<html><body> <DIV>Hi Terry,</DIV> <DIV>Thank you for the idea.  Our area isn't growing too much, unless Notre Dam is growing.  We have some music stores that do not specializein pianos.  I 'll give them a try.  Thanks again.</DIV> <DIV>Marshall</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid">-------------- Original message -------------- From: "Farrell" <mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com> > Two suggestions that have worked well for me. > > Find a music store - not a piano dealer (you report those being > tech-saturated) - but a store that sells sheet music, gives music lessons, > sells/rents band instruments for local schools. Offer to tune their piano(s) > (teaching pianos) for free if you can leave a stack of cards. I do this for > the two music stores in my town and get lots of referrals from them. > > Move to a town where the population is growing. With folks moving into the > area all the time, you never have to worry about other techs in the area - > you don't need to try to take customers away from existing techs - new ones > are flowing into the area at all times. (Probably good for a cleaning > business also.) > > And if you move to an area where the population is growing, then I highly > recommend a Yellow Pages ad. In Florida, the average home-owner stays in one > location for five years. People don't get to know their neighbors all that > well. People tend to use the Yellow Pages. I have had ads for that past 5+ > years and get lots of business from them. I will likely stop them this year > because I am too busy. > > Good luck. Find a store that gives piano lessons - that has worked very well > for me. > > Terry Farrell > > ----- Original Message ----- > >I think living in a large area is a positive situation for business, or > >should be anyway. I'm in a town of a little over 100k, and there's at > >least 9 techs. I 'm familiar with, two of whom I 'm good friends with. I > >spoke with a tech today who is getting out of the business full time > >because after 13 years she's having trouble making it. She's now a mail > >carrier maintaining the customers she does have, but not getting any new > >ones. I"m thinking of relocating to a large city where I have more than > >one music store to connect with. Yes, we only haave one music store here, > >and the closest one to this is about 30miles away. > > > > Interesting that you mentioned getting with a tech on jobs I'm not famiiar > > with Susan. I mentioned that tonight on the phone when I contacted that > > woman about her tuning business, the one who is now a mail carrier. As > > for messing up a job, well so far so good no goof ups. My first paid > > tuning went well. No complaints, and I even called to see if they had any > > questions concerns, it was a facility that folks would fent for weeeing > > receptions etc, a pretty upscale place. The piano turned out quite well. > > > > As for training locally, well, I'll travel a reasonable distance to learn > > from another RPT. This past weekend, I had the privilage and pleasure to > > receive tutoring from an awesome RPT in Madison WI. He is very familiar > > with the needs of the sight impaired as my instructor in Chicago is. I > > spent most of the day on Sat. going over techniques to help with my speed, > > tuning techniques, and yes even using felts!!!:) Make sure that Jeannie > > lady reads this one.:) He helped me in such a great way, that I'm able to > > use them. He said that I'm well on my way even though I'm starting out, > > I'm well on my way! :) > > > > As for handing out business cards. I don' t hand them to just anyone. > > Years of experience in the telemarketing field taught me to qualify leads > > etc. I'll ask a person that approaches me, "Do you have a piano?", yes, > > business card, no, "do you know someone who has one?" yes, busiess care, > > no, then I talk a little and they usually leave me alone after that. > > > > Take care. sorry I was late on the response. > > Marshall > > > _______________________________________________ > Pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives </BLOCKQUOTE></body></html>