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I have heard this complaint from customers before about some past technician that was obnoxious and rude. I call it LMS(Little man syndrome). LMS is a deep seated feeling of inferiority...THe person compensates by being a jackass
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That's funny, because some of what you write on here comes across as arrogant.
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That's funny, because some of what you write on here comes across as arrogant. No offense, but you as well Beethoven.
Tuner-Technician
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That's funny, because some of what you write on here comes across as arrogant. No offense, but you as well Beethoven. I'm not the one starting topics about "The Arrogant Piano Tuner", now am I? At least I'm willing to admit it.
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From time to time we occasionally hear of such people.
Isn't being overly bothered by them but another aspect of the same syndrome?
Amanda Reckonwith Concert & Recording tuner-tech, London, England. "in theory, practice and theory are the same thing. In practice, they're not." - Lawrence P. 'Yogi' Berra.
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That's funny, because some of what you write on here comes across as arrogant. No offense, but you as well Beethoven. I'm not the one starting topics about "The Arrogant Piano Tuner", now am I? At least I'm willing to admit it. Yes, but I don't see a problem with anyone starting any topic they wish as long as it isn't against any rules here. I think it's easy to misunderstand peoples sense of humor sometimes.
Tuner-Technician
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Heck, I don't know, here I am sticking up for him and for all know he could be talking about me! LOL. I haven't been around here for a long time.
Tuner-Technician
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Anyways, soooooooooooo "back on topic"! And just for the record, the real "Beethoven" had a drinking problem and was rather mean!!! Okay, so anyways!! I have encountered many many piano tuners and well, personality plays a huge role. One guy took my whole piano apart and forgot to inform me that that was what he was going to do. When I walked into the room seeing my precious "baby grand" in pieces on the floor, I wanted to cry. I think he has done his job for so many years, that he forgot to put my care into the equation. I went into the kitchen and cried. It's a jolt to see it apart like that, and I think as he was putting it back together, hitting the fall-board against the wall was most inconsiderate as well. (I have sorta recovered, but 3 more sessions with the councilor and I maybe should be fine) Then I was at a teacher's seminar, and at the coffee machine was a card from a piano tuner. Thinking that "all" the teacher's must have approved him, I phoned him and he came out in a "taxi"! He was completely "blind"! Would have been nice if he'd mentioned that on our phone conversation! & then when he got out of the taxi, he at least took his shoes off before coming in all the while slapped his "cane" around my furniture and walls, then asked me to take his arm and take him to the piano. He finally found my precious "baby grand" but as he lifted his brief case up, he was obviously placing it "on top" of my ebony finish & the piano that took me years to buy!!!, never had I had anything on top of it, his brief case hit the corner of the piano lid. I couldn't look in fear of seeing pieces of my piano on the floor!!!! He didn't even say he was sorry! Just said, "Oooops! I have more stories, but other than these inconsiderate moments in my short experiences with those piano tuners, I am grateful that my piano is not in pieces as I think was their intent! I look forward to the day when I can "laugh" about all this! That may never happen!!!!
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In my opinion, when you enter a customer's home, you(piano tuner-tech) should be respectful at every turn. It's not time to pretend you are as important as their family doctor. Geez, get a grip
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In my opinion, when you enter a customer's home, you(piano tuner-tech) should be respectful at every turn. It's not time to pretend you are as important as their family doctor. Geez, get a grip Not clear whose post, if any, you are referring to here, Gary.
Amanda Reckonwith Concert & Recording tuner-tech, London, England. "in theory, practice and theory are the same thing. In practice, they're not." - Lawrence P. 'Yogi' Berra.
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I read a statistic recently that 90% of people are fired from their job, not because of their ability to do their job, but because of their lack of people skills. As you all know, I'm just a part-time piano tech, my full-time job is teaching choir for a local public school. Technology is great, but it seems that students are becoming more and more introverted. The art of face to face conversation is becoming a lost art, due to the fact that they spend most of their time texting one another. I stand at my door and greet them as they enter my class. It is really hard for some of them to look back and respond.
A few weeks ago, I worked on a piano for another "friend" of mine. She can be kind of hateful and rude sometimes. When I entered her classroom, I greeted her, she didn't respond. She was busy trying to get a three hole punch to work. During my time there, I tried to make small talk and she would give me quick short answers.
I took that experience and did a lesson with my students back at school. We talked about things like, how to greet people when they enter the room, how to introduce someone new to the group, looking someone in the eye when they're speaking to you, and several other things. I reminded them of the fact that people will often forget what you say, but they will never forget how you made them feel.
I try to use those skills in my business too. When I meet a new customer I always try to shake their hand. Great people skills go a LONG way. Especially in business.
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Professionalism and communication are key. I wear an ID badge and put shoe covers on before entering the customer's home. Once inside I ask if it's alright to set my tool case wherever, etc. I'm outgoing by nature so I like talking to the customer about things I admire in their home; landscaping, artwork, fireplace, etc. I guess I just like to be personable.
But yes, they and their property are to be treated with respect.
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Just started reading through the initial posts. Begs for a Big Brooklynese: Oy vey iz mir! Ok. Back to topic.
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In my opinion, when you enter a customer's home, you(piano tuner-tech) should be respectful at every turn. It's not time to pretend you are as important as their family doctor. Geez, get a grip Don't keep us all in the dark. You started a new thread but we have no idea who or what you are referring to. Did you read something in another thread that set you off? Enlighten us.
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In my opinion, when you enter a customer's home, you(piano tuner-tech) should be respectful at every turn. It's not time to pretend you are as important as their family doctor. Geez, get a grip Don't keep us all in the dark. You started a new thread but we have no idea who or what you are referring to. Did you read something in another thread that set you off? Enlighten us. Reading Diane's post reminds of pianists who view their instrument as a member of the family - not a distant cousin - more like a son or a daughter. In this context, a "family doctor" comparison might be more germane than we think. Not that we should see ourselves as physicians - especially not with bad bedside manner and haughtiness in tow. We are nothing of the kind. But this does bring to the fore higher expectations that we should be prepared to meet in caring for these "families."
Last edited by bkw58; 06/22/13 12:52 PM. Reason: clarity
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Anyways, soooooooooooo "back on topic"! And just for the record, the real "Beethoven" had a drinking problem and was rather mean!!! With good reason, I'm sure. There is a high prevalence of substance abuse among artists. Alcohol is quite popular among pianists. One guy took my whole piano apart and forgot to inform me that that was what he was going to do. When I walked into the room seeing my precious "baby grand" in pieces on the floor, I wanted to cry. I think he has done his job for so many years, that he forgot to put my care into the equation. I went into the kitchen and cried. IMO, this sounds a bit hysterical. Sometimes, technicians have to gain access to the piano for a variety of reasons, ranging from fixing a sticking key that is preventing us to tune a note, or to retrieve something we've dropped (like a tuning mute) on accident. If you trust someone to tune your piano, you should trust them enough to do these kinds of things without your additional consent. The only time I would talk to a customer before I took apart the piano is if something I needed to do would incur an extra cost or change the performance of the piano somehow. It's a jolt to see it apart like that, and I think as he was putting it back together, hitting the fall-board against the wall was most inconsiderate as well. (I have sorta recovered, but 3 more sessions with the councilor and I maybe should be fine) I find it difficult to believe that he intentionally hit the fallboard against your wall. We're all human and make mistakes, especially if we are in a hurry, or are carrying something awkward (like a fallboard) in a confined space. This is what business insurance is for. The tech should have apologized, inspected the wall and fallboard for damage, and if any occurred, pay for the damage. Then I was at a teacher's seminar, and at the coffee machine was a card from a piano tuner. Thinking that "all" the teacher's must have approved him, I phoned him and he came out in a "taxi"! He was completely "blind"! Would have been nice if he'd mentioned that on our phone conversation! He is not obligated to disclose this. Visual impairment is a physical disability, which is protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
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He was completely "blind"! Would have been nice if he'd mentioned that on our phone conversation! & then when he got out of the taxi, he at least took his shoes off before coming in all the while slapped his "cane" around my furniture and walls, then asked me to take his arm and take him to the piano.
How inconsiderate of him to be blind! That object is a cane. It doesn't require quotation marks. -Andy
AndyJ
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He was completely "blind"! Would have been nice if he'd mentioned that on our phone conversation! & then when he got out of the taxi, he at least took his shoes off before coming in all the while slapped his "cane" around my furniture and walls, then asked me to take his arm and take him to the piano.
How inconsiderate of him to be blind! That object is a cane. It doesn't require quotation marks. -Andy I know, right? Kind of a ridiculous thing to complain about.
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On the other hand... then there are those who think that their 1903 4'10" baby grand Craigslist special is just as good as that Fazioli thing on stage (its a priceless antique right?)... when perhaps it would be better suited to be turned in to mulch. Professionalism is a must, but sometimes tactical educating of the delusional is necessary.
PTG Associate AIO Regular Member ASCAP Pipe Organ Builder Chief Instrument Technician, Director, Chancel Arts Church Music Professional AA Music Arts 2001, BM Organ, Choral 2005
Baldwin F 1960 (146256) Zuckermann Flemish Single
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On the other hand... then there are those who think that their 1903 4'10" baby grand Craigslist special is just as good as that Fazioli thing on stage (its a priceless antique right?)... Absolutely! All thanks to that perfectly aged premium old growth tone wood!
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Piano
by Gino2 - 04/17/24 02:34 PM
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Piano
by Gino2 - 04/17/24 02:23 PM
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