Time Management: Shop work and tuning appointments.

[J. R. White]

There's paperwork (taxes, etc.), family and a church or social life.  If you
can sustain the pace you seem to be talking about, more power to you.  

jrwhiteltd at msn.com
(253) 922-2372

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of David Ilvedson
Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2006 7:41 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: RE: Time Management: Shop work and tuning appointments.

I think tuning one day and rebuilding another make sense for efficiency, but
I'm thinking tune a few pianos and then finish the day in the shop...

David Ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, California



----- Original message ----------------------------------------
From: "J. R. White" <jrwhiteltd at msn.com>
To: "Pianotech List" <pianotech at ptg.org>
Received: 3/30/2006 12:31:22 PM
Subject: RE: Time Management: Shop work and tuning appointments.


>I do not refinish.  The reason is risk.  I know too many fine refinishing
>shops in my area that ended up in a fireball.  Not to be too grim about it,
>but one should consider this, I think.  Every experienced refinisher I have
>known, and used, in over thirty years in this business, has his shop away
>from his home for just this reason.  If the shop explodes, the home remains
>intact.  Also, business insurance for refinishing is different than
business
>insurance for acoustical-mechanical repairs.  One can be covered for either
>activity without being covered for the other.
>As far as scheduling goes, I tune one day, do shopwork the next.  It's less
>of a rut.
>Take care.
>Ross White

>jrwhiteltd at msn.com
>(253) 922-2372
>-----Original Message-----
>From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On
Behalf
>Of Phil Bondi
>Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2006 2:39 AM
>To: Newtonville
>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)