Scheduling question

[Annie Grieshop]

Oh, the only congratulations due me are for having the good sense to move
here (and for joining PTG in the first place, of course).  I appreciate the
advice and information given thus far and look forward to that which is yet
to come.

The technician who was here for decades, Maurice Roseburrough, was one of
the founders of the Central Iowa Chapter and did a stupendous job of both
serving the area and educating his customers in what a piano technician can
do for them.  He died several years ago, and the part-time tuners in town
took over most of his clientele.

The part-time guys have been charging very little, which has caused some
small problems for me.  But I have heard through the grapevine that word on
the street now is "she charges a lot, but she's worth it".  Of course, I'm
not even up to the market standard fee for the surrounding area... but at
least folks are getting used to paying more (and getting more).  So, the
rate-raising will probably be a somewhat gradual thing here.

But there's a ton of work to be done!  In Mr. Roseburrough's last years, he
apparently focused almost entirely on rebuilding (his wife was quite ill for
a long time, and rebuilding allowed him to stay home with her).  That means
there are a slew of well-rebuilt grands around here... and a huge bunch of
pianos that need regulation and voicing.  AND a customer base that
understands why those things are important.  It's such a lovely change to
feel appreciated!

I have no interest in giving up shop work (as the technical stuff is what I
love the best) -- and there's not enough work yet for me to even dream of
taking on an apprentice (although I will have a HS kid working with me for a
month next spring as a class project... and will be asking many more
questions about that before then, no doubt).  And I'm used to working 7
days/week, so that's not a problem.

But I do want to get onto a regular schedule so that I can have more agency
in how life progresses here.  I don't want to be frazzled, and I certainly
don't want to shortchange either my customers or myself with my time or
energy.

So, anyway, that's the situation here.  Please keep those cards and letters
coming, folks, as you're giving me many great pointers on how to run a
business well, and I appreciate every one of 'em!

Annie

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Phil Bondi [mailto:phil at philbondi.com]
>
> Annie - sounds to me like congratulations are in
> order.
>
> It sounds like you need to do 2 things in order
> to keep that balance for yourself:
>
> -Raise your rates(thanks David)
> -Designate how YOU will manage yourself - not
> your clients. If you are in that much of a
> demand, the clients will wait for you.
>