<html>  <head></head> <body>  <DIV></DIV> <P>Dave, you're a better man than I, good advice though.</P> <P>Thanks,</P> <P>RU/UP<BR></P> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid">-------------- Original message from Piannaman@aol.com: -------------- <BR><BR> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1106" name=GENERATOR><FONT id=role_document face=Verdana color=#000000 size=3> <DIV> <DIV>Richard,</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Everyone's different, and different things work for different clients.  I book some six months in advance, some a year in advance.  Some can't keep a calendar that far ahead, so I send them reminders and call.  If I book far in advance, I always call to remind the customer when I'm coming.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>After sending postcards, i'll usually call two-three times over a 3-6 month period, and if I get no response, I leave a message telling them to call me when they need my services.  I put an x by their name, indicating to me that the ball is in their court, and not to call them again.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I try to be sensitive to the customer's desires in this regard.  I don't like feeling like I'm another harassment in someone's harried life.  Most people are gracious and appreciate the reminders, but some are obviously put off.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I know it's hard for us to face sometimes, but our place in most peoples' priority list is somewhere down below the annual cat innoculation.  It often takes a note sticking or little Betty saying, "mommy, the piano sounds funny" for the customer to get of her duff and call the tuner.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>It's taken awhile, but I've learned not to take these things personally, even when they tell me they're using tuner X, who was recommended by their neighbor, teacher, guru, or priest.  That's the nature of the biz.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Hope this helps,</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Dave Stahl</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> dated 5/4/05 6:12:15 AM Pacific Daylight Time, richard.ucci@att.net writes:</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000 size=2> <DIV>Got a call from a client I tuned a year ago for the first time, telling me not to call back with any more reminders. She has my number and will call when she's ready(aroung the turn of the next century I guess).</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I call clients once a week to schedual appointments,and leave a message if I get their machine.Short and sweet- "the pianos due, It's been a six months,year,whatever , and I'll be in the area this week. Let me know if you want to schedual.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I considering making the next appointment when I'm there and sending a reminder card two weeks prior, with the stipulation for them to call and confirm. I still don't want to have no shows which means I still will have to call many of them to confirm.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV> </DIV></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE>  </body> </html>