Time Management: Shop work and tuning appointments.

[Pianoman]

Phil,
Tuning always comes first over shop work as the money is immediate and may 
not be there when you want it to be.  I have had various shops through the 
years and them money comes but not immediate.
Jim
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!
pianoman at accessus.net
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Phil Bondi" <phil at philbondi.com>
To: "Newtonville" <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2006 4:38 AM
Subject: Time Management: Shop work and tuning appointments.


> Hi all.
>
> I'll try to be as thorough as possible for my situation:
>
> My business is reaching a point where I need to make a decision on how to 
> handle the increased shop work and keep my stable of tuning clients. The 
> question is:
>
> For those of you, like myself, who work alone, how do you handle your time 
> for the shop and the tuning clients?
>
> My shop is now located here at my home (well, almost). That scenario has 
> changed in the last month. My shop use to be away from my home, but now 
> it's here. That's a biggie for me, since now I can just go down to the 
> shop and do some work without worrying about how dirty I might get working 
> in a shop and then going to see my clients..or vice versa.
>
> Here's my thought on what may work for me:
>
> Since I am an early riser, I'm thinking that I could use those early 
> morning hrs. to my advantage in the shop. My mind is usually freshest when 
> I first wake up (yes, I have a mind!) and then schedule tuning 
> appointments in the late morning/afternoon. The reason I feel this 
> scenario might work for me is because I tend to think that "when I come 
> home, I'm done" for the day..so if I schedule appointments in the morning 
> knowing that shop work still awaits me, I may not get as much done once I 
> 'get home'.
>
> I have been in this business for almost 10 years now, and I have felt this 
> evolution coming for awhile - now it's here - my shop is almost completely 
> moved from its old location to the new one - shop work will continue to 
> make its way towards me - and I tune on average 4 a day.
>
> Also, I don't want Ruth to feel she's married to a business. Her happiness 
> is very important to me. She understands this is going to be an evolution 
> process, and I have no intention of leaving her out of this loop. We need 
> time together, of course. She is not the early riser that I am. I make a 
> great cup of coffee!!
>
> Anyway, the shop work is going to increase even more this summer/fall when 
> I plan to introduce refinishing and touch-up to my shop skills. I'm not 
> there yet, but I plan on being there fairly soon. Some have said to me: 
> "Why do you want to learn refinishing?" - because there is a huge need for 
> it in this area (and I suspect alot of other areas also), and learning 
> this art will keep me in the shop and off the roads. I have had to turn 
> down alot of work over the years because I have not felt comfortable 
> charging people for refinishing when I know my skills are not where "I" 
> want them to be. Those of you that have been in that business know how to 
> treat a finish by looking and touching a piece. I admire that skill. It is 
> my intention to have the ability to approach that level of competency in 
> the near future, with of course, continuing education in that field.
>
> So - if you're still reading and wish to comment and make a 
> recommendation, I welcome it. I could have gone private with this, seeking 
> advice from past trusted sources, but there is such a wealth of knowledge 
> here in this forum that I do not want to leave out anyone who might offer 
> a scenario that could be beneficial to me..and others.
>
> -Phil Bondi(Fl)
>
>