<html> At 03:24 PM 1/13/2006 -0500, you wrote: <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>Hi Susan,</blockquote> Hi, Marshall <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>When I do the practice tuning at the thrift store, I hand out cards to whomever approaches me.  Is there a chance that these people will call?</blockquote> A few will. Not too many thrift store customers have a piano and the money to tune it, but some might. <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite> Advertising, I can't afford that unfortunately.</blockquote> You're working very hard, I know, but I think it's just as well you can't afford advertising right now. (See below ...) <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>  I'm just trying like crazy to e-mail people, churches, schools, nursing homes funeral homes etc. Telemarketing isn't that great either. </blockquote> Telemarketing is an annoyance for everyone concerned -- the people who call, and the people who are called. Most people, especially these days, wouldn't dream of doing business with someone who calls them cold. The whole world, including Bangalore, India, is trying to get a hand in their pockets. Telemarketing is like swimming upstream in a cold, swift river. You get very tired, and you hardly go any distance at all. You might even lose ground. <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite> Word of mouth is great if you have some mouths to spread the word.  When you're like me in an area with almost 10 piano techs and only a couple hundred thousand people, what can one do in order to get in and stay in? </blockquote> The only way in is the same way one stays in: good thorough work at fair prices. Talk is just talk.  This training you're getting this weekend? Is it with one of these ten techs? If so, bravo! You need local allies -- people to send work which you aren't able to do yet, people to help you out when you paint yourself into a corner. If you get to know these local techs well, and find out what they're particularly good at, and how much they charge, you might be able to subcontract some work out to them. They might let you hang around and get some experience as they do it. A good tech will often end up with an overflow, which he or she might be willing to send on to you -- but only if he or she knows that you are skilled enough not to mess up. Being smart enough to get help when needed is a second best to not messing up, but better than pretending that all is well when it isn't. <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite> I figure, once people start calling I'll be that much more further along in my training which I'm obtaining more of this weekend. Marshall</blockquote> It's a very nice thought, but you have to look out for your own best interests. You see, word of mouth works both ways. In a way, it's easier to get the training and some experience somewhere else, make the various goofs, fix them, and then come and start your business. Otherwise, you might find that it takes a long time to live down some of your early jobs. A course at the Piano Hospital in Vancouver, WA, would help with the partially sighted skills, and would help give you a strong foundation. The confidence that you really know what you are doing is priceless. Well, you know your own situation best. There are a few things you can always offer: you can be on time, well-groomed, I know you'll be cheerful and enthusiastic and work hard. You can also stand by your work, and if you get call backs (we all get some ...) cheerfully do whatever it takes to get things right, even if you need to bring someone ("my consulting expert") with you. I can tell you this -- fresh out of school, with my little piano tech diploma in my hand, I set up a business in California. It went very slowly. Twelve years later, I moved to Oregon, expecting to have to start from scratch all over again -- no. It went very quickly and easily. Experience does count. Susan  <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>----- Original Message ----- From: "Susan Kline" <skline@peak.org> To: <pianotech@ptg.org> Sent: Friday, January 13, 2006 2:38 PM Subject: Re: Freebees- <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>Build a good tuning, and repairs which stay repaired -- relax and forget about the rest of it, the fussy charges, the contracts in case of no-shows, the discounts for booking the next tuning on the spot, the reminder cards, the call-backs, the big display ad, the business name starting with AAA, the chatty little newsletter sent to everyone twice a year "it's time for your darling piano's next tuning" <barf> -- just toss all that time-wasting irritating  trivia -- they will come. Really, think about what message you are sending out. Even just a pen with your name on it -- "This is someone who was short of work for so long that he decided to shell out money for  advertising. Either he is brand new to the trade, or his work is bad enough that he doesn't get much repeat business. He expects me to throw away his card and forget his name." People are naturally polite; they'll respect your professional dignity by taking your freebee and thanking you -- but they'll react to the hidden message just the same, maybe not even realizing why they aren't really sure they want you back. If you're going to attempt to manipulate customers, try the opposite tack -- "Be sure to call at least three weeks in advance, especially around the holidays ..." ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssnnnn _______________________________________________ Pianotech list info: <a href="https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives" eudora="autourl">https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives</a> </blockquote> _______________________________________________ Pianotech list info: <a href="https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives" eudora="autourl">https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives</a></blockquote></html>