Rebuilding/Non-Profit/Funding

[Robert Goodale]

This is an old "standard" that has been used many times and in variation.
It sounds really corny but it can work.  You don't necessarily have to
divide the amount by 88 and sell each key for that amount.  An alternative
is to "sell" keys in general for a fixed amount, say $15.00.  Contact other
techs and dealers in your area and start scrounging up junk pianos to
harvest keys.  It probably wouldn't take much effort to locate a few
thousand keys after a couple hours of phone calls.  The next step is to
make arrangements with your local symphony/performing arts center to get
permission to set up a small booth or table in the lobby during
performances with volunteers to sell keys.  Have a background with lots of
photographs of piano students and a catchy slogan. The same can be done at
theater productions.  With some persuasiveness you may get a couple of
music stores in your area to allow you to put up a small display with a
bucket of keys and a donation box.

Rob Goodale, RPT
Las Vegas, NV


joe2332 wrote:

> I don't know if this has been mentioned, but one really neat idea I saw
> recently involved a church trying to raise enough money to purchase a
> new grand piano.  They took the final cost and divided by 88.  Then,
> folks could buy a "key" for 1/88th the cost.  They had a large picture
> of a keyboard with names of contributers on each key.  -Joe Gumbosky