[pianotech] Database for Piano Business

[Jim Moy]

So, here I am, as a piano playing software engineer, looking for the
Holy Grail of piano service.  I know what I want, so somebody tunes my
piano the way I like, and now the unisons are going out.  I can't find
him any more because he couldn't make a living as a tooner.  One
talented technician certainly can't spend the days of work keeping
just my piano in pristine shape all the time and be able to support
himself, and the local concert hall can have their grands tuned before
every performance, and try out every tech in town because they get the
bucks from the local philanthopists.  WHY can't I get my piano
sounding like a concert grand?  Am I missing something?  Oh, yeah.
I'm CHEAP and not willing to pay the rates the local RPTs are
charging, I'm no going there anytime soon.

:-) :-) :-)

Jim

On Wed, Mar 4, 2009 at 12:07 AM, pmc033 at earthlink.net
<pmc033 at earthlink.net> wrote:
>...
> So, here we are, as technicians, looking for the Holy Grail of technician
> software.  We know what we want, so somebody writes a program that we like,
> and later it fades into the sunset.  One software developer can't possibly
> write a bulletproof program and spend the rest of his life supporting it,
> rewriting it when necessary, and all that, whereas the big guyz can hire
> dozens of whiz-kids to write a more powerful program to be all things to
> all people.  Somehow, it doesn't seem hopeful we're going to find the "best
> way".  PLEASE tell me I'm wrong!
> In the meantime, I'm all ears to anyone who can make this happen with an
> off the shelf program that is well supported for the long haul. (Please
> note: I'm not dissing PTBiz or any other specialty software out there.
> It's just that there's a history of disappointments from them).
>
> There is actually a kind of "universal" system, called vcard, which Outlook
> uses, as well as Palm.  My online calendar sends vcard (contact) and vcal
> (calendar) files to me by email when someone signs up for an appointment.
> These are used to transfer the info into my Palm Treo and desktop computer
> Palm software.  Even so, vcard files need occasional updating, so it
> doesn't help solve the problem (see above).
>
> Am I missing something?  Oh, yeah.  I'm CHEAP!  I'm not willing to spend a
> fortune getting what I want/need.  I know there are very good programs out
> there that are in the thousand dollar range.  I'm not going there anytime
> soon.
>
> Paul McCloud
> San Diego
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