Original Message:
Sent: 3/7/2024 12:16:00 PM
From: Zeno Wood
Subject: RE: Stage crew education
Thanks to all! Some good topics that I needed to be reminded of. Here's what I came up with. Hope you find it useful.
I see that the formatting is all undone. I'll make another post with the word doc as an attachment.
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Orientation to Piano Handling for Stage Crew
Current price of new piano: S&S D = $217k, Yamaha C6 = $80k
Moving – push.
· Not on keyboard or keyslip etc. Structurally sound parts.
· Go slow. About 1/3 as fast as you think is ok. (Show picture of piano upside down)
· Avoid cracks/cut-outs in stage (show the broken leg)
· When passing through doorways or narrow spaces: spotters on both sides, go even slower.
· Electric/audio cables
Wheels/brakes (large brass type)
· Tighten brakes when parked, loosen brakes when moving.
· Tighten = go to point of contact and then just a little more. NOT as tight as you can!
· Loosen = ¼ turn. NOT 3 turns!
· "Snug is good, tight is bad"
· Try to leave large brass piano wheels pointing forward or backwards, not out or in.
Trucks: (spider dolly/stage truck)
Trucks: "Pianomover"
· Placement of rubber bumpers underneath piano
· Raise bumpers via threaded stem. How close to piano beams and bottom of keybed, then engage jack
· Hydraulic jack – don't press the red button no matter how inviting it is.
· Key must be closed when raising jack.
· Key slowly released to lower piano. Maintain control, not sudden.
· Try to leave large brass piano wheels pointing forward or backwards, not out or in.
· Keep key in closed position when done lowering.
Tapes/adhesives
· Please don't use gaff tape, duct tape, etc.
· Polyester finish more durable than lacquer
Food & drink
· NO!
Stuff on top of and near the piano
· Piano is not a table.
· In storage, make sure that stand rack and chairs won't be pushed into piano
Piano bench
· Don't drag it
· Lift by handles
· Hold close to your body
· Piano music desk
Piano lid
· Don't move piano with lid up
· Long stick, short stick, which holes
· Usually long stick for solo piano, short stick for accompaniment. Ask.
· Front flap should be open before raising lid
· If requested to remove lid: tap out hinge pins with needle-nose pliers and hammer. Careful not to scratch side of piano
· Lift lid straight up before moving.
· Have a place to put the lid before moving! Table with blanket is good.
Piano cover
· Fold with white cotton innards facing in
· place on chair or table, not on floor
Music desk
· Sometimes artists want it removed. Make sure to put it back the right way (felt/leather strip facing keys) or it will be embarrassing for crew to walk out on stage to put it right.
Fallboard lock
· Don't lose it! (Put label on it so people will know what it is and where to return it if found)
Piano technician needs
· Please have piano in place before tuning. The more time piano has on stage to acclimate (lighting/heat/humidity conditions), the better chance the piano will stay in tune.
· Please be kind to your tuner! Tuners are generally happy to work around you but certain things make work very difficult: noise, vacuum, genie beeping, music being played.
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Zeno Wood
Brooklyn, NY
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-07-2024 12:07
From: John Rhodes
Subject: Stage crew education
Regarding pushing the piano around:
Though retired, I still work with the local high school for their quarterly choir and band recitals for which their pristine 7' Yamaha gets moved from the choir room to the auditorium stage. Enroute, it must pass through two double doors. Fortunately these doors don't have the removable central post with the little anchor stub protruding from the floor; I've repaired several lyres which were sabotaged by those stubs.
However, passing through the door jambs is fraught with the potential to smash the case and lid -- especially when the piano is piloted by four energetic and inattentive students. My instructions to the students are: "Place your hands on the lid and case here at the widest parts when you go through the doors."
The first time I gave those instructions, the choir teacher was horrified. He said, "But the students could smash their hands or fingers!"
"Exactly my point!" was my reply.
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John Rhodes
Vancouver WA
(360) 721-0728
jrhodes@pacifier.com
Original Message:
Sent: 03-07-2024 10:00
From: Paul McCloud
Subject: Stage crew education
Piano Covers
Locking the fallboard and lid with key
Cable locks on Covers
Proper Lid Prop Placement (Short/long), which cup under the lid is for which prop stick
Stowing Music desk properly so lowering the lid doesn't smash it
Checking lid hinges, tightening screws, hinge pins
Leg bolts and leg mounting hardware check for tightness
Integrity of stage flooring- no cracks or carpet seams
Checking the power cords to damppchasers when in storage
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Paul McCloud, RPT
Accutone Piano Service
www.AccutonePianoService.com
pavadasa@gmail.com
Original Message:
Sent: 03-07-2024 09:41
From: Zeno Wood
Subject: Stage crew education
Hi gang,
I'm meeting with the stage crew to train them on how to handle pianos. So far I have the following list of topics, and would appreciate any further suggestions, no matter how specific or general.
Piano moving around stage
Wheels (and brakes) vs stage trucks
The Pianomover
Food and drink
Adhesives/gaffer tape
Stuff on top of or near the piano
Piano lid, music desk
Thanks!
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Zeno Wood
Brooklyn, NY
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