In need of some encouragement

[Pianoman]

Hi Avery,
interspersed
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: Saturday, September 09, 2006 2:21 PM
Subject: Re: In need of some encouragement


> 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! :-)

I take it you are about what I am, 63 going on 64 in December?
We have been thinking about moving to Iowa closer to my wife's grandaughter 
and would like to retire up there with some tuning and my woodworking 
products and thinking with SS I could swing it as I have no retirement form 
any where else as I have been working for myself since 72.  It would kind of 
nice to live a boring life for a change
Old Jim
>
> 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
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>
>
>