In need of some encouragement

[Avery]

That's ONE of the reasons I'm getting SO ready to retire from full 
time work. Hopefully at the end of the next
Spring semester! :-)

Avery

At 07:58 AM 9/9/2006, you wrote:
>Hi Avery,
>I think all schools are constantly being pressed to keep costs in 
>check. Here, as everywhere, teachers and programs are struggling and 
>administrator, top honchos, are making over $100k to boss things.  I 
>do not think even beginner tuners will take $50 tunings unless they 
>are warranty types from the dealer.  On the other hand, us old guys, 
>gets phased out because we used to work for those prices 25 years 
>ago.  Maybe that is the scheme of things. It is a good opening for beginners.
>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: "Avery" <avery1 at houston.rr.com>
>To: "Pianotech List" <pianotech at ptg.org>
>Sent: Friday, September 08, 2006 6:03 PM
>Subject: Re: In need of some encouragement
>
>
>>At 01:50 PM 9/8/2006, you wrote:
>>>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 can't help but wonder what HIS salary is? Probably over $20,000 a 
>>year!!!!!!!! Ya think?
>>
>>Avery
>>
>>>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
>>>>
>>>>
>>