"Quiet"??

[Ron Nossaman]

> Whatever the sound environment and its challenges, there has been a 
> tougher one somewhere in the past. So, starting to relate to the present 
> customer some long ago Ironman tuning situation often draws humorous and 
> "point taken" attention to whatever the present one is. And, they 
> usually get the hint. Failing that, it sometimes helps to just start 
> talking about what the tuner is listening FOR as he/she works. Last 
> resort is to stick head deep into the innards of the piano and look 
> pained, all the while mouthing a silent conversation to the customer.
> 
> 'Nuf heard. But, I really enjoyed your comemnts, Ron!!!!

Thanks, now a practical comment. I've noticed that the 
definition of "conversation pit" is anywhere a piano is being 
tuned. The louder you tune, the louder they talk. The best 
defense I've come up with for conversational competition is 
this. Tune louder, and LOUDER, and *LOUDER*, then stop. All 
conversation ceases as the silence whacks them in the 
foreheads. They look your direction en mass. "Are we bothering 
you?", one of them asks. "Yes Ma'am", you reply. They 
apologize and leave. You thank them nicely and go back to 
work. Fend off further apologies with pleasantries when the 
invoice is presented, and the groundwork is in place for next 
time.

  Vacuuming, excessive clanking of dishes, wrecking out walls, 
and the like, take a straightforward request to knock it the 
heck off so I can hear to do my job. People are usually pretty 
accommodating, and just have no idea a tuner might actually 
need to hear the piano to tune it. It's like when you have a 
kid hold the flashlight while you work on something in the 
dark. He'll always shine it right in your eyes.
Ron N