<html><div style='background-color:'><P class=RTE>Formsma said,</P> <P class=RTE><One man knows he shovels cow crap all day. Another shovels manure. Yet </P> <DIV></DIV> <P class=RTE>another calls it bovine excrement, while another is a waste removal </P> <DIV></DIV> <P class=RTE>specialist. The point is, it don't matter what you call it - crap is crap! </P> <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV> <P class=RTE>It's all a process of getting where you want to be with your career.></P> <P class=RTE>(It's really all about how you approach your work.)</P> <P class=RTE>John, (sounds like you may be a bit "burnt-out" in your work?)</P> <P class=RTE>Of course I can pick and choose which pianos I want to work on; I have that luxury because my services are in demand.  I do not work on Squares, birdcages or, in most cases, old piano roll players.; don't need to, don't want to. </P> <P class=RTE>The majority of my clients are upscale, but not all own Steinways or the like. The big difference between me and some other "techs", is that i LOVE  what i do, and I love seeing the result of my work, as my clients do. I consider myself more tha a tuner/technician; I'm aslo an artist, a salesman, a craftsman. I'm also a friend to my customers. I enjoy the variety of piano work that I do and I look forward to seeing what each new day will bring. I also LOVE setting my own hours (usually 11am to about 2 or 3pm) and owning my business! I paid my dues as a floor tuner, and through a steady stream of warranty work, amassed what is, today, a  fair percentage of my client base. While repeat business is the bedrock, new clients come my way via many avenues, including music teacher/store referrals, YP ads, sign on SUV, word of mouth, and so on. Don't get me wrong; I DO love the money as well as the work; but $300-$500 per day is enough for me....After all, I need time to go to the beach, ride my electric skateboard, catch a  movie (usually 2-3 per week) or be home in time to watch O'reilly! Isn't life great! </P> <P class=RTE>Terry Peterson </P> <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV>----Original Message Follows---- <DIV></DIV>From: "John Formsma" <john@formsmapiano.com> <DIV></DIV>Reply-To: Pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org> <DIV></DIV>To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org> <DIV></DIV>Subject: RE: Betsy Ross..bring 'em on! <DIV></DIV>Date: Fri, 21 May 2004 07:22:25 -0500 <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV>Terry P., <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV>Yes, we're all agreed that one can make money on these pianners. I do action <DIV></DIV>jobs on them too. It's just the fact that work on a poorly designed/built <DIV></DIV>piano is not as satisfying as work done on a well designed/built piano. It <DIV></DIV>doesn't yield the same result for the time spent compared to time spent on <DIV></DIV>better quality. <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV>One man knows he shovels cow crap all day. Another shovels manure. Yet <DIV></DIV>another calls it bovine excrement, while another is a waste removal <DIV></DIV>specialist. The point is, it don't matter what you call it - crap is crap! <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV>It's all a process of getting where you want to be with your career. At one <DIV></DIV>time, I posted that I liked working on old uprights - doing what I could to <DIV></DIV>get them in shape. Now, with more experience and better clientele, I can't <DIV></DIV>stand old clunkers. But I do them (well, some of them) when I'm called <DIV></DIV>because I need the money. But I grit my teeth all the way. :-) I usually <DIV></DIV>tell people on the phone that only 5% are worth doing anything to, and there <DIV></DIV>will be a service charge even if I "just look at it." <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV>Hopefully, I'm getting the message across - it's OK to work on the low-end <DIV></DIV>stuff. We all do (or did) at one time. It's also OK to specialize and work <DIV></DIV>only on the "good stuff." I was talking to a general practicioner's wife <DIV></DIV>couple days ago. She said something similar about today's medical students. <DIV></DIV>"No one wants to be a GP anymore - it's more work for less money and there's <DIV></DIV>more money in specialized medicine." I agree. I'm headed toward <DIV></DIV>specialization. <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV>Respectfully, <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV>John Formsma <DIV></DIV>   -----Original Message----- <DIV></DIV>   From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org]On <DIV></DIV>Behalf Of pianolover 88 <DIV></DIV>   Sent: Thursday, May 20, 2004 9:52 PM <DIV></DIV>   To: pianotech@ptg.org <DIV></DIV>   Subject: Betsy Ross..bring 'em on! <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV>   thank god (or whoever) for all those old, abused, neglected, rusty, <DIV></DIV>sluggish, flaaaaaaat, worn, etc. pso's, pos's, and even well made pianos <DIV></DIV>that fit into the above categories; THAT'S PRECISELY WHERE I MAKE THE MOST <DIV></DIV>MONEY....BY FAR! In fact, the more work a piano needs, the better! I sell <DIV></DIV>more action jobs than I can shake a lid prop at...not to mention accessories <DIV></DIV>such as D.Cs and String Covers. It's ALL good. Rarely do i walk in the door <DIV></DIV>of a fist-time client and do only a basic tuning. <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV>   Terry Peterson <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV>   ----Original Message Follows---- <DIV></DIV>   From: Phillip Ford <fordpiano@earthlink.net> <DIV></DIV>   Reply-To: Phillip Ford <fordpiano@earthlink.net>, <DIV></DIV>Pianotech<pianotech@ptg.org> <DIV></DIV>   To: pianotech@ptg.org <DIV></DIV>   Subject: OT Re: Betsy Ross Spinet <DIV></DIV>   Date: Thu, 20 May 2004 13:50:40 -0700 (GMT-07:00) <DIV></DIV>   >Conrad Hoffsommer wrote: <DIV></DIV>   > <DIV></DIV>   >>>Taking offense, <DIV></DIV>   >>> <DIV></DIV>   >>>-- <DIV></DIV>   >>>Duaine Hechler <DIV></DIV>   >> <DIV></DIV>   >> <DIV></DIV>   >>A long time ago, in a land far, far away,  an old tuner told me, " <DIV></DIV>   >>There's no such thing as a bad piano. <DIV></DIV>   Ric B quipped: <DIV></DIV>   >Well... what can I say...  he was wrong. <DIV></DIV>   >Next ?? <DIV></DIV>   > <DIV></DIV>   >grin <DIV></DIV>   ROFL.  Maybe that should read 'an old and senile tuner told me'. <DIV></DIV>   double grin <DIV></DIV>   anon <DIV></DIV>   _______________________________________________ <DIV></DIV>   pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV>---------------------------------------------------------------------------- <DIV></DIV>-- <DIV></DIV>   Watch LIVE baseball games on your computer with MLB.TV, included with MSN <DIV></DIV>Premium! <DIV></DIV></div><br clear=all><hr> <a href="http://g.msn.com/8HMAENUS/2728??PS=47575">FREE pop-up blocking with the new MSN Toolbar – get it now!</a> </html>