In need of some encouragement

[Pianoman]

Hi David,
As for as encouragement:  I have been tuning pianos professionally since 
1962.  Each year has it's own challenges.  There is always something in the 
way of success, yet we progress slowly.  This fall it seems like with school 
budgets being cut for music a lot of schools are doing without tuning.  I 
just talked today to a teacher who had earlier in the day booked 3 piano 
tunings at her school.  About an hour later she calls back and had to cancel 
as the administrator told her unless the charge was $50 or less per piano 
they would not pay for it.  That is almost half the going rate so I lost the 
3 piano tunings.  I feel bad and yet what are you going to do.  Something 
else will come along to fill up the time and replace the money maybe.  You 
just have to hang in there and not give up your quality for quantity. 
Things will work out, though maybe not right now.  If you cut your prices 
too low you will have a hobby, not a business.
JAMES
James Grebe   Piano Tuning & Repair   Member of M.P.T.
R.P.T. of the P.T.G. for over 30 years.   "Member of the Year" in 1989
Creator of Handsome Hardwood Caster Cups, Piano Benches, Writing 
Instruments,Table Timepieces
 (314) 845-8282   1526 Raspberry Lane   Arnold, MO 63010
Researcher of St. Louis Theatre History
BECOME WHAT YOU BELIEVE!
pianoman at accessus.net
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David B. Stang" <stangdave at columbus.rr.com>
To: <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Friday, September 08, 2006 11:57 AM
Subject: In need of some encouragement


> Friends,
> I'm feeling a little bit discouraged for two reasons.
>
> First, I am really struggling with my aural temperament tuning. I 
> understand intellectually how it is supposed to fit together, how all the 
> intervals ought to beat, and so on. But I have been practicing at home and 
> at customers' homes for a few months now, and I still just can't do it 
> right. By "do it right" I mean get it close enough to pass the RPT exam (I 
> use my ETD to test myself). My main problem, I think, is, I just can't 
> always hear the beats. For instance, I can nearly always hear the F3-A3 
> Major 3rd, and the F3-D4 6th. But I struggle to hear the A3-C#4 and 
> especially struggle to hear the C#4-F4. I can't percieve those faster 
> beats. And sometimes I can't hear the beating even when it's supposed to 
> be slow. Sometimes the 5ths and 4ths are loud and clear; other times they 
> are not there at all. Are my ears the problem? Is it my brain?
>
> Second, I am discouraged with my business. I could use some more 
> customers. I have gotten every kind of marketing advice imaginable - 
> that's not what I need. I am unhappy because I am kind of shy, and I just 
> don't do some of those assertive things that many business people do. It 
> doesn't come naturally for me to sell myself. (Like my friend Jon 
> Ralinovsky who was just e-ridiculed on this list, for simply posting the 
> link to the Cincinnati Seminar without tooting his own horn about the good 
> stuff he has lined up!) Maybe I don't have the right personality to run my 
> own business.
>
> Any words of wisdom would be appreciated.
> Thanks
>
> David B. Stang, 2/3-rds of the way toward RPT
> Columbus, Ohio
>
>
>
>