<!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 size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>LONG ----FOR SEASONED VETERANS ONLY - = Just about making money.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Marshall,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>So glad you are eager to learn and = evolve in this wonderful crazy world of pianos!  My number, which by the way, is = in the PTG guide and on line at their web site, is 425-747-4914. I'm out = working until 4:00 usually, then home for my rest, dinner and return calls. Any = evening is great.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I once was a Boy Scout, trying hard to = earn money to go to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. I was depending on mowing = lawns, and business just wasn't booming. I whined to the Scout Leader about how = slow things were, and he roared back at me to get off my butt and go out to = the rich end of town and start knocking on doors and offering to scrub porches = and floors. He proceeded to enumerate many ideas for earning money, all of = which sounded so beneath me, yelling all the while to grow up and pay = attention to what was going on around me. He gave me ideas on getting along with = people, jobs to pursue, how life works, etc. What an eye opener for me. After just = trying to get work it seems that jobs just flew my direction out of nowhere. One = person told another that there was this kid who wanted to work and would clean = up garbage areas, pull trash from under houses, clean basements, weed = gardens, wash cars, clean windows, and, yes mow the lawn as long as I was there, even = if there was a  regular kid mowing for them. Hand clipping, hand raking, = non-power mowing for older homes with small yards. Absorbing the important = lesson of "The learning curve for dealing with older people set in their ways", = collecting money owed, asking for work, and giving an honest day's effort on my = part: All of this helped me to not only earn enough for that trip, but provided me = with a whole lot of growing up and finding out what it takes to survive. I'll = never forget that summer.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Now I'm getting older and health is = failing some, so I ease into retirement and look now for fun things to do and enjoy = life. So much work keeps coming my way that it's hard to slow down, = though!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG>Quickies:</STRONG></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>+ Can you tune in a day care center and = keep smiling?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>+ Challenge yourself to tune with a = noisy refrigerator screaming at you. Or washer. Or dryer with tennis shoe in drum.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>+ Horrible piano?  Enjoy the = people and develope friendship or sell them a new piano at the dealer and make spiff.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>+ Make friends with child who plays = piano, teach child what is going on with piano and child will be the one asking for = you to come back and service piano.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>+ Set sample key perfect and show = player how much better note plays. Say piano will play better with regulation = and you'll throw in free vacuum, too.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>+Clean fallboard of shiny piano with = Cory Piano Polish while customer is writing out check. Sell bottle of polish and = pay for  nice lunch.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>+ Sticky upright action after move? = Problem is moisture. Borrow customer hair-dryer and free up 80% of problem notes. = Sell Dampp Chaser, use Protek and go to nice restaurant with wife = and kids.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>+ Ask customer if they have piano in = church; ask for introduction to pianist. Get 7 pianos to tune next = week.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>+ Learn to do one new service or repair = every day. Each item worth maybe one hour average. Rate x time = x number working days of year gives you that many dollar raise for year potential. Would = you settle for half even?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>+ Don't play piano? Learn. Learn one = new simple song every month. Play one hundred times. Perform like = expert.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>OK, it's time for my nap.</FONT></DIV> <DIV>Joseph Alkana RPT</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=pianotune05@comcast.net href="mailto:pianotune05@comcast.net">pianotune05@comcast.net</A> = </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A = title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">An open list, for piano = technicians</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Monday, January 16, 2006 = 9:41 PM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: Piano work; was Freebees-</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Hi JOe,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>I'll give you a call sometime, but you're = number wasn't listed on the post, unless I didn' t see it.  </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>You have interesting ideas for sure, some of = which I tired, and others I have not.  I have years of cleaning = experience.  Perhaps I should offer to clean out a piano.  In fact, a lady my = wife used to clean for, asked about having her piano cleaned out.  </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>The tricky part is JOe, will these ideas work = in an area heavily saturated with piano techs much more experienced than I, but = some of which not as well groomed.;)  I'll never wear jeans to any tuning = even my practice tunings.  Nice Dockers and a sweater or shirt work for = me.  A tie is too confining.  </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>Id like to hear what this Isaac guy taught you = about marketing.  Take care.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>Marshall</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px = solid">-------------- Original message -------------- <BR>From: "Joseph Alkana" <josephspiano@comcast.net> <BR><BR>> Long, and not for the = seasoned veteran. <BR>> <BR>> Marshall and everyone looking to make = money in the piano business: <BR>> <BR>> I was a late comer to the = piano business. Pretty much of a non-player, but <BR>> heavily steeped = in music experience looking for an outlet for my musical <BR>> interest = and some way to make money too. I could give you the whole story of <BR>> = working in this vocation, but writing isn't my forte and besides, the length = <BR>> of the tome would make for a great bedtime reader. However, = certain things <BR>> remain crucial to starting and maintaining any = business. It's not hard to <BR>> come up with ways to develope your = business "reach" and you need to take <BR>> some time and reflect on the = whole approach to piano! service. <BR>> <BR>> PTG offers = opportunities to learn, both formal and informal, practically <BR>> just for the = taking. Without them and the desire to excel and improve on my <BR>> part = I would be hard pressed to have stayed in business very long. Learning = <BR>> almost every aspect of piano lore has to be a priority. Consider = yourself a <BR>> sponge, soaking up knowledge about personalities, = relationships, business <BR>> ethics, business skills, anything piano related = and always practicing to be <BR>> the very best technician that you can. At = first glance, my opportunities <BR>> seemed limited. There are so many = great techs in my area, that one would <BR>> think all opportunities = are sewed up. Far from it, I learned that you must <BR>> pursue some = avenues that are a bit removed from premium piano work, but you <BR>> can make = a very good living if you only try. Quality jobs will come to those = <BR>> practicing quality work. Attend an Is! aac Sadigursky class and be = ready to <BR>> make dollars afterwards. Be ready to work an eight hour day = - from eight 'o <BR>> clock to eight 'o clock. (Isaac's wisdom) <BR>> = <BR>> Be around pianos, not in front of a TV set. Go to the = dealer, schmooze him, <BR>> take an interest in what he sells, how he = sells and watch for opportunities <BR>> to jump in and help with a piano. = Visit the store using any excuse, just to <BR>> be there. Measure a piano, = ask some questions, inspect their used stuff and <BR>> offer to help fix a = few things on a beater right then and there. Bring in a <BR>> friend = who is a player and show him the merchandise. Sales people love to <BR>> = see techs refer customers. Ask the manager if you can vacuum out some of = <BR>> the merchandise and polish cabinets and pedals to make the stock more = <BR>> attractive. Walk the manager around to pianos you have assessed and = show him <BR>> what is needed to improve his merchandise f! or sale. Leave = a stack of cards <BR>> at every visit. <BR>> <BR>> Visit with other = techs as often as you can to learn what it is that they do. <BR>> = Listen, observe. Offer to help on a project. Can you do simple shop jobs = <BR>> well? Offer to clean actions, scrub out pianos, de-string pianos, = you get <BR>> the idea. <BR>> <BR>> When you have what you think is = nothing to do, read everything piano related <BR>> that you can. Immerse = yourself in pianos. Have you read the last 20 years of <BR>> the PTG = Journal? Why not? Start out looking for customers that probably will <BR>> = turn out to be one timers. So what. Their money all spends the same as the = <BR>> Steinway owner's. Most techs have "paid their dues", that is, spent = quite a <BR>> bit of time working on inferior instruments, honing skills = by doing basic <BR>> jobs over and over again, often in less than pristine = surroundings and often <BR>> for a lot less money than the top = tech ! in the area. Consider magnetic car <BR>> signs and park for a while = in a shopping plaza or grocery store parking lot. <BR>> Park by the = entrance to a large housing development. Put your information up <BR>> on = every bulletin board you can find. Offer services no one else does. = <BR>> Develope skills no one else has. Be the most congenial person that = you can <BR>> be at all times. Make sure you are marketable appearance = wise. (Clothes, <BR>> personal grooming, auto presentable) <BR>> = <BR>> Brainstorm with others in small business and open yourself up to new = ways to <BR>> develope business. Invest heavily in yourself. I fail to = understand how you <BR>> have time to pursue another business with money to = be made in the piano <BR>> business at hand. Call me and I'll give you = ideas to pursue. Marshall, <BR>> believe me, your biggest problem is not = that you can't afford a Yellow Pages <BR>> ad! <BR>> <BR>> Joseph = Alkana RPT <BR>> <BR>&! gt; <BR>> ----- Original Message ----- = <BR>> From: "pianotune05" <PIANOTUNE05@COMCAST.NET><BR>> To: "An open list = for piano technicians" <PIANOTECH@PTG.ORG><BR>> Sent: Monday, January 16, = 2006 8:02 PM <BR>> Subject: Re: Freebees- <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> > = Hi Brian, <BR>> > My biggest problem is that I cannot aford a yellow = pages ad. In fact, my <BR>> > wife and I are barely making it with the = office cleaning accounts we have. <BR>> > So, how's a tuner breaking = in to the business get his foot in when there's <BR>> > only one = music store in town, and about 9+ tuners in the area, South Bend <BR>> > = area. I'm considering relocating just to get business because all of the = <BR>> > other tech. are hogging all the work. <BR>> > Marshall = <BR>> > ----- Original Message ----- <BR>> > From: "Brian Doepke" <DOEPKEB@COMCAST.NET><BR>> > To: "'An open list for piano technicians'" <PIANOTECH@PTG.ORG><BR>> >! ; Sent: Friday, = January 13, 2006 8:15 PM <BR>> > Subject: RE: Freebees- <BR>> > = <BR>> > <BR>> >> Hmmmmm??? I get many calls because I am the = first in the yellow pages. <BR>> >> I <BR>> >> ask polite questions, try to personable and most of the time get a new <BR>> = >> client. <BR>> >> <BR>> >> So, I think the = business name that starts with AAA worked well for me. <BR>> = >> If <BR>> >> you are going to have expense of being in the = yellow pages, be at the <BR>> >> top. <BR>> >> And return = phone calls!!! So many others in the book do not return calls. <BR>> = >> I <BR>> >> can't understand it...but....it's their loss. = <BR>> >> <BR>> >> Brian P. Doepke <BR>> >> = <BR>> >> AAA Piano Works, Inc. <BR>> >> 260-432-2043 = <BR>> >> 260-417-1298 <BR>> >> <BR>> >> = -----Original Message----- <BR>> ! >> From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On <BR>> >> Behalf = <BR>> >> Of Susan Kline <BR>> >> Sent: Friday, January 13, = 2006 2:38 PM <BR>> >> To: pianotech@ptg.org <BR>> >> = Subject: Re: Freebees- <BR>> >> <BR>> >> Build a good = tuning, and repairs which stay repaired -- relax and forget <BR>> >> = about the rest of it, the fussy charges, the contracts in case of <BR>> = >> no-shows, <BR>> >> the discounts for booking the next = tuning on the spot, the reminder <BR>> >> cards, <BR>> >> the call-backs, the big display ad, the business name starting with AAA, = <BR>> >> the chatty little newsletter sent to everyone = twice a year "it's time for <BR>> >> your darling piano's next tuning" = <BARF>-- just toss all that <BR>> >> time-wasting <BR>> >> irritating trivia -- they will come. <BR>> >> <BR>> = >&g! t; Really, think about what message you are sending out. Even just a = pen <BR>> >> with <BR>> >> your name on it -- "This is = someone who was short of work for so long <BR>> >> that <BR>> = >> he decided to shell out money for advertising. Either he is brand = new to <BR>> >> the trade, or his work is bad enough that he = doesn't get much repeat <BR>> >> business. He expects me to throw away = his card and forget his name." <BR>> >> People <BR>> >> are = naturally polite; they'll respect your professional dignity by = taking <BR>> >> your freebee and thanking you -- but they'll react = to the hidden message <BR>> >> just the same, maybe not even = realizing why they aren't really sure they <BR>> >> want you back. = <BR>> >> <BR>> >> If you're going to attempt to manipulate customers, try the opposite tack <BR>> >> -- "Be sure to = call at least three weeks in advance, espe! cially around <BR>> >> = the <BR>> >> holidays ..." <BR>> >> <BR>> >> ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssnnnn <BR>> >> <BR>> >> = _______________________________________________ <BR>> >> = Pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives <BR>> = >> <BR>> >> _______________________________________________ = <BR>> >> Pianotech list info: = https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives <BR>> > <BR>> > = _______________________________________________ <BR>> > Pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives <BR>> > <BR>> = <BR>> <BR>> _______________________________________________ = <BR>> Pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives </BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>