---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment Marshall, A strobe tuner utilizes a strobe light to freeze a pattern, if you're in tune, with the frequency selected. They are fast to respond but do not effectively accommodate a piano's inharmonicity. I used a Peterson 490ST which had stretch templates in it for typical piano sizes. I was constantly adjusting it while listening to the piano. It's for sale... I have a Verituner VT100 and there's no looking back, just onwards to confidently setting the bearings in ET aurally. That test function is great. Andrew Anderson At 07:09 PM 1/18/2006, you wrote: >Hi John, >Thanks for the encouraging e-mail. I'm sorry if I misled anyone in >thinking that i"m out to trick customers. E-mail is unfortunately >that way, can't put tone ore xpression in it. > >As for churches, no such luck. One of my tech friends has most of >the churches, and I've talked to him about tuning them because he is >tired of driving to our community. I do have some income at least >and we're not starving at least. God is providing, and we pray on a >daily basis about this tuning. He continues to help me improve my >skills. i'm curious, what is a strobe tuner? Is that one of those >electronic chromatic tuners that are real cheap under 100 bucks? >Marshall >----- Original Message ----- >From: <mailto:john@formsmapiano.com>John Formsma >To: <mailto:pianotech@ptg.org>Pianotech List >Sent: Wednesday, January 18, 2006 5:12 PM >Subject: Re: One Piano Per....?? > >Marshall, > >Here's what you said originally, " I'm seriously thinking about >calling churches etc and saying, 'Hello, I'm calling to schedule >your piano tuning', and seeing if the take me up on it, or say, 'Oh >we have a tuner already.' " > >What you wrote sounds like you are trying to trick a hapless >secretary into thinking you are the regular tuner for the church who >is calling to set up his regular tuning. You may not have intended >it to sound this way when you wrote it, but that is how it appears to me. > >I can understand your frustration about needing money at this time, >but if you want to build a legitimate and lasting piano service >business, I would not do it this way. You have to begin somewhere, >and right now, it looks as if you are at the very bottom working >your way up. There is nothing wrong with beginning. But there is >everything wrong with expecting to get tunings immediately (and for >full price) when your skills are yet unknown to most. > >How about going to the area churches and tuning a few for almost >nothing? At least you would be getting experience, and I bet >churches would be willing to let you do some work, especially if >they understand your need. Many churches have programs to help those >in need, and it's not like you're asking for a handout. You are >wanting to work. Even if you could negotiate a tuning for $15-20, it >beats sitting at home earning nothing. > >There is a blind tuner in my area who got one of "my" churches this >way, so I know it worked for him. The music director told me that >his work is not as good as mine, but they are using him to "help him >out." But you have to know what you're doing and prove your skills >or you will never last long term. Another newbie is out there >turning pins (probably with a Strobe tuner from the way they sound), >and has tuned some of "my" regulars. No big deal, I'm neither >worried nor bitter because I know that without good training, they >will never last long term. Chances are I'll get the customer again, >and if I don't, there is plenty of work for me to do right now. I'm >working on improving my skills and adding new things to the list of >what I can do, so I'll probably be correcting their mistakes for >quite some time. ;-) > >Proverbs 14:23 says, "In all labor there is profit, But mere talk >leads only to poverty." You cannot talk your way into work. As Dave >Ramsey says, you have to leave the cave, kill something, and drag it >home. ;-) Hey, I know it's tough. I don't like getting out of my >comfort zone either. But if you want it, you gotta work hard to get >it and keep it. > >Hope this is helpful, Marshall. > >John Formsma > > >pianotune05 wrote: >>Hi John, >>Why is it dishonest to call and schedule to tune a piano? If the >>have a tuner, they'll tell me, and have told me. I guess I'm not >>seeing the connection. I'm offering a service to tune a piano. As >>for exploding over night, I agree, it won't do that, but in a few >>weeks woud be OK. >>Marshall >>----- Original Message ----- >>From: <mailto:john@formsmapiano.com>John Formsma >>To: <mailto:pianotech@ptg.org>Pianotech List >>Sent: Wednesday, January 18, 2006 10:23 AM >>Subject: Re: One Piano Per....?? >> >>Marshall, >> >>This might work short term, but think about how it might affect >>your reputation down the road. I wouldn't want this to happen to >>me, and would feel misled and wouldn't use you again. I think it's >>a fast way to get a shady reputation. >> >>Regarding churches, why not something like this? Make an >>appointment to meet with the music director PERSONALLY and explain >>your situation -- that you're new and wanting to gain experience. >>Then ask if you can tune some of the older pianos, either for free >>or a reduced rate. (Around here, there are many infrequently tuned >>pianos that sit in Sunday School rooms.) Ask the director to >>evaluate your work, and negotiate a rate correspondent with your >>abilities. I'm thinking maybe about $25-40 per piano, but I'm >>guessing because I don't know your abilities. This way, you at >>least get some money coming in and/or you are gaining valuable >>experience while getting your foot in the door. And, you will have >>an honest reputation. If you do good work, you will get some >>referrals eventually. >> >>Don't expect your business to explode overnight. >> >>John Formsma >> >><mailto:pianotune05@comcast.net>pianotune05@comcast.net wrote: >>>James, >>>I figure I could get some tunings that way by perhaps catching a >>>few off guard. They'll schedule me and I'm in. I'd hate to step >>>on toes but I guess that's why they make steel tipped shoes. Look >>>out, Marshall's comming! >>>Marshall >>> >>>-------------- Original message -------------- >>>From: "James Grebe" <mailto:pianoman@accessus.net><pianoman@accessus.net> >>> >>> > That sounds like a good cold call tactic. >>> > James >>> > James Grebe Piano Tuning & Repair Member of M.P.T. >>> > R.P.T. of the P.T.G. for over 30 years. "Member of the Year" in 1989 >>> > Creator of Handsome Hardwood Caster Cups, Piano Benches, Writing >>> > Instruments >>> > (314) 845-8282 1526 Raspberry Lane Arnold, MO 63010 >>> > BECOME WHAT YOU BELIEVE! >>> > <mailto:pianoman@accessus.net>pianoman@accessus.net >>> > ----- Original Message ----- >>> > From: "pianotune05" >>> > To: "Pianotech List" >>> > Sent: Tuesday, January 17, 2006 8:44 PM >>> > Subject: Re: One Piano Per....?? >>> > >>> > >>> > My curiosity is, if one guy has all of the churchs, another has >>> all of the >>> > schools, another has Not! re Dam, the other has another college, and yet >>> > another has IUSB, plus their loyal customer base plus the other >>> tunertechs >>> > whom I do not know, how do I >>> > a. keep from stepping on toes? >>> > b. find customers that they don' t have if the store the only >>> one in town >>> > cannot hire me? >>> > Marshall >>> > ps. Maybe I need some sort of low vision device in order to see these so >>> > called pianos that are out there not being tuned. I'm seriously thinking >>> > about calling churches etc and saying, "Hello, I'm calling to >>> schedule your >>> > piano tuning", and seeing if the take me up on it, or say, "Oh we have a >>> > tuner already." >>> > (grrr pulling hair out saying how much I hate this community!) >>> > >>> > ----- Original Message ----- >>> > From: Brian Doepke >>> > To: 'An open list for piano technicians' >>> > Sent: Tuesday, January 17, 2006 4:21 PM >>> > Subject: One Piano Per....?? >>> > >>>&! gt; >>> > What is the average number of households that own a piano? >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > 1 in 75 ? 1 in 100 ? >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > This is not a quiz, I am just asking. >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > Brian P. Doepke >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > AAA Piano Works, Inc. >>> > >>> > 260-432-2043 >>> > >>> > 260-417-1298 >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > _______________________________________________ >>> > Pianotech list info: >>> <https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives>https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives >>> ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/d2/42/53/fd/attachment.htm ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment--
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC