"should I stay or should I go?"

[James Grebe]

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This discussion reminds me of a tuning I did at the Ambassador Theater =
in St. Louis in the 80's.  I was hired by the promoter to tune a "B" for =
the rock group, "Queen".  I was about half way through the tuning and =
here comes Freddie Mercury beginning a sound check practice.  He was =
very close to me tuning.  I thought he would go away.  I asked if he =
would go away  so I finish the tuning.  He lashed out at me in =
obscenities.  This was before I even knew the music of the group.  I =
stopped tuning and went over to ask the promoter rep, who was a =
beautiful young lady, to see if she could have some influence.  He =
lashed out in obscenities at her also.  I was embarrassed for her.  I =
just continued the best I could, figuring that if they did not care how =
the tuning sounded, neither did I.  After the tuning I heard their hit =
on the radio, "Bohemian Rhapsody", and I got hooked on their music.  =
Freddie Mercury later died from his Sex trans disease and I remained a =
fan.  Go figure.  Bottom line, do the best you can and don't worry about =
it.
James Grebe
Piano-Forte Tuning & Repair
Creator of Handsome Hardwood Caster Cups
(314) 608-4137
WWW.JamesGrebe.com
1526 Raspberry Lane
Arnold, MO 63010
BECOME WHAT YOU BELIEVE!
pianoman@accessus.net
  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: David Ilvedson=20
  To: pianotech@ptg.org=20
  Sent: Wednesday, November 10, 2004 6:34 PM
  Subject: Re: "should I stay or should I go?"


  You do the best you can in the situation.   I'm in total agreement.   =
Another reason why I love my ETD.   I know, if I have to, I can tune =
every string to the ETD and the piano will sound pretty good.

  David I.





  ----- Original message ---------------------------------------->
  From: antares <antares@euronet.nl>
  To: Pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org>
  Received: Wed, 10 Nov 2004 23:18:19 +0100
  Subject: Re: "should I stay or should I go?"


  On the other hand Dave Skolnik,

  Most of the time we have no choice but to grin and ignore.
  I used to get incredibly furious, swear at people, stamp my feet or =
even walk away from the scene in terrible anger.
  And you know what?
  The years went by, and I am still tuning in the same conditions.
  And you know what?
  I don't care anymore.

  I ignore
  and=20
  I grin.

  Andr=E9 Oorebeek


  On 10-nov-04, at 22:32, David Skolnik wrote:



    Quentin -

    There is no one answer when you are talking about theater, which, =
for these purposes, includes concerts.  Even if you are dealing with a =
regular account, it can take a long time and a lot of work, to train the =
people around you, or the people who create the schedule, before the =
requirements for tuning become accepted and anticipated.  And then, =
sometimes, sh_t happens.  A rehearsal goes late, last minute stagecraft, =
etc.  The best approach, I think, is to be  bit anal when making the =
original arrangements.  Ask the scheduler if there is anything, as in  =
ANYTHING, else going on during the tuning time.  Sometimes the scheduler =
and maintenance, or stage crew, don't communicate so well.  It's worth =
double checking. =20

    It is true how amazing it is that people (especially musicians) =
don't make the connection between tuning and the need for silence, which =
includes shuffling papers, whispering, or sometimes, breathing, but, on =
the other hand, why should they know.  There are times when the only =
course is to ask someone to desist,,,as politely as possible.  At other =
times, again, preparing for performance, other people may have jobs that =
have to get done.  Then it becomes a matter of determining what level of =
noise is essential for them to fulfill their responsibilities, and what =
part of the usual noise can, in this case be reasonably suppressed.

    Regarding the 2 or 3 people chatting vs. 15 making noise, sometimes =
the few can be more annoying, to me.  A lot of the time it depends upon =
the need.  The 15 may have no choice but to carry on, to prepare for a =
show, while the 2 or 3 could probably take the conversation somewhere =
else.  I will not hesitate to enlighten someone for a few offenses:

    Unnecessary conversation or laughter
    Singing- especially the note I'm tuning
    Whistling, ESPECIALLY THE NOTE I'M TUNING
    Jingling keys on a key ring

    No noise accepted for a recording session tuning.

    Otherwise, it's Show Business.


    David Skolnik



    At 05:44 PM 11/10/2004 +0100, you wrote:

    Hi Patrick,
    =20
    This afternoon, I had to tune for a concert in a small hall.
    I tuned the piano this morning, and had to check it another time =
when it was installed.
    People started installing the stage for the choir (nearly 50 singers =
I think) just after I began checking everything.
    Some notes were a little bit out of tune, I had to tune them =
correctly.
    People were trailing the stage "blocks" everywhere and shouting at =
each other because they should have finished work sooner and people =
wanted to go back home.
    I asked for silence, everything remained noisy all around me.
    I decided to... go ;-)
    =20
    If they totally didn't care about my concentration and about what I =
was doing, that's because they 'd probably think the piano was good as =
it was.
    =20

    and...


    But don't you think people should realize that making a good tuning =
requires good conditions?
    =20
    There is a difference between 2 or 3 people chatting and 15 persons =
screaming and moving chairs and wood panels all around you while you're =
tuning !
    =20
    I think I would have preferred 2 or 3 people discussing in a normal =
way instead of this disturbing noises !
    =20
    Quentin



  friendly greetings
  from
  Andr=E9 Oorebeek

  "where Music is, no harm can be"


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