[pianotech] Ethics and efficacy of part-time tuning

[David Love]

When I started out I was working two jobs while the piano business
developed.  Eventually I was working 7 days a week and at a certain point
you just have to make a choice unless your other job can be phased out
(which, fortunately, mine was able to be).  Under the best of circumstance
it just takes time to develop enough of a clientele to support yourself,
your family and the other self employment expenses that go along with it
such as retirement, health insurance, etc..  The government doesn't like
self employed people and they don't make it easy.    

David Love
www.davidlovepianos.com

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Rob McCall
Sent: Monday, March 30, 2009 7:35 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Ethics and efficacy of part-time tuning

I've enjoyed reading all the various viewpoints today!

I know my perspective is from the other end of the experience  
spectrum.  I'm about as new as they get. I'm just starting out.

My plan is to keep my "day job" and work as feverishly as I can to  
build up a large clientele, as well as (I hope!) a great reputation.   
Although a certain level of experience is requisite to do a good job,  
I truly believe that years and years of experience are not always an  
accurate gauge of efficacy. I believe that a strong innate desire to  
be the best that I can be will help me learn the things I need to  
learn.  I am a highly curious person, by nature, I love to tinker and  
build things, I enjoy "shop" work, I take pride and responsibility in  
my work, and I enjoy meeting and helping others. That's part of the  
reason I'm here on pianotech!  I may not understand all of it (yet!),  
but I will.

My choice of starting out part-time is driven by pure economics.  I've  
got 3 other hungry mouths in the house that depend on me! Once I get  
to a certain level, I will transition to full-time, but I have a  
feeling it might take 2-3 years, at a minimum. I'm prepared to put in  
the time, market my business, bite off the things I know I can chew  
right now, seek help as I need it, and learn, learn, learn!

Before you think I'm just starting out in life, I'm 47. I know there  
are some of you that will say I am just starting out! However, I've  
also been playing piano for over 40 years,  I'm a songwriter, as well  
as my "other" day job. Every place I've ever lived started out with  
the question, "Where will the piano fit?" My wife will vouch for that!

Music and pianos have always been and always will be the critical  
elements of my life. I believe that will lead to my efficacy as a  
tuner/technician and eventual RPT, regardless of whether I make it to  
"full-time".

I'm sorry this is kind of long...  I promise to be more concise in  
future posts!

Regards,

Rob McCall
Murrieta, CA

On Mar 30, 2009, at 18:53 , John Ross wrote:

> -----Original Message-----
> From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org]  
> On Behalf
> Of david at piano.plus.com
> Sent: Monday, March 30, 2009 2:22 AM
> To: pianotech at ptg.org
> Subject: [pianotech] Ethics and efficacy of part-time tuning
>
> What do you think about the ethics and the efficacy of doing piano  
> tuning
> and repair as a part-time business when a person has another source of
> income?
>
> There is a view that if you are not tuning full-time you will not  
> maintain
> your skill at a high enough level.
>
> Best regards,
>
> David.