<HTML><BODY style="word-wrap: break-word; -khtml-nbsp-mode: space; -khtml-line-break: after-white-space; ">We do occasionally move pianos, for various reasons, including saving money and the inconvenience of scheduling movers, but AT OUR OWN RISK. I was promised when I came here that though it would be my responsibility to supervise all piano moves, I was not supposed to move a piano myself because insurance was not in place to cover any injury or damage.<DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"><DIV><DIV>But when we move the big pianos, I dig my heels in and insist on professionals who are experienced, insured and bonded. That is what you are paying for.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>Like Cy said, if we are injured, that can potentially be career ending. I can at least vouch for the fact that when I have been down with back spasms, it has usually been for a week or longer. When that is the case, nothing at the university is getting done (and it has happened just prior to juries), and the extra money from moonlighting my family needs to survive is not being made either.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>My opinion is that the piano technician should not be expected to perform piano moves. We are not all ex college and pro football players. In fact, many of us are quite frail. It just should not be expected of us. We were hired to do the delicate work. You'll have a lot harder time replacing a good piano tech than you will finding a good brawny piano mover. Yes, there are tricks. But it only takes one accident to put you flat of your back for a long time, and we don't get paid for that. </DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>I think it is simply not wise for the piano technician to be performing piano moves.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>Also check out earlier threads in the archives of this list from February 23 and forward, entitled, "Moving Pianos on Campus".<DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>Jeff Tanner</DIV><DIV>University of South Carolina</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV><DIV><DIV>On Jun 2, 2006, at 12:14 PM, Brian Yankee wrote:</DIV><BR class="Apple-interchange-newline"><BLOCKQUOTE type="cite"> <DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Arial" size="2"><SPAN class="286342415-01062006">Greetings.</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Arial" size="2"><SPAN class="286342415-01062006"></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Arial" size="2"><SPAN class="286342415-01062006">I am the Director of Performance Services at New England Conservatory in Boston. A member of our administration <SPAN class="965071016-02062006">wants</SPAN> to have our Piano Technicians (whom I supervise) move our pianos (mostly a mix of Steinway B's, L's and M's) out of studios, into and out of the piano shop, etc. when the need arises. We have always hired an outside piano mov<SPAN class="965071016-02062006">ing company</SPAN> to do all of our moves except for occasionally rolling an upright piano down a hallway from one room to another. </SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Arial" size="2"><SPAN class="286342415-01062006"></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Arial" size="2"><SPAN class="286342415-01062006">What prompted this is a proposal to recarpet and paint seven faculty studios this summer. The proposal included an estimate of the cost to <SPAN class="965071016-02062006">hire our movers to </SPAN>remove the pianos from the rooms, bring them to our piano shop for storage on their sides and then to return them to the studios once the work is done. Needless to say, the piano moving costs are considerable. </SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Arial" size="2"><SPAN class="286342415-01062006"></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT><SPAN class="286342415-01062006"><FONT face="Arial"><FONT size="2"><SPAN class="965071016-02062006">Personally, I think it's inappropriate for piano techs to double as piano movers, but what do I know? </SPAN>I need a reality check<SPAN class="965071016-02062006">:</SPAN> Is this something that piano techs at other colleges and universities do? If not, can you give me some good arguments why they shouldn't? </FONT></FONT></SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Arial" size="2"><SPAN class="286342415-01062006"></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Arial" size="2"><SPAN class="286342415-01062006">Thanks.</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Arial" size="2"><SPAN class="286342415-01062006"></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Arial" size="2"><SPAN class="286342415-01062006">Brian Yankee</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Arial" size="2"><SPAN class="286342415-01062006">Director of Performance Services</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Arial" size="2"><SPAN class="286342415-01062006">New England Conservatory</SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV> <DIV> </DIV><P><FONT face="Arial" size="2">*******************************************************************</FONT> <BR><I><FONT face="Arial" size="2">Brian S. Yankee</FONT></I> <BR><I><FONT face="Arial" size="2">Director of Performance Services</FONT></I> <BR><I><FONT face="Arial" size="2">New England Conservatory</FONT></I> <BR><I><FONT face="Arial" size="2">290 Huntington Ave. </FONT></I><BR><I><FONT face="Arial" size="2">Boston, MA 02115</FONT></I> <BR><I><FONT face="Arial" size="2">Tel: 617-585-1271</FONT></I> <BR><I><FONT face="Arial" size="2">Fax: 617-585-1270</FONT></I> </P> <DIV> </DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV><BR></DIV></DIV><BR><BR><DIV> <SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: auto; -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; text-indent: 0px; -apple-text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; orphans: 2; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: auto; -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; text-indent: 0px; -apple-text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; orphans: 2; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; "><DIV>Jeff Tanner, RPT</DIV><DIV>Piano Technician</DIV><DIV>School of Music</DIV><DIV>University of South Carolina</DIV><DIV>Columbia, SC 29208</DIV><DIV>(803) 777-4392</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><BR class="Apple-interchange-newline"></SPAN></SPAN> </DIV><BR></DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>