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<DIV><FONT face=Arial>John, </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>You are so right, but yellow pages at least puts your name
out there in "word of print", but I agree with your word of mouth
statement. This is exactly why I'm relocating to a larger city.
There are more mouths there and of course for me, more opportunities to network
with other techs and better transportation to name a few things. In
my area, there are at least 12 techs maybe 14 that cover towns as far as half
hour or hour away. The bus system here is limitted, but we at least have
one. So I'll see what my listing does here and enjoy the word of mouth in
the larger city. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Marshall</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=jrpiano@win.eastlink.ca href="mailto:jrpiano@win.eastlink.ca">John
Ross</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=pianotech@ptg.org
href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech List</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Monday, May 29, 2006 8:49 AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: yellow pages ad/James</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial>You can have as many yellow pages, as you are
willing to pay for. Under as many different names as you
like.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial>The yellow pages do not even care if you
are qualified, they let you advertise anyway.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial>A lot of people realize this, and take the
yellow pages with a grain of salt.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial>The best advertising is word of
mouth.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial>The problem is in getting the initial customers
to give this word of mouth endorsement.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial>Dealers, music teachers, schools and churches
are good places to start.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial>I am lucky that I have not had to advertise for
years. </FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial>I have never called anyone to say, time for a
piano tuning. The calls have always arrived in time to pay my
bills.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial>As I say, I consider myself very
lucky.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial>Getting ready for Rochester, hope to see you all
there.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV>John M. Ross<BR>Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada.<BR><A
href="mailto:jrpiano@win.eastlink.ca">jrpiano@win.eastlink.ca</A></DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=pianotune05@comcast.net
href="mailto:pianotune05@comcast.net">pianotune05@comcast.net</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=deanmay@pianorebuilders.com
href="mailto:deanmay@pianorebuilders.com">deanmay@pianorebuilders.com</A> ;
<A title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech
List</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Monday, May 29, 2006 9:34
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> RE: yellow pages
ad/James</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">I'm curious. in our
phone book, there's a tech. who has two listings. He lists one under
his first name first then last name first. What's the purpose in
this? Do you yellow pages allow this? Also, how did the other
guys in my community get sooo fortunate that they didn't have to
advertise in the yellow pages? </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Marshall</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid">--------------
Original message -------------- <BR>From: "Dean May" <<A
href="mailto:deanmay@pianorebuilders.com">deanmay@pianorebuilders.com</A>>
<BR>
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<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">But wouldn’t the
overall taxes paid be the same? </SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">An easy way to
reduce your family’s overall tax load is to pay your children. I am pretty
sure this is true, though most tax professionals I’ve talked to are only
vaguely familiar with it and no one could actually tell me the mechanics
of how to do it. If you pay your children you do not have to pay FICA
taxes on their salaries. That will reduce your total family’s tax burden
by 15% of whatever you pay them.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">I a talking about
sole proprietorships, which most of us probably are. There are other
strategies for corporations. </SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoAutoSig><B><FONT face="Bradley Hand ITC" color=navy
size=6><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 22pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: 'Bradley Hand ITC'">Dean</SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoAutoSig><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=navy size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy">Dean
May
cell 812.239.3359</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoAutoSig><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=navy size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy">PianoRebuilders.com
812.235.5272</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoAutoSig><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=navy size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy">Terre Haute IN
47802</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=Tahoma
size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">-----Original
Message-----<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">From:</SPAN></B>
pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] <B><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">On Behalf Of </SPAN></B>Arlin Hall<BR><B><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</SPAN></B> Sunday, May 28, 2006 10:53
PM<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</SPAN></B> Pianotech
List<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</SPAN></B> RE: yellow
pages ad/James</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=Arial color=blue
size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">If
you officially paid your wife's time, documented the hours, deducted and
paid payroll taxes, etc, what you paid her would be deductible as a
business expense. Therefore, the income tax that you pay on your
business would be less. You don't even have to be a corporation to
do this.</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
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size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=Arial color=blue
size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Arlin Hall, CPA
(really)</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE style="MARGIN-TOP: 5pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 5pt">
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0in"><FONT
face=Tahoma size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">-----Original
Message-----<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">From:</SPAN></B> Tom
Sivak [mailto:tvaktvak@sbcglobal.net]<BR><B><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</SPAN></B> Sunday, May 28, 2006 5:36
PM<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</SPAN></B> Pianotech
List<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</SPAN></B> Re:
yellow pages ad/James</SPAN></FONT></P>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Yeah, I got
that. Since I don't have a 'payroll', I'm not sure exactly what
would be different than it is right now. We file jointly, on the
total of our two incomes. Now, if she has no income, she would
become my dependant, which would be a tax advantage in itself, so
I'm not sure if somehow declaring her an 'employee' would be any
better. <BR><BR>But it's an interesting topic for my tax guy, I
guess.</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
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face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Tom
<BR><BR><B><I><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-STYLE: italic">Pianoman
<pianoman@accessus.net></SPAN></I></B>
wrote:</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
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<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0in"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">I meant
your wife would become an employee on the payroll reducing your
<BR>taxable income.<BR>James Grebe Piano Tuning & Repair Member of
M.P.T.<BR>R.P.T. of the P.T.G. for over 30 years. "Member of the Year"
in 1989<BR>Creator of Handsome Hardwood Caster Cups, Piano Benches,
Writing <BR>Instruments,Table Timepieces<BR>(314) 845-8282 1526
Raspberry Lane Arnold, MO 63010<BR>Researcher of St. Louis Theatre
History<BR>BECOME WHAT YOU BELIEVE!<BR>pianoman@accessus.net<BR>-----
Original Message ----- <BR>From: "Tom Sivak"
<BR><TVAKTVAK@SBCGLOBAL.NET>To: "Pianotech List"
<BR><PIANOTECH@PTG.ORG>Sent: Friday, May 26, 2006 7:44 AM<BR>Subject:
Re: yellow pages ad/James<BR><BR><BR>> James,<BR>><BR>> Now
that's an interesting idea, but how? I mean, there ain't no payroll!
<BR>> I, myself, don't get a 'paycheck' from my o! wn busi ness, I
get checks from <BR>> the clients, made out to me, and I deposit
them in our joint checking <BR>> account.<BR>><BR>> Perhaps
I'd have to incorporate to be able to legitimize this. I like the
<BR>> thinking behind this concept, though...<BR>><BR>> Tom
Sivak<BR>><BR>> Pianoman <PIANOMAN@ACCESSUS.NET>wrote:<BR>>
PLUS you can put her on the payroll and YOUR income that is taxed will
go<BR>> down.<BR>><BR>> James Grebe Piano Tuning & Repair
Member of M.P.T.<BR>> R.P.T. of the P.T.G. for over 30 years.
"Member of the Year" in 1989<BR>> Creator of Handsome Hardwood
Caster Cups, Piano Benches, Writing<BR>> Instruments,Table
Timepieces<BR>> (314) 845-8282 1526 Raspberry Lane Arnold, MO
63010<BR>> Researcher of St. Louis Theatre History<BR>> BECOME
WHAT YOU BELIEVE!<BR>> pianoman@accessus.net<BR>> ----- Original
Message ----- <BR>> From: "Tom Sivak"<BR>> To: "Pianotech
List"<BR>><BR>> Sent: Thursday! , May 2 5, 2006 8:05 PM<BR>>
Subject: Re: yellow pages ad<BR>><BR>><BR>>>
Marshall,<BR>>><BR>>> I get on the average, about 50-60
calls from the Yellow Pages each year.<BR>>> That has been
pretty consistent over the past 10 years. And that was
with<BR>>> just a listing, no ad, no bold type. From what I
understand, the Yellow<BR>>> Pages are changing their
format/boundaries this year. They are combining<BR>>> several
areas together into one larger book that will cover a larger
<BR>>> area.<BR>>> So, we'll have to see how that impacts
things. We'll get wider coverage,<BR>>> but there will be more
tuners listed in each book.<BR>>><BR>>> I know you're
eager to start and grow, as a business and as a
technician.<BR>>> I wish you luck.<BR>>><BR>>> Now
here's something that kept me going, through the years, when
times<BR>>> were leaner.<BR>>><BR>>> I kept
statistics on the gr! owth of my business. Total number of
tunings,<BR>>> by the year, and by the month. New business vs.
repeat business.<BR>>> Referrals vs. Yellow Pages. (I never kept
track of grands vs. verticals.<BR>>> I'm not that
anal!)<BR>>><BR>>> All this not only helped me to
understand how to help my business grow in<BR>>> the future, but
it helped me, psychologically, as I looked at the meager<BR>>>
sum I had earned this past year. At least knowing that it was 150% of
the<BR>>> amount I made last year helped. Sometimes I'd feel
like business was down<BR>>> and I'd look at my 'progress chart'
and realize that although 'X' tunings<BR>>> wasn't enough this
past month, it was more than I had ever made in that<BR>>> same
month of any year previous.<BR>>><BR>>> As long as we're
on the subject, I just had my best month, ever, this<BR>>> past
February, where I tuned 65 pianos. My previous best was 38.
WooHOO!<BR>>! > It may not be the 80 pianos I would liked to
have had, but it's closer<BR>>> than ever! (I have to credit my
wife for this surge in business. She<BR>>> lost her job, so
she's at home answering the phone, making my<BR>>> appointments,
and calling our clients whose pianos are due to be tuned.<BR>>>
She has increased my business by about 40% since starting with me
in<BR>>> January.)<BR>>><BR>>> Been in business
about 10 years now,<BR>>> Tom Sivak<BR>>>
Chicago<BR>>><BR>>><BR>>> pianotune05@comcast.net
wrote:<BR>>> HI Terry,<BR>>> My name is listed in the
piano tuning and repair section. It's just a<BR>>>
listing.<BR>>> Marshall<BR>>><BR>>> --------------
Original message -------------- <BR>>> From:
"Farrell"<BR>>> "just my name phone number
"<BR>>><BR>>> Is it an ad? Does it say you are a piano
technician? Is it listed in the<BR>>> Piano Techni! cian (o r
Tuning) section?<BR>>><BR>>> Terry Farrell<BR>>>
----- Original Message ----- <BR>>><BR>>> Well, the new
2006 ATT phone books are out. I have a listing in it, just<BR>>>
my name phone number and our town abbreviated, although some people
think<BR>>> that South Bend is a city. Anyway, I'm curious as to
how long it took you<BR>>> guys out there to get your first call
from your first yellow pages<BR>>> listing. This way I'll know
roughly what to expect and not set my<BR>>> expectations too
high. Thanks all.<BR>>>
Marshall<BR>>><BR>>><BR>><BR>><BR>><BR>>
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