<!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 6.00.2800.1522" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Joe, Way cool!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>My grandmom use to say "No one owes you = a living"</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Joe Goss RPT<BR>Mother Goose = Tools<BR><A href="mailto:imatunr@srvinet.com">imatunr@srvinet.com</A><BR><A href="http://www.mothergoosetools.com">www.mothergoosetools.com</A></FO= NT></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"><B>From:</B> <A title=josephspiano@comcast.net href="mailto:josephspiano@comcast.net">Joseph Alkana</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A = title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">An open list, for piano = technicians</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, January 17, 2006 = 12:37 PM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: Piano work; was Freebees-</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>LONG ----FOR SEASONED VETERANS ONLY - = Just about making money.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Marshall,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>So glad you are eager to learn and = evolve in this wonderful crazy world of pianos!  My number, which by the way, is = in the PTG guide and on line at their web site, is 425-747-4914. I'm out = working until 4:00 usually, then home for my rest, dinner and return calls. = Any evening is great.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I once was a Boy Scout, trying hard = to earn money to go to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. I was depending on mowing = lawns, and business just wasn't booming. I whined to the Scout Leader about = how slow things were, and he roared back at me to get off my butt and go out to = the rich end of town and start knocking on doors and offering to scrub = porches and floors. He proceeded to enumerate many ideas for earning money, all of = which sounded so beneath me, yelling all the while to grow up and pay = attention to what was going on around me. He gave me ideas on getting along with = people, jobs to pursue, how life works, etc. What an eye opener for me. After = just trying to get work it seems that jobs just flew my direction out of = nowhere. One person told another that there was this kid who wanted to work and = would clean up garbage areas, pull trash from under houses, clean basements, = weed gardens, wash cars, clean windows, and, yes mow the lawn as long as I = was there, even if there was a  regular kid mowing for them. Hand = clipping, hand raking, non-power mowing for older homes with small yards. = Absorbing the important lesson of "The learning curve for dealing with = older people set in their ways", collecting money owed, asking for work, and giving = an honest day's effort on my part: All of this helped me to not only earn = enough for that trip, but provided me with a whole lot of growing up and = finding out what it takes to survive. I'll never forget that summer.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Now I'm getting older and health is = failing some, so I ease into retirement and look now for fun things to do and enjoy = life. So much work keeps coming my way that it's hard to slow down, though!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial = size=2><STRONG>Quickies:</STRONG></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>+ Can you tune in a day care center = and keep smiling?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>+ Challenge yourself to tune with a = noisy refrigerator screaming at you. Or washer. Or dryer with tennis shoe in = drum.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>+ Horrible piano?  Enjoy the = people and develope friendship or sell them a new piano at the dealer and make spiff.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>+ Make friends with child who plays = piano, teach child what is going on with piano and child will be the one asking for = you to come back and service piano.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>+ Set sample key perfect and = show player how much better note plays. Say piano will play better with = regulation and you'll throw in free vacuum, too.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>+Clean fallboard of shiny piano with = Cory Piano Polish while customer is writing out check. Sell bottle of polish and = pay for  nice lunch.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>+ Sticky upright action after move? = Problem is moisture. Borrow customer hair-dryer and free up 80% of problem notes. = Sell Dampp Chaser, use Protek and go to nice restaurant with wife = and kids.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>+ Ask customer if they have piano in = church; ask for introduction to pianist. Get 7 pianos to tune next = week.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>+ Learn to do one new service or = repair every day. Each item worth maybe one hour average. Rate x time x number working days of year gives you that many dollar = raise for year potential. Would you settle for half even?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>+ Don't play piano? Learn. Learn one = new simple song every month. Play one hundred times. Perform like = expert.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>OK, it's time for my = nap.</FONT></DIV> <DIV>Joseph Alkana RPT</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"><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=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">An open list, for piano = technicians</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Monday, January 16, = 2006 9:41 PM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: Piano work; was Freebees-</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Hi = JOe,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>I'll give you a call sometime, but you're = number wasn't listed on the post, unless I didn' t see it.  = </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>You have interesting ideas for sure, some of = which I tired, and others I have not.  I have years of cleaning experience.  Perhaps I should offer to clean out a piano.  = In fact, a lady my wife used to clean for, asked about having her piano = cleaned out.  </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>The tricky part is JOe, will these ideas = work in an area heavily saturated with piano techs much more experienced than = I, but some of which not as well groomed.;)  I'll never wear jeans to = any tuning even my practice tunings.  Nice Dockers and a sweater or = shirt work for me.  A tie is too confining.  </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>Id like to hear what this Isaac guy taught = you about marketing.  Take care.</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: "Joseph Alkana" <josephspiano@comcast.net> <BR><BR>> Long, and not for = the seasoned veteran. <BR>> <BR>> Marshall and everyone looking = to make money in the piano business: <BR>> <BR>> I was a late comer = to the piano business. Pretty much of a non-player, but <BR>> heavily = steeped in music experience looking for an outlet for my musical <BR>> = interest and some way to make money too. I could give you the whole story = of <BR>> working in this vocation, but writing isn't my forte and = besides, the length <BR>> of the tome would make for a great bedtime = reader. However, certain things <BR>> remain crucial to starting and maintaining any business. It's not hard to <BR>> come up with = ways to develope your business "reach" and you need to take <BR>> some = time and reflect on the whole approach to piano! service. <BR>> <BR>> = PTG offers opportunities to learn, both formal and informal, = practically <BR>> just for the taking. Without them and the desire to excel = and improve on my <BR>> part I would be hard pressed to have stayed = in business very long. Learning <BR>> almost every aspect of piano = lore has to be a priority. Consider yourself a <BR>> sponge, soaking = up knowledge about personalities, relationships, business <BR>> = ethics, business skills, anything piano related and always practicing to = be <BR>> the very best technician that you can. At first glance, = my opportunities <BR>> seemed limited. There are so many great = techs in my area, that one would <BR>> think all opportunities are sewed = up. Far from it, I learned that you must <BR>> pursue some avenues that = are a bit removed from premium piano work, but you <BR>> can make a = very good living if you only try. Quality jobs will come to those <BR>> practicing quality work. Attend an Is! aac Sadigursky class and be = ready to <BR>> make dollars afterwards. Be ready to work an eight = hour day - from eight 'o <BR>> clock to eight 'o clock. (Isaac's wisdom) = <BR>> <BR>> Be around pianos, not in front of a TV set. Go to the = dealer, schmooze him, <BR>> take an interest in what he sells, how he = sells and watch for opportunities <BR>> to jump in and help with a piano. = Visit the store using any excuse, just to <BR>> be there. Measure a = piano, ask some questions, inspect their used stuff and <BR>> offer to = help fix a few things on a beater right then and there. Bring in a = <BR>> friend who is a player and show him the merchandise. Sales people = love to <BR>> see techs refer customers. Ask the manager if you can = vacuum out some of <BR>> the merchandise and polish cabinets and pedals to = make the stock more <BR>> attractive. Walk the manager around to = pianos you have assessed and show him <BR>> what is needed to improve his merchandise f! or sale. Leave a stack of cards <BR>> at every = visit. <BR>> <BR>> Visit with other techs as often as you can to = learn what it is that they do. <BR>> Listen, observe. Offer to help on a = project. Can you do simple shop jobs <BR>> well? Offer to clean actions, = scrub out pianos, de-string pianos, you get <BR>> the idea. <BR>> = <BR>> When you have what you think is nothing to do, read everything = piano related <BR>> that you can. Immerse yourself in pianos. Have = you read the last 20 years of <BR>> the PTG Journal? Why not? Start out = looking for customers that probably will <BR>> turn out to be one = timers. So what. Their money all spends the same as the <BR>> Steinway = owner's. Most techs have "paid their dues", that is, spent quite a <BR>> = bit of time working on inferior instruments, honing skills by doing basic = <BR>> jobs over and over again, often in less than pristine surroundings and often <BR>> for a lot less money than the top = tech ! in the area. Consider magnetic car <BR>> signs and park for a = while in a shopping plaza or grocery store parking lot. <BR>> Park by = the entrance to a large housing development. Put your information up = <BR>> on every bulletin board you can find. Offer services no one else = does. <BR>> Develope skills no one else has. Be the most congenial = person that you can <BR>> be at all times. Make sure you are = marketable appearance wise. (Clothes, <BR>> personal grooming, auto = presentable) <BR>> <BR>> Brainstorm with others in small business and = open yourself up to new ways to <BR>> develope business. Invest = heavily in yourself. I fail to understand how you <BR>> have time to = pursue another business with money to be made in the piano <BR>> = business at hand. Call me and I'll give you ideas to pursue. Marshall, = <BR>> believe me, your biggest problem is not that you can't afford a = Yellow Pages <BR>> ad! <BR>> <BR>> Joseph Alkana RPT <BR>> = <BR>&! gt; <BR>> ----- Original Message ----- <BR>> From: = "pianotune05" <PIANOTUNE05@COMCAST.NET><BR>> To: "An open list for piano = technicians" <PIANOTECH@PTG.ORG><BR>> Sent: Monday, January 16, 2006 8:02 PM = <BR>> Subject: Re: Freebees- <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> > Hi = Brian, <BR>> > My biggest problem is that I cannot aford a yellow = pages ad. In fact, my <BR>> > wife and I are barely making it with the = office cleaning accounts we have. <BR>> > So, how's a tuner = breaking in to the business get his foot in when there's <BR>> > only one = music store in town, and about 9+ tuners in the area, South Bend = <BR>> > area. I'm considering relocating just to get business because all = of the <BR>> > other tech. are hogging all the work. <BR>> > = Marshall <BR>> > ----- Original Message ----- <BR>> > From: = "Brian Doepke" <DOEPKEB@COMCAST.NET><BR>> > To: "'An open list for = piano technicians'" <PIANOTECH@PTG.ORG><BR>> >! ; Sent: Friday, = January 13, 2006 8:15 PM <BR>> > Subject: RE: Freebees- <BR>> = > <BR>> > <BR>> >> Hmmmmm??? I get many calls because = I am the first in the yellow pages. <BR>> >> I <BR>> = >> ask polite questions, try to personable and most of the time get a new = <BR>> >> client. <BR>> >> <BR>> >> So, = I think the business name that starts with AAA worked well for me. = <BR>> >> If <BR>> >> you are going to have expense of = being in the yellow pages, be at the <BR>> >> top. <BR>> = >> And return phone calls!!! So many others in the book do not return = calls. <BR>> >> I <BR>> >> can't understand = it...but....it's their loss. <BR>> >> <BR>> >> Brian P. Doepke = <BR>> >> <BR>> >> AAA Piano Works, Inc. <BR>> >> = 260-432-2043 <BR>> >> 260-417-1298 <BR>> >> = <BR>> >> -----Original Message----- <BR>> ! >> From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On = <BR>> >> Behalf <BR>> >> Of Susan Kline <BR>> >> = Sent: Friday, January 13, 2006 2:38 PM <BR>> >> To: = pianotech@ptg.org <BR>> >> Subject: Re: Freebees- <BR>> >> = <BR>> >> Build a good tuning, and repairs which stay repaired -- = relax and forget <BR>> >> about the rest of it, the fussy charges, = the contracts in case of <BR>> >> no-shows, <BR>> >> = the discounts for booking the next tuning on the spot, the reminder = <BR>> >> cards, <BR>> >> the call-backs, the big display = ad, the business name starting with AAA, <BR>> >> the chatty = little newsletter sent to everyone twice a year "it's time for <BR>> = >> your darling piano's next tuning" <BARF>-- just toss all that = <BR>> >> time-wasting <BR>> >> irritating trivia -- they = will come. <BR>> >> <BR>> >&g! t; Really, think = about what message you are sending out. Even just a pen <BR>> >> = with <BR>> >> your name on it -- "This is someone who was = short of work for so long <BR>> >> that <BR>> >> he = decided to shell out money for advertising. Either he is brand new to = <BR>> >> the trade, or his work is bad enough that he doesn't get = much repeat <BR>> >> business. He expects me to throw away his = card and forget his name." <BR>> >> People <BR>> >> = are naturally polite; they'll respect your professional dignity by = taking <BR>> >> your freebee and thanking you -- but they'll = react to the hidden message <BR>> >> just the same, maybe not even = realizing why they aren't really sure they <BR>> >> want = you back. <BR>> >> <BR>> >> If you're going to = attempt to manipulate customers, try the opposite tack <BR>> >> -- = "Be sure to call at least three weeks in advance, espe! cially around = <BR>> >> the <BR>> >> holidays ..." <BR>> >> = <BR>> >> ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssnnnn <BR>> >> = <BR>> >> _______________________________________________ <BR>> = >> Pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives = <BR>> >> <BR>> >> _______________________________________________ <BR>> >> Pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives = <BR>> > <BR>> > _______________________________________________ <BR>> > = Pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives <BR>> = > <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> = _______________________________________________ <BR>> Pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives </BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>