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OK -

We've had thread about what piano owners should not do. And other threads about what techs should not do. But what are the things that customers should do to allow their piano technician to do a good job in a pleasant environment.

A few things seem obvious

--schedule the appt for a quiet time

--restrain and quiet the dog

--have a list of any problems

--have the check/credit card handy

But I am sure there are other things technicians wish customers would do. Please share.

I usually have all of the crap pulled off of the top of the piano, (sheet music, books, lamp, metronome, etc.) and the top and front panels removed.

Don't throw their schedule out of whack by springing extra jobs on them unexpectedly... "Oh, while you're here, could you also do some voicing/ clean the soundboard/ replace this string that just broke..."

I wish customers would make sure their house number was clearly visable from the street. Some have no number or name, others are obscured by trees and bushes. Gold numbers tarnish and fade to match the background. Everyone - look at your house in the day time from the street and see if your numbers are visable - then check at night too - are your numbers lit by a light so we can see them without pulling out the search light and scaring all your neighbors with it??? Is your mailbox marked on both sides with LARGE numbers? 1" numbers don't cut it.

And....make sure your street has a sign as well.

And... if you live 3 miles down a bumpy dirt road, please pave it before your next tuning!!

I would add that if you have a bird, cover (that supposedly quiets them down) and/or remove them from the room (and any adjacent room for that matter). :rolleyes:

Have you ever tried to tune while someones bird chirped and sang away.....?

Jeez...it is maddening

:p

offer to play a sonata for them..

Checking the house number is a great idea. It could save your life, too, in case you need to call the fire dept. or an ambulance.

It's not always a good idea to take everything off the piano beforehand, especially if you're having a problem with a buzz or other strange noise. Sometimes it's a lightbulb filament or something else close at hand.

Speaking of light, it's helpful to turn on nearby lights. It's sometimes awkward to hunt for switches.

I'm always nervous if a pet or child is sniffing around my toolcase; please help watch them, for their safety and my peace of mind.

Leave the room temperature at whatever it normally is, so that the tuning will be more accurate. Don't open windows or outside doors; don't change the temperature or humidity during the tuning. Here in NM, turning on the swamp cooler can run summer humidity from 35% to 65% in half an hour!

Please remember that we have another appointment to get to, and our time is our only product. If we're all packed up and just waiting for the check... don't tie us up in conversation for too long! (And just stand up and usher me out if I gab too long; I can be guilty, too...)

It saves a lot of office work if we can go ahead and schedule the next tuning while I'm there. Your schedule is open that far out (as is mine); it's easy to get a match. It saves several phone calls for both of us.

For some reason, I get thirsty when I tune (maybe from estimating beat speeds with my lips? :-). I love it when I'm offered a glass of water; I don't like to ask.

I love to hear you play when I'm done! Usually only kids feel free enough to play while I'm there. If I can hear the piano while I'm walking back to the car, it makes my day...

Thanks for asking!

--Cy--

Mow the yard either before or after the tuning. I have nearly mastered selective hearing except when it comes to lawn mowers. And the common vacuum cleaner and kitchen mixer. Around Chrismtas last year, I tried competing with the mixer a lady was using to bake a cake. The mixer won!!

But the vast majority of people are overly conscientious about noise when I am tuning. Many times I tell them, let the children play, do the things you normally do, just save the vacuuming and yard mowing till I leave please!!

Singing along is bad, too. Actually, I can tune with a fair amount of background noise, but it cannot be close to what I am tuning. White noise, like vacuums and lawn mowers, and people singing or playing along is a problem. An odd problem I had while tuning in the valley, where it is very hot, was that I found I could not tune under a fan! The echo bouncing off the moving fan interfered with what I was listening to. I had to turn it off.

I welcome the opportunity to wash my hands after working inside a piano.

Ok. I promise that when my tech comes, I will:

--make sure he can find where I live.

--offer him water.

--be quiet (I have no dogs, no birds, no lawnmowers, and no children; and I can't sing to save my life).

--let him wash his hands.

--schedule as far in advance as possible.

--have payment ready.

and, play the piano after he is done.

what would we do without you!!! Thank you.

Lana
P.S. I don't put ANYTHING on top of my piano.

CY "For some reason, I get thirsty when I tune (maybe from estimating beat speeds with my lips? :-). I love it when I'm offered a glass of water; I don't like to ask."
I'm glad that I'm not the only one who looks like a fish out of water becouse of my lips going wawawawa

Singing along?

BDB, you've got some wierd customers!

I've never thought of it as a 'catchy tune' exactly...

Cy - It's so hot here in Orlando, I pack a bottle of Ice water in an outside pocket of my tool bag. No worries about spilling - I go though 3 bottles a day.

They play "Match that Tone." It can also be members of the band on their instruments. If it is my time, I have someone get them to stop.

It is actually much more catchy when we aural tuners do it.

Good topic, Dorrie, sorry I missed it at the beginning...

*have the kid and his guitar practice his Led Zeppelin in a far corner of the house

*I'm happy to have your kids watch me, and I'll even explain things to them, but please keep them out of the way when I'm trying to work!

*Water is good, but my hands are seldom free for long enough to do anything other than take it with me.

*On the other side of that coin, please point out where the "toilette" is, and don't make me ask permission to use it(or squirm because I'm trying to be polite)!

Very interesting... regarding getting thirsty and desiring a glass of water.
I was wondering if this is just a funny craving that techs have.
I always ask if they would like something to drink. The good ones always ask for water, NO ICE. Now I'm curious. Cy, do you like water with no ice, or just plain cool water out of the tap?

I also offer my tech a pad (exercise mat) if needed for their knees, just in case they for some reason need to get under the pianos to lift up the lid or what ever. I have hardwood floors and my kneecaps are not too happy if they have to endure the hard floor.

It's kind of you to ask. Here in Albuquerque, when it's 82 degrees and 35% RH, I ask for ice. It doesn't last long, but it keeps the water cooler...

In your neck of the woods, I might ask for Redhook Blonde Ale... no ice...

It's actually quite a lot of physical work to tune. I raised a piano almost a semitone today, and I think I added about a ton of tension overall.

--Cy--

Quite possibly twice that, a quick calculation shows!