<!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 6.00.2900.2802" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>Hi Debbie,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>Im thinking of relocating to a larger area = because it seems that the area I live in , South Bend, IN is soooooo saturated with = tuners.  I was told that piano tuners are cropping up = everywhere.  In fact, I mentioned this earlier about the woman who is now a postal = worker who said that if she got calls, she would refer them to me. I get a lot of = talk and no action, so I just keep up with my current income which isn't much by far.  This area is bad for struggling businesses.  Another guy = who lives in Elkhart IN, whom I know pretty well also said that he's tired = of driving to South Bend ,8 or 10 miles away grrr, and would refer folks to = me, so far nothing.  </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>We have a great chapter which only meets once = every three months.  What's that all about? :(  I'm actually considering relocating to a larger city which has a chapter that a. I can get to = since I don' t drive, and b. that meets on a regular basis.  I think that = might be my best bet.  </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>Marshall</FONT></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=pianolady50@peoplepc.com href="mailto:pianolady50@peoplepc.com">pianolady50@peoplepc.com</A> = </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A = title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, January 17, 2006 = 5:23 PM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: Working while = tuning </DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>You need to take a good look at the = community in which you will be working.  Seems there is always room for one = more, but the how to do its are the problem.  When I first started out I = was in a moderate sized metropolitan area in FL.  There were approximately = 30 members of the local guild chapter.  20, I would say were = active.  There were about a half dozen non members.  I attended every = chapter meeting (I think I only missed 5 or so in about 10 years).  I = actively participated in the chapter, got to know everyone, was treasurer, = secretary, worked on seminar committees, etc., etc.  My business grew steadily.  Other members knew I was serious and began referring = customers to me.  Some just because I was closer, others because they = didn't want the job.  I had made it known I would take any job that no one = wanted :-).  All I had was a yellow page listing.  Mostly it was = hard work, good work, and patience.  When I decided to relocate to New = England, I gave my customer list to a new, young tuner.  He has built a full = tuning and rebuild business for himself.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Now, at my new location, things are = totally different.  I live in a community of 7,000.  If you add in = the next city, maybe about 25,000.  There are two other techs on "the island".   Yep, got to use a bridge to get just about anywhere.  One of the techs has been here *forever* and has most = of the tunings.  In this situation you have to be careful not to step on = anyone's toes!  I do know a lot of people in my little town and = they have been very generous in handing out my business cards and spreading the word!  I have never asked for this - all their idea.  I have = magnetic signs on my truck and <cringe> an enlargement of my = business card (laminated) on the bulletin board at our local grocery.  I = have only a listing in the yellow pages.  I have been here for three years = and have almost built the tuning end of the business as large as I want = it.  Certainly not enough to live on by itself but I don't want that = anyway.  I also run the key business and rebuild players, etc.  I'd say = tunings account for 1/3 of my time.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The common factor for both situations = is the willingness to be patient.  Building a good business can't be rushed.  If you need to do something else for income while you = build the business - fine.  As the piano business grows, cut back on "the = other thing".  And beyond the obvious of quality work and such....enjoy = what you do!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Debbie = L.</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>