Valuing ourselves

[David Andersen]

On Feb 15, 2008, at 7:05 AM, John Formsma wrote:

> Any advice for me now, knowing my market better?
Of course; you know I'll have advice...it's 3-part for you:
1. Understand you've got a huge leg up on those other guys in  
Memphis: you're here, on the list, you come to conventions, your tunings
(mentored by moi) are way better than the next guy---you can charge  
more because you're better, more knowledgeable, and more trustworthy  
(I'd wager)
2. Forget about the other guys; think of yourself as in a class by  
yourself; full or part time is irrelevant, because you're committed  
and passionate.
3. I was a single dad; I also home-schooled my son. I agree with Dean  
May 100%; home schooling young kids is, for the most part,
just being an engaged human being. If you read, they'll read; if you  
are curious about stuff, they will be too; if you have fun learning  
about how stuff works, they will too. Monkey see, monkey do. So to  
speak. <g> You're a good man, John. Relax, take it in, and boogie.
>  I've been thinking about offering a more "full-service" option.   
> Selling my services in 3 hour chunks for around $250.  Tuning,  
> regulating, voicing, etc.  Anyone care to share their prices for  
> such service?  Or, their story on how offering that service greatly  
> improved their bottom line?
When I started to think of myself as a complete piano service, and a  
craftsman, the five pianos a day, over several years, turned into two  
or three pianos with some service on each one. I made more money, and  
was a lot happier because I thought more of myself, and felt more  
like a pro, a doctor, rather than a monotonic drone. The better you  
feel about yourself, the more you naturally require and welcome more  
compensation for your work. Raise your skill level, as you're  
doing...everything will flow from that.
>  Particularly, how do you go from selling Mrs. Jones tunings to  
> selling her greater service ... without it sounding like you're  
> asking her to just write you a bigger check.  (I'm a horrible  
> salesman.  At least, it always seems to sound bad when I say it <g>)
STOP CALLING YOURSELF A HORRIBLE SALESMAN. STOP IT.
Thoughts have power; words have power. How many times has that  
thought---I'm a horrible salesman---run through your head in your  
life, with you believing it and being bummed? A thousand? Ten  
thousand? A hundred thousand? STOP IT.
Dude, just tell the truth. Piano's a machine. A soft machine, made of  
leather, wood, and felt. Needs a lot of tweaking. If you're playing  
it, it needs service. If you drive your car, it needs service. If you  
run your HVAC in your house, it needs service. My coffeemaker just  
went kaput; it needs service. Show and tell. That's what string cuts  
are for. :--)
Love you, man.
DA



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