David I, You posted me privately, explaining that the stress you referred to was that of trying to get absolute quiet. I never considered asking for quiet to be a stress. Trying to tune aurally through noise is stressful. Do you mean to say that expecting a quiet environment to tune makes one a Prima Dona? If that is your drift, I would take issue with such a contention. Which situation did I describe that sounds like "NO problem"? Just looking for clarity. David Skolnik At 09:56 AM 11/12/2004 -0800, you wrote: >David, > >I think the "Prima Dona" line is about right....the situation you >described sounds like NO problem at all. >The stress you're bringing down on yourself is totally self-imposed... > >IMHO > >David Ilvedson > > >----- Original message ----------------------------------------> >From: David Skolnik <davidskolnik@optonline.net> >To: Pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org> >Received: Fri, 12 Nov 2004 01:02:57 -0500 >Subject: Re: "should I stay or should I go?" > > >Kent - > >I don't mean to single you out, as I know there have been many others who > >have responded similarly to this thread, BUT, having previously indicated > >my own awareness of the need for flexibility, I am, nevertheless, > >disappointed by a general willingness to adopt a passive approach, even > >when it would seem clear that the situation cries out for the > >pro-active. Case in point. Yesterday, after reading and responding to the > >initial post by Quentin Coderville, I had a call for an emergency tuning > >(they said "touch up", but it was a tuning) for a Tony Bennett performance, > >in a venue at which I had no previous experience. I went in after the > >dress rehearsal. While I had spoken with the production manager before > >hand, I hadn't thought to ask him to make sure everyone knew to either > >leave or be quiet, so, as I began, a few clusters of stage hands and others > >continued to converse, with clearly no intention of leaving (sitting > >comfortably in the front row) or with any awareness that they were, in any > >way, interfering. Had it, in fact, been only a touch-up, I might have > >elected to tune through the noise, but the piano was clearly in need, and I > >had less than an hour to tune and correct some mechanical problems. There > >was no reason I had to accept added obstacles, and so, feeling freshly > >empowered by this discussion, I, politely, humorously, but firmly, > >indicated that I needed quiet. They apologized and departed. A few > >remained at the back of the theatre, thinking that their conversation could > >not be heard, so I had to repeat my request in a more projective voice, > >while trying to maintained the afore mentioned mix of civility and > >resolve. This too worked. It was only when the ushers began to come in, > >10 minutes earlier than I expected, that I knew I was up against a much > >greater learning curve. The point is, SOMEONE has to teach these > >people. If I (or you) don't tell them, why SHOULD they know better? Yes, > >it makes us appear as prima donnas, but for a critical use situation > >(concert, recording) I think it's perfectly reasonable to expect the same > >conditions for tuning as for performance. Again, the point is to know when > >that reasonable expectation cannot reasonably be fulfilled. > > > >David Skolnik > > > > > > >At 03:46 PM 11/11/2004 -0600, you wrote: > >>My blood boils when I must tune in a noisy environment, but I do it, > >>almost always without complaint. > >> > >>I remember hearing Ron Nossaman say years ago that in designing a > >>procedure he would prefer to work for 10 minutes rather than to have to > >>wait for 5 minutes at any point in the middle. > >> > >>My attitude towards noisy tuning environments is an extension of this > >>attitude, I think. The time spent not tuning and instead upon getting > >>things quieted down might be worthwhile, but might not work at all, might > >>cause hard feelings, and after which you still have the tuning to start up > >>again where you left off. I'd much rather just keep tuning without pause. > >>Usually, I outlast the noisemakers and have quiet time at the end to make > >>sure the tuning is good. > >> > >>I finish all tunings that I start. Period. Well, unless the piano > breaks. :) > >> > >>Kent Swafford > >> > >> > >> > >>On Nov 11, 2004, at 3:12 PM, baoli liu wrote: > >> > >>>It is always easy to tune pianos in a nice and quite > >>>place.But being a technician,especially a concert > >>>technician,I think it is a "must" skill/ability to > >>>tune pianos with noisy background. > >> > >>_______________________________________________ > >>pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives > > > >_______________________________________________ > >pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives > >_______________________________________________ >pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
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