I think Terry is right in this respect. While the RPT designation might be used as a screening process at the outset by a potential customer, keeping that customer will be a function of the quality of your work and your relationship with them, not the RPT designation. Further, developing new customers is more likely to come about as a function of referrals rather than certification. Similarly one's ability to demand a higher scale will be a function of your skill level, supply and demand and regional economics more than the RPT designation-as it should be. While I fully support the guild in its effort for continuing education and the continued development of certification programs to establish recognized baseline skill levels I think we should be realistic about the practical benefits. In a trade where there is are a wide variety of individuals with a wide range of skills (even within the RPT category), where there is a significant degree of artistic judgment, to have the RPT designation have real teeth would require a much more fully regulated industry, oversight, constant testing and monitoring. I don't know about anyone else, but there's a reason I chose not to work in the corporate world. That being said, I think the guild's weakness is not in the process of educating each other but in educating the broader piano playing public. While many of us don't mind spending countless hours preparing lectures on technical topics for other technicians, we would probably be better served by spending a significant portion of those resources on programs given to the individuals who buy our services. For myself, I am preparing a lecture of just this type and hope to give it starting next year. There will be a focus on a particular topic but it will open the door for a more general Q&A. This has come about after years of frustration trying to explain to pianists (who might just well be the least knowledgeable people about the instrument they spend so much time at) the most basic what, whys and wherefores of piano performance and maintenance. As Terry has suggested, people will view you as a professional when you conduct yourself as one and demonstrate the depth of your expertise in a professional way they can understand. A three letter symbol after our name is nice but when every salesperson in every store now introduces themselves to a potential piano buyer as not only a salesperson but a technician the titles become a little meaningless. David Love www.davidlovepianos.com From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of pianolover 88 Sent: Friday, December 19, 2008 8:47 AM To: pianotech at ptg.org Subject: Re: [pianotech] RPT Credibility and "Status" (pianolover 88) The respect and trust I have earned, and continue to enjoy, comes from the professional relationships I've developed with my customers over many years, not a piece of paper. They keep calling me and referring me because they are more than happy with the high quality of service and care I give to them and their instruments. People paying for my service expect high quality results, and that's what I deliver, along with a friendly, professional appearance and demeanor, and enthusiasm and a love for what I do. Becoming an RPT won't get you far if you can't sell yourself. I truly believe that *most* people who take the RPT test do it for themselves, and not so they can parade the certificate in their customer's face, lol! I think for many, it gives them a sense of pride and validity. I already have that. <http://gfx2.hotmail.com/mail/w3/ltr/emoticons/smile_regular.gif> Terry Peterson <This is what - in the eyes of the public - constitutes a "professional" > with all the respect and a presumption of trust that entails. > Israel Stein< _____ Send e-mail faster without improving your typing skills. Get your Hotmail <http://windowslive.com/online/hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_hotmail_acq_speed_1 22008> R account. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/pianotech_ptg.org/attachments/20081219/08c04f67/attachment-0001.html>
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC