Matthew, Joe Garrett is a tech with a great wealth of knowledge and experience. He's earned the respect we give him. He deserves it from you, too, even if you don't really know him well yet. Yes, this list IS a great source of help and discussion. And it'd be a good thing for you if your relationship with Joe and with others here who know him wasn't confrontational. I'm just trying to keep you from getting off on the wrong foot. I also want to offer an answer to your question about how to gain experience. I suggest that you put an ad in your local paper stating you'll haul away unwanted pianos. Get a few of them and when you're facing a job you're less than familiar with, perform that job on one of your "guinea pig" pianos before you do that job for the customer. It might keep you out of trouble on your first real job, or it might just show you that some jobs are better "outsourced" until you know you can perform the gig both efficiently (time-wise) and effectively (quality). And once you've done several jobs on your "guinea pigs", SELL 'EM! It won't be a money-maker, but it'll keep your education costs down, in more ways than one. Joe, I don't plan on doing any birdcages... haven't seen any in Helena, Montana. But I'd love to read some elaboration on bridle strap action balance in the birdcage action. Especially if there is a link to a pic, because I'm pretty visual. This sounds interesting. Respectfully to you both, John Dorr Helena, MT
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