[pianotech] Summer income

[John Ross]

In the old days, if someone called me in the Summer, I did the job.
When the mortgage was paid off, and the bills were down, I would try  
and talk people out of tuning in the Summer.
Off course there are always some, that had to be done for special  
occasions.
Remember also that the cost of living is less here.
If I had a large mortgage, medical insurance etc. to pay, then I would  
change my tune.
I have been very LUCKY, that things worked out the way I wanted.
I plan on doing other work in the Summer, restringing, new hammers etc.
I do take a month or two off in the summer.. I was away for 5 1/2  
weeks when I drove out to the convention in Anaheim.
I hate working on a piano, and sweating, I am just plain  
uncomfortable. I have an air conditioner in my shop for when it goes  
over 70F.
Heat goes off in June, and back on in Sept. LOL
  Now that I am older I have some pension money I can count on as well.
John Ross
Windsor, Nova Scotia.
On 18-Jan-10, at 9:02 PM, David Nereson wrote:

>   No tunings at all in the summer?  Do you have enough non-tuning  
> work to put bread on the table until the heat comes on, which, in  
> some areas can be Halloween or even close to Thanksgiving (but  
> probably not in Nova Scotia)?
>   --David Nereson, RPT
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Ross" <jrpiano at win.eastlink.ca 
> >
> To: <pianotech at ptg.org>
> Sent: Sunday, January 17, 2010 3:54 PM
> Subject: Re: [pianotech] Return visit
>
>
>> Right.
>> I never, if possible tune pianos in the Summer, and I tell them to   
>> wait until the heat has been on.
>> I also inform them that their house will be the driest in January,  
>> and  that some Falls are less severe, and the humidity level stays  
>> higher,  longer.
>> Tunings twice a year, and Dampp-Chaser installations help.
>> I can't emphasize enough that you must educate your customer, and   
>> don't forget to put the temperature and humidity on their bill.
>> John Ross
>> Windsor, Nova Scotia
>