[pianotech] Thoughts on a couple of topics

[Chuck Behm]

Some thoughts over a couple topics that I would like to share. First, on
museum restorations. For a historic instrument, I would side with Anne and
say to tread lightly, especially when they've gone largely untouched over
the years. Putting velvet ropes around a true one-of-a-kind instrument seems
fitting.

On more ordinary instruments though, fix them to be played, but as much as
possible with the sound and touch as it would have been when the piano was
in its prime.

In the case of the museum piano I restored, there was no problem with the
steps I proposed, since it had been worked over by someone previously with
less than desirable results. The instrument had been in the farm home for as
long as anyone could remember, and before it was turned into a museum, a
technician had gone through and done some sloppy work on it.

As any example, the original keytops had been removed and replaced (badly)
with ivorine. I proposed removing the imitation ivory and replacing with
original ivory. To do this, I found several old sets of keys with similar
ivory  to remove enough keytops to come up with 52 sets of ivories which
could be made to look as if they came from the same instrument.

The piano, when it was returned to the museum, became the showpiece of the
first floor and was a common gathering point for the groups that toured the
home. Period music was deliberated left out for people to play, and play the
piano they did (until the university in its wisdom closed the museum for
budgetary reasons). Now the piano sits idle again, and the nitwit director
of museums is not even having it tuned! What a moron. Oh, well - budgets are
what they are, I suppose.

On a completely different topic, I've been reading with interests the posts
pertaining to building one's business. The promos I'm writing and
personalizing for technicians might be an answer to how to take your
business to the next level. They are written (and illustrated) in a way to
make your job in selling the services you provide much, much easier.

Five promos are now available:

     1.  Bridle strap replacement
     2.  Hammer filing
     3.  Ivory keyset restoration
     4.  Plastic elbow replacement
     5.  Vertical piano regulation

My original offer still stands. If you would like me to personalize any one
of these promos for you to use in promoting your services, just email me at
pianopromoproductions at gmail.com and *I'll set one up for you for free*. I'll
send you the PDF with your personal contact information so that you can
either print hard copies to distribute, send out the promo to appropriate
customers, put in a notebook to carry with you on your rounds or post it on
your website. It's yours, and you're welcome to put it to any good use you
can think of.

 If you would like to subscribe, the personalized PDF's will be sent to you
at a rate of one a month as they are produced at the very reasonable rate of
$10 apiece. Just one extra job brought in a year would pay for the entire
years subscription.

The feedback I've received so far from technicians is that they are finding
these promos highly useful. All I need to make one for you to try out is
whatever information you want to appear on the front and last page - I would
suggest name, business name, address, phone number/s, email address, and
website (if you have one).

There is absolutely no obligation to purchase anything. So far, 75% of the
people who check into this have ended up taking out a subscription, but
whether you do or not, I'm delighted to be able to pass along at least one
promo for you to use and profit from.

Drop me a line at the above email address with your choice of promos, and
your contact information, and you'll have your free sample within a couple
days. See how it works for you.
*
My highest regards to all of you* - you guys are why I am at my computer
working on my little writing projects at all hours of the night. You're in
my thoughts and I hope the best for each one of you. If we don't look out
for one another, who else is going to do it?  Chuck
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