<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content=text/html;charset=iso-8859-1> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.6000.16705" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY id=MailContainerBody style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px; PADDING-LEFT: 10px; PADDING-TOP: 15px" bgColor=#ffffff leftMargin=0 topMargin=0 CanvasTabStop="true" name="Compose message area"> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>Wim, retirement is overrated. I retired for about 6 months. I hated it and got right back to working. Semi-retirement is very easy in this business. I work about 3 days a week and love it. The other good thing is that after a certain age you don't loose any of your Social Security benefits. I'm 68 and plan to work for as long as I enjoy it.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>I hate that your business is slow. I always like to have 1 or 2 pianos in the shop. Great income source for slow weeks and bad weather.</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>Al Guecia</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt Tahoma"> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #f5f5f5"> <DIV style="font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A title="mailto:wimblees@aol.com
CTRL + Click to follow link" href="mailto:wimblees@aol.com">wimblees@aol.com</A> </DIV> <DIV><B>Sent:</B> Friday, October 10, 2008 1:59 PM</DIV> <DIV><B>To:</B> <A title="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org
CTRL + Click to follow link" href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV> <DIV><B>Subject:</B> Re: the economy</DIV></DIV></DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV><WBR>The bad news is, I HAVE to tune 15 - 20 piano a week, in order to make a living. The bad news is, I am only tuning 10 - 15 piano a week. I'm getting by selling string covers, Rust Blocker, and doing minor regulations and repairs. Hopefully, when the econnomy recovers, I will be able to do more work. <BR><BR>My wife and I had hoped to retire in another couple of years. (We're both in our early 60's)  But with the drop in the stock market, I just told her last night that it looks like we'll be doing this for another 10 years. <BR> <DIV style="CLEAR: both"><BR>Willem (Wim) Blees, RPT<BR>Piano Tuner/Technician<BR>Mililani, Oahu, HI<BR>808-349-2943<BR>Author of: <BR>The Business of Piano Tuning<BR>available from Potter Press<BR>www.pianotuning.com</DIV><BR><BR>-----Original Message-----<BR>From: Gregor _ <karlkaputt@hotmail.com><BR>To: Pianotech List <pianotech@ptg.org><BR>Sent: Thu, 9 Oct 2008 11:07 pm<BR>Subject: RE: the economy<BR><BR> <DIV id=AOLMsgPart_2_03631139-2ded-4647-aed2-1a67b9a6ee25> <STYLE>#AOLMsgPart_2_03631139-2ded-4647-aed2-1a67b9a6ee25 .hmmessage P{margin:0px;padding:0px}#AOLMsgPart_2_03631139-2ded-4647-aed2-1a67b9a6ee25 body.hmmessage{FONT-SIZE: 10pt;FONT-FAMILY:Tahoma}</STYLE> Hi all,<BR><BR>Richard asked an interesting question: how many pianos do you tune per day or week? Terry, was it a joke or do you really tune up to 30-40 tunings a week? Looking to the smilie I assume it was a joke.  Usualy I try to limit it to 3 tunings per day, but in the high season (christmas time) I have to do 4 appointments. Next monday I will have a hard day: I will drive in an area where 5 pianos are waiting for me. But these days are very very rare. Furthermore, I do field service only for 3 days a week because I have my store opened for the other 3 days a week. Of course I have to tune in my store, too. But I try not to do too many tunings a week. Its making me tired and sometimes its  stressfull. And I feel its getting more stressfull with the years, particularly in the high treble. Now I am 43 years old and 20 years ago it seemed to be easier. But I am very very happy that I have my Verituner for 2 years now. How could I work without an ETD all the years? It makes wor! k much more comfortable.<BR><BR>Gregor<BR><BR> <HR> From: <A href="mailto:pianolover88@hotmail.com">pianolover88@hotmail.com</A><BR>To: <A href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A><BR>Subject: RE: the economy<BR>Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2008 18:37:30 -0700<BR><BR> <STYLE>#AOLMsgPart_2_03631139-2ded-4647-aed2-1a67b9a6ee25 .ExternalClass .EC_hmmessage P{padding:0px;}#AOLMsgPart_2_03631139-2ded-4647-aed2-1a67b9a6ee25 .ExternalClass body.EC_hmmessage{font-size:10pt;font-family:Tahoma;}</STYLE> No more than 30-40 tunings per week for me. I'm semi-reitred! <IMG src="http://gfx1.hotmail.com/mail/w3/pr01/emoticons/smile_regular.gif"><BR><BR>Terry Peterson<BR><BR> <HR> From: <A href="mailto:AlliedPianoCraft@hotmail.com">AlliedPianoCraft@hotmail.com</A><BR>To: <A href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A><BR>Subject: Re: the economy<BR>Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2008 20:43:35 -0400<BR><BR> <STYLE>#AOLMsgPart_2_03631139-2ded-4647-aed2-1a67b9a6ee25 .ExternalClass p.EC_MsoNormal,#AOLMsgPart_2_03631139-2ded-4647-aed2-1a67b9a6ee25 .ExternalClass li.EC_MsoNormal,#AOLMsgPart_2_03631139-2ded-4647-aed2-1a67b9a6ee25 .ExternalClass div.EC_MsoNormal{margin-bottom:.0001pt;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:'Times New Roman';}#AOLMsgPart_2_03631139-2ded-4647-aed2-1a67b9a6ee25 .ExternalClass a:link,#AOLMsgPart_2_03631139-2ded-4647-aed2-1a67b9a6ee25 .ExternalClass span.EC_MsoHyperlink{color:blue;text-decoration:underline;}#AOLMsgPart_2_03631139-2ded-4647-aed2-1a67b9a6ee25 .ExternalClass a:visited,#AOLMsgPart_2_03631139-2ded-4647-aed2-1a67b9a6ee25 .ExternalClass span.EC_MsoHyperlinkFollowed{color:purple;text-decoration:underline;}#AOLMsgPart_2_03631139-2ded-4647-aed2-1a67b9a6ee25 .ExternalClass p{margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:'Times New Roman';}#AOLMsgPart_2_03631139-2ded-4647-aed2-1a67b9a6ee25 .ExternalClass span.EC_EmailStyle17{font-family:Arial! ;color:navy;}@#AOLMsgPart_2_03631139-2ded-4647-aed2-1a67b9a6ee25 page Section1{size:8.5in 11.0in;}#AOLMsgPart_2_03631139-2ded-4647-aed2-1a67b9a6ee25 .ExternalClass div.EC_Section1{page:Section1;}</STYLE> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>I could handle that in my younger days, but now I max out at 3. At the end of the third, I'm thinking serious lubrication also. Shop work can wait for another day. What a great business we're in.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>Al Guecia</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt Tahoma"> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: rgb(245,245,245); -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial"> <DIV><B>From:</B> <A title="mailto:davidlovepianos@comcast.net CTRL + Click to follow link" href="mailto:davidlovepianos@comcast.net">David Love</A> </DIV> <DIV><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, October 09, 2008 7:28 PM</DIV> <DIV><B>To:</B> <A title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">'Pianotech List'</A> </DIV> <DIV><B>Subject:</B> RE: the economy</DIV></DIV></DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV class=EC_EC_Section1> <DIV class=EC_EC_MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">I try to keep it to 3 appointments in the AM and work in the shop in the afternoon.  Il do 5 if I have to drive somewhere and can group them but that requires serious lubrication afterwards.  </SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV class=EC_EC_MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy">David</SPAN></FONT><FONT color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy"> Love</SPAN></FONT><FONT color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy"><BR><A href="mailto:davidlovepianos@comcast.net">davidlovepianos@comcast.net</A><BR><A href="http://www.davidlovepianos.com/" target=_blank>www.davidlovepianos.com</A></SPAN></FONT><FONT color=navy><SPAN style="COLOR: navy"> </SPAN></FONT><BR></DIV> <DIV class=EC_EC_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> <A href="mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org">pianotech-bounces@ptg.org</A> [<A href="mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org?">mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org</A>] <B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">On Behalf Of </SPAN></B><A title="mailto:richard.ucci@att.net CTRL + Click to follow link" href="mailto:richard.ucci@att.net">richard.ucci@att.net</A><BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</SPAN></B> Thursday, October 09, 2008 3:24 PM<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</SPAN></B> </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Tahoma size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Pianotech List</SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Tahoma size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</SPAN></B> RE: the economy</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV class=EC_EC_MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=EC_EC_MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Dave, </SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=EC_EC_MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">How many appointments per day on average?</SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=EC_EC_MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">RU/UP</SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 4pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 5pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; MARGIN-LEFT: 3.75pt; BORDER-LEFT: 1.5pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none"> <DIV class=EC_EC_MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">-------------- Original message from "David Love" <<A href="mailto:davidlovepianos@comcast.net">davidlovepianos@comcast.net</A>>: -------------- <BR><BR><BR>> These problems find their source in Reaganomics, trickle down philosophy and <BR>> deficit spending on projects that have no return. In the interim there is <BR>> plenty of blame to go around on both sides. Of course Bush and his cronies <BR>> should be given the Mussolini, if you catch my drift, but that's another <BR>> story. <BR>> <BR>> That being said, my business is fine. I'm booked into next year with <BR>> rebuilding projects (of course they could change their minds), my service <BR>> work is booked out several weeks and I'm opting out of jobs that take me too <BR>> far a field or involve pianos I don't want to work on. Who knows if it will <BR>> last but while it does I'm making hay. If things are slow, get some <BR>> exercise and play with your kids. <BR>> <BR>> David Love <BR>> <A href="mailto:davidlovepianos@comcast.net">davidlovepianos@comcast.net</A> <BR>> <A href="http://www.davidlovepianos.com/" target=_blank>www.davidlovepianos.com</A> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> </SPAN></FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV><BR> <HR> Stay up to date on your PC, the Web, and your mobile phone with Windows Live. <A href="http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/msnnkwxp1020093185mrt/direct/01/" target=_blank>See Now</A> <BR> <HR> Invite your mail contacts to join your friends list with Windows Live Spaces. It's easy! <A href="http://spaces.live.com/spacesapi.aspx?wx_action=create&wx_url=/friends.aspx&mkt=en-us" target=_blank>Try it!</A> = </DIV> <DIV class=aol_ad_footer id=MAILCIAMB037-92b648ef97f92f0>McCain or Obama? Stay updated on coverage of the Presidential race while you browse - <A href="http://toolbar.aol.com/elections/download.html?ncid=emlweusdown00000002">Download Now!</A> </DIV></BODY></HTML>