Thanks Ed, Super suggestions!! Richard W. Bushey Richard's Piano Service www.RichardsPianoService.com www.RichardsPianoService.com/blog Rbushey at RichardsPianoService.com 573-765-9903 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ed Foote" <a440a at aol.com> To: <pianotech at ptg.org> Sent: Monday, January 14, 2013 1:05 PM Subject: Re: [pianotech] PTG chapter/piano teacher's meeting ideas Wim writes: >>Not to put a damper on your enthusiasm, but when I was in St. Louis and also here in Hawaii, the piano teachers just don't seem to want to hear from us. In St. Louis, the first time I called the president to set up a date to give a presentation, I was told that the schedule for the year was already set Subject: [pianotech] PTG chapter/piano teacher's meeting ideas<< Greetings, Well, Wim, that is putting a damper on it, which is shame, since enthusiasm is one of the most marketable possessions we own. Customers respond to it, ennui finds no home in it, and the blues stay away as long as you got it. The reasons for your experience may not be the piano teachers in your area. It could have been their perception of what you were offering, which means you had a part in how things went, too. Piano teachers are interested in how to reduce the cost of the machine they are using, first and foremost. They have to spend money on us whether they like it or not, so it may be attractive to present the meeting as aimed at reducing costs, avoiding pitfalls, and how to make things last as long as possible. Questions of voicing, stretch, regulation, or (gasp), temperament, are trampled underneath considerations of the best time of year to tune, how long should it last,are the pins holding and is the soundboard cracked. Appeal to their self-interest, first. Avoid coming on like a sales pitch for services and find that balance in which you can create a market without selling them anything. You want them to view piano work as an investment, even though it can easily feel like an expense. If you are capable, confident, AND enthusiastic, maintenance will automatically sell itself to an educated piano teacher. Regards, Ed Foote RPT http://www.piano-tuners.org/edfoote/well_tempered_piano.html -- I am using the free version of SPAMfighter. SPAMfighter has removed 1152 of my spam emails to date. Get the free SPAMfighter here: http://www.spamfighter.com/len Do you have a slow PC? Try a Free scan http://www.spamfighter.com/SLOW-PCfighter?cid=sigen
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