
have a show room and piano repair shop. I've filled it with 7 pianos that I have
purchase so I can learn on my turf.  Now its read it, do it..read it again to be
sure and continue..

I'm lucky because I'm doing this while still working full time as an electrical
engineer. This paid the startup cost. My wife is a little sore because I've used up
all my vacation with Guild functions.


Here's my point,  there are new folks willing to take the steps necessary to learn
this business the correct way. I pushed to join PTG as quickly as a chapter would
let me. They were very cautious about new members?  For me the most valuable tool in
my new business world is PTG and its members.. Thanks to those that are helping..
Jim Coleman,  John Baird, John Dewey and others.

I do have a full set of the reprint books that I would sell at a bargin price. Since
I now have the journals I won't need the books.

Richard Oliver Snelson
Associate Member PTG
Oliver Piano Services
Clinton, IL

Richard Brekne wrote:

> Well,.. lets see.. what do we have here..
>
> Several fingers have been raised about selling out years of experience too
> cheaply. Points have been made about enabling any hobby-ist to compete, or do it
> himself. And points have been made about newbies not paying their "dues" (and I
> am refering to more then just the annual PTG membership dues).
>
> Seems to me that the first point is the most valid. One definately does not want
> to give this away to cheaply. If 100 bucks is too cheap well ok make it more.
> Its certainly worth more.
>
> As far as the hobby-ist is concerned. I say bring em on. I have cleaned up
> through years on these types of guys. There are usually two types. The guy who
> tries it once and blows it big time, then gets tired and does it himself on
> something else, like his VW or something. The other guy is the one who figures
> he can make a few fast bucks by reading a book, buying a machine and calling
> himself a pro.
>
> Now I am the first to get angry at some half bit fraud who goes around stealing
> peoples money by panning himself off as a piano tech and in the process wrecking
> peoples pianos. But this is a problem that cannot ever really solved.
> Fortunatly, these guys are eating at the bottom (of the latrine) end of the
> market, and even then eventually dissapear often as not. In any case I cant see
> them as any threat to me. Good buisness sense, hard work, reasonable marketing
> and I am assured of a nice fat living. The only competition I "fear" is the kind
> that does me the most good. Another professional, who strives to do the best
> he/she can. I gots to keep on my toes to meet that kind of "threat". And
> besides, customers who use these guys are most often (tho not always) the kind
> of customers I prefer to do without.
>
> As far as newbies paying their dues is concerned. They will in time, they most
> certainly will. And hopefully when they reach the age of 40 years or more
> experience they will be just as willing to help the new generation learn the
> ropes as the present one is. You guys who have created the PTG, helped it grow,
> and kept it going have something to be very proud of. And from one who has
> stayed on the sidelines all to long (for reasons I will not get into) I tip my
> hat off to you. If I could re-do the past 25 years in this regard I would, but
> past is past. The point is you all have something to be very proud of. Your
> offering of knowledge to your fellow humans may or may not be misused, but that
> does not take away from the honour you bestow upon yourselves by shareing what
> you know.
>
> There is no form of protectionist policy that in the end is anything more then
> self destructive. In the end a positivist attitude will accomplish more, both
> for your own income, and the furthering of the art. It always does.
>
> Richard Brekne