<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40" xmlns:v = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:st1 = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2873" name=GENERATOR><o:SmartTagType name="time" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:SmartTagType><o:SmartTagType name="date" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:SmartTagType> <STYLE>  </STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY lang=EN-US vLink=purple link=blue bgColor=white> <DIV>and yet another spin to the topic, if you're new like me and slow at it, keep practicing until a tuning comes along. ;) , or going to the local piano store, our only one and checking the back to see if there are any junk pianos for parts.  </DIV> <DIV>Marshall</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black">From: <A title=pianoboutique@comcast.net href="mailto:pianoboutique@comcast.net">William Benjamin</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">To: <A title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">'Pianotech List'</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">Sent: Wednesday, May 03, 2006 3:19 PM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">Subject: RE: Business climate</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV class=Section1> Another slant on this is what is one doing with there time.   If you don’t have enough tunings to fill the day, then this is the time to work on pianos in the shop.   If you have the time, put it to good use so when times are busy you have pianos to sell.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> William<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <DIV> PIANO BOUTIQUE<o:p></o:p> William Benjamin<o:p></o:p> Piano Tuner Extraordinaire<o:p></o:p> <A href="http://www.pianoboutique.biz">www.pianoboutique.biz</A><o:p></o:p> The tuner alone,<o:p></o:p> preserves the tone.<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center> <HR tabIndex=-1 align=center width="100%" SIZE=2> </DIV> From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of J. R. White Sent: Wednesday, May 03, 2006 3:46 PM To: 'Pianotech List' Subject: RE: Business climate<o:p></o:p></DIV> <o:p> </o:p> You still miss my point: business climate doesn’t matter.  There are those whose attitudes and focus make them winners in any business climate.  If you don’t know this, every minute of every day, self-employment is likely frequently to scare the hell out of you.  Being scared like that is not necessary – and won’t happen – if you simply keep your eye on the task at hand.<o:p></o:p> Over the years, piano technicians in my market – my very neighborhood – and with more experience than I had at the time have gone out of business.  More than fifty of them.  They all blamed “business climate” or business conditions as the reason.<o:p></o:p> Yes, you have to be very good at what you do.  You have to work at it.  And you have to use good business practices.  But you don’t have to be sensitive to – or even particularly concerned about – every chill wind that blows.<o:p></o:p> Bottom line: keep on keeping on.  Contact your old clients.  Solicit new ones.  Treat people kindly.  Just do it.<o:p></o:p> J R W<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <DIV> <A href="mailto:jrwhiteltd@msn.com">jrwhiteltd@msn.com</A><o:p></o:p> (253) 922-2372<o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center> <HR tabIndex=-1 align=center width="100%" SIZE=2> </DIV> From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of pianotune05 Sent: Wednesday, <st1:date w:st="on" ls="trans" Month="5" Day="03" Year="2006">May 03, 2006</st1:date> <st1:time w:st="on" Hour="7" Minute="08">7:08 AM</st1:time> To: Pianotech List Subject: Re: Business climate<o:p></o:p></DIV> <o:p> </o:p> <DIV> I think business climate does hold some validity.  Of course, climate could vary from place to place, but I agree, pressing on is the key.  <o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV>  <o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV> As for those of us who are out there starting up, I think the climate can be affected by numerous factors.  That's why I said before that my area is saturated.  I think business climate can be affected by a person's individual situation ie. poor transit system, being new and slower than other tuners etc.  However, one can overcome these factors to a certain degree however, I do believe that in order to thrive at any business one must look at his or her individual situation and make the proper adjustments in order to thrive and succeed.  In my case with only one piano store in the area and a bus system that's limitted, I'd do better in an area with a better transit system and more piano opportunity.  So for me, my area is too saturated.  For the guy who's been here for 30 plus years who would say, "Our area isn't saturated," doesn't make sense. It reflects his individual situation. <o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV>  <o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV> Business climate then is often relative rather than set in stone, and pressing on is the only way we have in order to determine if we're working in a good or bad climate.<o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV> Marshall<o:p></o:p></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 3pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; MARGIN: 5pt 0in 5pt 3pt; BORDER-LEFT: black 1.5pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none"> <DIV> ----- Original Message ----- <o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV style="font-color: black"> From: <A title=jrwhiteltd@msn.com href="mailto:jrwhiteltd@msn.com">J. R. White</A> <o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV> To: <A title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">'Pianotech List'</A> <o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV> Sent: Tuesday, <st1:date w:st="on" ls="trans" Month="5" Day="02" Year="2006">May 02, 2006</st1:date> <st1:time w:st="on" Hour="23" Minute="22">11:22 PM</st1:time><o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV> Subject: RE: Business climate<o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV> <o:p> </o:p></DIV> Repeat business is holding up quite well, for me, even after thirty-five years.  Forget the so-called business climate.  Just keep pressing ahead.  That’s what entrepreneurs do; that’s what sets ‘em apart.<o:p></o:p> J R W<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <DIV> <A href="mailto:jrwhiteltd@msn.com">jrwhiteltd@msn.com</A><o:p></o:p> (253) 922-2372<o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center> <HR tabIndex=-1 align=center width="100%" SIZE=2> </DIV> From: <A href="mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org">pianotech-bounces@ptg.org</A> [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of KeyKat88@aol.com Sent: Tuesday, <st1:date w:st="on" ls="trans" Month="5" Day="02" Year="2006">May 02, 2006</st1:date> <st1:time w:st="on" Hour="14" Minute="41">2:41 PM</st1:time> To: pianotech@ptg.org Subject: Re: Business climate<o:p></o:p></DIV> <o:p> </o:p> <DIV> <DIV> In a message dated <st1:date w:st="on" ls="trans" Month="4" Day="14" Year="2006">4/14/2006</st1:date> 7:03:14 PM Eastern Standard Time, Erwinspiano@aol.com writes:<o:p></o:p></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: medium none; MARGIN-TOP: 5pt; PADDING-LEFT: 3pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 5pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; MARGIN-LEFT: 3pt; BORDER-LEFT: blue 1.5pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none"> <DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: medium none; MARGIN-TOP: 5pt; PADDING-LEFT: 3pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 5pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; MARGIN-LEFT: 3pt; BORDER-LEFT: blue 1.5pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none"> <DIV>   Anyone noticed a drop in repeat business this spring?  I wonder if higher fuel prices are pinching budgets and one place to trim is piano tuning.....<o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV>     Mike Kurta<o:p></o:p></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV> <DIV>  <o:p></o:p></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV> <DIV> Greetings,<o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV>  <o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV>         business is actually picking up for me...but then again i am starting my third year in business and thst is probably why.<o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV>  <o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV> Julia Gottshall<o:p></o:p></DIV> <DIV> Reaidng PA<o:p></o:p></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>