Scheduling question

[Joey Recker]

I book by "area".  I'm in a rural area (southwest Georgia) and travel up to
90 miles to small towns all around my home in order to keep a full calendar.
If someone calls from an area that I don't already have on my calendar, I
book them for an appointment about a month later.  It works out for me that
as the month progresses; I can then book others so that I end up with 3-4
pianos in a day in the same area.  I tell them all that I charge mileage for
everything over 30 miles from my home, but if I end up with at least 3 in
the area I waive the mileage.  (I don't tell them that...  I just do it and
they are pleasantly surprised and shocked at my fairness and honesty).

 

M-Th I do service calls (tunings).  Fridays I make my deposits, get a
haircut (yes, every week), stop by the local music stores to shoot the
breeze, drop off business cards,  etc... then go home and do shop work or
take care of the honey-do's.  Saturdays I spend all day in the shop.
Sundays I attend church and spend time with the family.  Of course, it's my
business and I can make exceptions to that schedule anytime I deem
necessary, but that is my base-line.  I usually start my 1st tuning around
9am (gives me time to get my coffee, and paperwork ready in the morning
before I hit the road)  and start my last tuning around 3pm.  I don't like
to do more than 4 in a day.  (I get tired and sloppy).  If the day has new
customers, I'll try to stop at 3 pianos in a day.  

 

Hope that helps,

Joey

 

  _____  

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Annie Grieshop
Sent: Wednesday, December 05, 2007 6:56 PM
To: Pianotech List
Subject: Scheduling question

 

Something amazing has happened, and I would very much appreciate advice from
y'all.  

 

How do you schedule your time when business gets good enough to keep you
hopping?  How do you divvy up your weeks, days, and hours to ensure that you
can provide a range of services?  Do you set aside specific time for
different types of work?  

 

After seven years of hustling to make ends meet (which meant I had more than
enough time to work at customers' sites and in my shop), I've moved to a new
area which is turning out to be absolutely wonderful.  Today, however, it
became very apparent that I'm going to have to become much more careful of
my schedule if I'm to take advantage of the work opportunities that are
being offered (and still do my best work, of course).

 

So I would appreciate hearing how other folks do it.  Thanks!

 

Annie Grieshop

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