Pianotech

  • 1.  State of the Piano Industry

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-04-2017 14:38
    I guess I have too much time on my hands today and seem to be monopolizing the "air waves." It's a holiday.  Right?

    So I have a question.  What is the current state of our industry? I ask this because the topic at our upcoming Tucson Chapter meeting is how the industry has changed over the past quarter century or so. I'm afraid that the discussions will devolved into moaning and groaning about the sorry state of things. There's certainly reason to head that direction and I'm not trying to steer things in this forum.  Go ahead and moan. I know many universities are cutting budgets and salaries and even cutting piano tech positions. I know that piano sales in the US are down. I know that some local technicians are struggling to find work. Lots to complain about. But I hope that criticism and complaining will be balanced with positive thoughts, ideas, and suggestions. 

    So what's happening around your part of the country and around the world? How bad are things? What are the new opportunities for the future of the piano service industry?  I'm encouraged by the many businesses that have come into being in the past quarter century.  I'm encouraged by the number of rebuilders and the high quality. But there are technicians who aren't making it. That affects PTG and especially our Associates.

    Richard West

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    Richard West
    Oro Valley AZ
    520-395-0916
    440richard@gmail.com
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  • 2.  RE: State of the Piano Industry

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-04-2017 15:12
    Well, I see some very obvious reasons for the slump. Pianos are a kind of bellweather, or maybe canary-in-a-mine. When the economy is booming, everybody can afford luxuries. The economy isn't doing very well, despite the highs in the stock market. Sales have been going down since the '90's after the Gulf war. I started in 1988, and sales were booming at the store where I worked. Korean pianos were cheap, and we sold two or three a day, along with a couple Baldwins, Kawais, and a Steinway every other week. Myself and another apprentice were unable to keep up with the piano sales, and some got out without even a store tuning. Hard to believe. We had several people apprentice off and on over several years. Some came and some went. As sales slacked off, I ended up the only full time employee in the tech dept. The manager was honest and told me that if I quit, they would not hire another tech full time. Ultimately, the store went bust, and two guys bought it out and ran it aground again in 3 years. End of story.
    It seems it is just a supply/demand situation. Stores in the area have enough tech help that they don't need anybody new. People buy a new piano, have it tuned a few times, and junior loses interest. It sits there, and we don't get a call to service it. Without brisk sales, the demand for our service falls off.
    As far as not having enough work for an experienced tech, one needs to scrutinize one's business plan to see where the problem is. Is the market saturated? Is there somebody who's been around for so long that he gets most of the business? What about online presence? When business is slow, advertising might be more necessary than before. Maybe you have to more to another area.
    I don't think the economy is going to come back very soon. But I do see a demand for piano lessons, so I don't think all is lost. People still want their kids to learn, and with lots of used pianos on Craigslist for cheap, we can still be of service. We're not at the "buggy whip" stage. Pianos are going to be around for a long time, and as long as that proves true, we will be in demand. It's just going to be more difficult for newbies to learn the craft without going to a full time school. And then it's going to be more important than ever to have good marketing skills.
    Times- they are a' changin'.
    Paul McCloud
    San Diego

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    Richard West
    I guess I have too much time on my hands today and seem to be monopolizing the "air waves." It's a holiday. Right?

    So I have a question. What is the current state of our industry? I ask this because the topic at our upcoming Tucson Chapter meeting is how the industry has changed over the past quarter century or so. I'm afraid that the discussions will devolved into moaning and groaning about the sorry state of things. There's certainly reason to head that direction and I'm not trying to steer things in this forum. Go ahead and moan. I know many universities are cutting budgets and salaries and even cutting piano tech positions. I know that piano sales in the US are down. I know that some local technicians are struggling to find work. Lots to complain about. But I hope that criticism and complaining will be balanced with positive thoughts, ideas, and suggestions.

    So what's happening around your part of the country and around the world? How bad are things? What are the new opportunities for the future of the piano service industry? I'm encouraged by the many businesses that have come into being in the past quarter century. I'm encouraged by the number of rebuilders and the high quality. But there are technicians who aren't making it. That affects PTG and especially our Associates.

    Richard West




  • 3.  RE: State of the Piano Industry

    Posted 09-04-2017 16:15

    bellweather
    Paul McCloud,  09-04-2017 15:11
    Ha! Had to look that one up. I learned something today ;-)  The only thing is there's no a in it. Should be bellwether (but pronounced like weather.)

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    "That Tuning Guy"
    Scott Kerns
    www.thattuningguy.com
    Tunic OnlyPure & TuneLab user
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  • 4.  RE: State of the Piano Industry

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-04-2017 18:41
    I agree with Paul. In some areas the economy is up, and in others it's down. No store in my area sells more than 2 pianos a month. When I was in the Cunningham Piano Factory for a week of training, they sold 17 pianos that week and 2 harpsichords. Mind you, only 2 or 3 of those pianos were below $20,000. Most were over $90,000.

    Yea, the piano market is like any other. It goes up and down and all around, and is dependent upon where you look. 

    The market for piano servicing, on the other hand, seems pretty steady, again, though, dependent upon where you live.

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    Benjamin Sanchez
    Professional Piano Services
    (805)315-8050
    www.professional-piano-services.com
    BenPianoPro@comcast.net
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  • 5.  RE: State of the Piano Industry

    Posted 09-06-2017 01:23
    In my little corner of Wisconsin southwestern corner, near LaCrosse, work is steady, summer was a bit slow but I was rebuilding a grand so... LaCrosse has 2 music stores, one sells acoustic pianos the other decided they were dead and fulfilled his prophecy by not ordering any more! 2 colleges, several private piano studios and the usual parochial and public schools. I am going on 49 years in the biz and have learned how to weather the ups  and downs of this area. I cover about 5 local school districts and 3 parochial schools a couple of piano studios. Also includes about 200-250 homes and churches.  I assist customers in moving up to a better instrument, selling unused pianos and rebuilding. The local market is very low and I am constantly surprised by the bargains customers buy pianos for. I offer full service except refinishing, I have no room for it so I farm that out. Michael Magness

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    Michael Magness
    West Salem WI
    608-786-4404
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