Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Tuner-Technicians Forum What Months are Slowest for you?

It seems to me that summer, mid June to late August, is so slow for me that it is maddening. I mean, I do some pianos not so many. Also, although not as bad maybe is mid-January to mid-March. I wonder if this changes in different parts of the NA or UK etc. or is it just me? I've tried to improve that situation by phoning, texting, but nothing really works. Right now seems like everyone is at the cottage and in January its too cold so I just have to "snooze" through it as it doesn't seem to want to improve no matter what.....how about you?

Duane,

Summer is always slow, always has been (at least for me). I simply take it in stride, plan for it, and use the (usually) nice weather to do stuff around the house and yard, take a vacation, catch up on stuff neglected throughout the rest of the year, do the honeydoo list...etc.

People's minds are generally NOT focused toward their pianos in the summer. And anyway, the higher humidity (in the NE anyway) makes for reduced tuning stability (after about mid-June or so). IOW tge deeper into summer I tune, the less time it will hold since things do an about face in mid-sept.

I only do new or desperate clients in the summer and I warn them that its technically not a good time to tune.

My .02

Pwg

Ditto what Peter said. Although, I have heard that technicians working on Cape Cod are at their busiest this time of year because of the large influx of vacationers.
Don't worry about it. Over time you just get used to the business cycle. I've always noticed a little drop in business around April 15 as well - the deadline for most federal income tax filings.

Summer time has usually been the slow season for me as well (June-August) with school getting out and people going on vacation and all. However, there have been a number of technicians here in my area that have recently retired (within the last 3-4 years) and, this summer, I have found myself to be busier than any other “Busy season” (October-December) in the past. I’m definitely. Or complaining. It is a good problem to have for sure. Here’s to hoping I survive this year’s busy season. 😬

It depends on where you are - business is steady year round for me in Orlando, but my Chicago business would be slow in summer, till school tuniings came in. Do your best to bank some money during the busy times to get you though the slow times. The rule of thumb is 3 -6 months of income in the bank at all times for emergencies...and slow months.......

If you bank money, the slow times are vacation times - weeks off, or long weekends....... I used to schedule rebuilding jobs for the slow times as well.

👍👍

Pwg