[pianotech] Idea for journal page, (Ed?)

[Richard W. Bushey]

One additional thought...I like the shoe string analogy because it is a direct analogy in my thinking, meaning, we're talking strings and tension in both.  The problem with some analogies is that the don't translate well.  They do have their purpose, but sometimes confuse the issue further if the customer has to spend too much brain power trying to figure it out.

Another direct analogy I've heard used by a good friend of mine is realating the need for continued maintenane on a piano being like needing continued maintenance on a car.  You don't just purchase a car and go years without changing the oil, putting gas in it, replacing broken parts, adjusting this or that. Some people try to get away with it, but they wind up with a piece of junk vehicle in just a few years.  Same is true of the piano.

If you use analogies....just be careful not to over use them and be careful that they have an easy, direct translation to what you're trying to compare it to.


Richard W. Bushey
Richard's Piano Service
www.RichardsPianoService.com
Rbushey at RichardsPianoService.com
573-765-9903
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Richard W. Bushey 
  To: pianotech at ptg.org 
  Sent: Sunday, September 09, 2012 1:59 PM
  Subject: Re: [pianotech] Idea for journal page, (Ed?)


  I like and use Randy Potter's analogy of pitch raising being similar to tying shoe laces.  This is not verbatim, but how I explain it....that once the piano's tension has lessened, causing the piano to go flat, it must be brought back to the proper tension before it can be fine tuned.  Like shoe laces, you must start at one end snugging the laces to get them generally tight enough. If they were close to begin with, one snugging before tying will generally work, but if they were very loose to begin with, you have to snug them several times, going back and forth until they hold their tension and the laces can then be tied.

  I try to stay away from the analogy unless the customer doesn't seem to really understand the first explanation.  Otherwise, it can come across demeaning or insulting to their intelligence if you go for the story explanation first.


  Richard W. Bushey
  Richard's Piano Service
  www.RichardsPianoService.com
  Rbushey at RichardsPianoService.com
  573-765-9903
    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: Susan Kline 
    To: pianotech at ptg.org 
    Sent: Saturday, September 08, 2012 10:45 AM
    Subject: Re: [pianotech] Idea for journal page, (Ed?)


    During a big pitch raise, after the first pass, I say, "I've just told the piano that the ball park is three blocks in THAT direction." 

    Good idea, Ed. 

    Susan

    Ed Foote wrote: 
      Greetings, 
         Oh how the mind doth wander,drifting into idea-land as the 6th octave marches beneath our tuning hammer.  What wandered into mine this a.m. was an idea for a page in the Journal.  Depending on what our astute Mr. Sutton thinks best, it could be as short or as long as publication imperatives dictate.  It can be broadly based, easily edited and will write itself. 
          I would like to see a compilation of analogies.  Ones that we use in our work, with customers. Among us, I bet there are hundreds of them.    I imagine many of us that use the same ones, but I know there are some effective, off-the-wall explanations I would never have thought of, by myself.  If we compiled all the ones that successfully illustrate to the customer what their piano needs, we could all improve our marketing.
          They could be grouped by topic, ie,  analogies for pitch raises, another group for regulations, regular tuning, or voicing (a subject which lends itself to all sorts of comparisons; esoteric, esthetic, and otherwise).  Maybe a ground rule or two as we start,  to keep it simple and easy to edit.  Maybe, two lines per analogy, only, and we all agree to steal and be stolen from, plagiarising with impunity. If somebody has to keep their secret weapon secret, don't put it out there. 


        So,  here is two of mine that seem to connect the majority of the time. 
                     Inre a pitch raise:  I frame it like trying to turn a rough pasture (their present condition), into a golf green(that velvety smoothness from clean octaves and unisons).  It simply can't be done in one pass.

      Inre regulation: Trying to control an out of regulation piano is like trying to drive a car that only has half enough air in the tires.  You can get from one place to another, but not with any control, and it's work instead of fun.  
      Just a thought...


      Ed Foote RPT
      http://www.piano-tuners.org/edfoote/well_tempered_piano.html
 

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