who is sheldon smith?

[Brian Henselman]

Paul,

You make some excellent points here.  I agree that it is unlikely that a
high caliber technician will leave his or her successful business elsewhere
just to move to the Bay area.  Also, considering the caliber of technicians
in your area, you are very wise to suggest that he try other techs nearby.
It would also be a good idea for Mr. Creasy to seek recommendations from the
list for good technicians in the Bay area.

However, I still don't believe that it is demeaning to "any" of us if he
should wish to locate a technician from outside your area.  Yeah, It's
pretty unrealistic, and I for one have been burned by clients seeking an
"expert" from out of town, but it's still not "demeaning" unless we choose
to take it personally.

BTW: I think that Richard Brenke said just what you just said quite
artfully.  The Bay area is full of great technicians, and hopefully this
"gap" will be filled soon by the local talent.  I personally believe that is
Mr. Creasy's best chance for success.  It would be pretty nuts for someone
to drop a successful business elsewhere, and move to an area that has so
much talent, in the hope of surpassing his or her success where her or she
just came from.  However, San Francisco has so much culture and flavor to
offer.  Maybe a young "wiz" of a tech would be interested, but I doubt that
is what Mr. Creasy is looking for.

Thanks,
Brian Henselman, RPT

-----Original Message-----
From: Paul S. Larudee <larudee@pacbell.net>
To: pianotech@ptg.org <pianotech@ptg.org>
Date: Wednesday, October 13, 1999 9:22 AM
Subject: Re: who is sheldon smith?


>Brian Henselman wrote:
>>
>> Paul,
>>
>> Mr. Creasy is probably quite aware that there are "other" technicians in
the
>> area.  Each has his or her own abilities, experience, and personality.
It
>> also makes perfect sense to me that he was posting this information here
>> @pianotech in the hope of finding someone that most compatibly matched
Mr.
>> Smith's client base.
>
>Sorry, Brian.  While Mr. Creasy may be aware that other technicians do
>business here, his reaction to the loss of Sheldon has been not to try
>any of them, but to assume that none of them measure up.  How would he
>know that the technician he is seeking is not already here?  How would
>he recognize the right one from his internet search?  Why would a top
>notch technician risk leaving his/her client base to come to the Bay
>Area on the chance that he/she will meet the standards of Mr. Creasy and
>Sheldon's other former clients?
>>
>> I for one think that Mr. Creasy is intitled to look anywhere he wants to
>> find a suitable replacement.  Again, it's starting to look like we're
>> "tomcats" marking territory when techs complain that Mr. Creasy is
looking
>> for "greener grass" outside of his backyard.
>
>Of course he's entitled to look where he wants.  It's not a matter of
>being territorial.  However, it's demeaning to the rest of us who live
>and work here to assume that no one else in this area can do the job.  I
>can understand the frustration of someone who has gone through one
>mediocre technician after another, but as far as I can tell that's not
>the case.  Did Mr. Creasy ask this list for recommendations of
>technicians in the Bay Area?  No, he makes the assumption that we are
>all unworthy.
>>
>> If I'm not mistaken, this e-mail list is meant to share information.  It
>> seems very reasonable that he would seek to use this list to advertise
this
>> position and client base.  I hope that we all start to chill-out about
this
>> title/territory stuff soon, and stop being so defensive.  If Mr. Sheldon
>> Smith was as special a member of the PTG as his clients and co-workers
>> claim, then we should pride aside and honor Mr. Smith's passing by not
>> attacking his clients/colleagues, their motives, or their methods.
>
>Yes, it is reasonable to advertise the position and client base.  What
>is interesting about Mr. Creasy's advertisement is that excludes
>existing Bay Area technicians.  Is it unreasonable for me to question
>the basis for doing so?
>
>Paul S. Larudee, RPT
>Richmond, CA