I have been a professional concert technician for many years and have
tuned for three symphony orchestras.  I currently maintain the pianos
at the Ham Performing Arts Center in Las Vegas.  I have had the
opportunity to work with many respected names.  Most are reasonable
to work with.

I generally prepare the piano the day before the concert.  The pianist
typically arrives several hours before the doors open to rehearse.  At
this time I meat with the them to receive their approval on the piano.
95% of the time they are happy with it.  When they complete their
rehearsal I return to touch up the tuning prior to the performance.

Occasionally I run into one who is not entirely satisfied with the
piano.  On most of these occasions it is only a matter of some light
voicing or a slight regulation issue.  There have been a few occasions
where the pianist will not be satisfied with the piano regardless of
the fact that the piano is perfect.  In my experience I have often
found this to be psychological.  Either the pianist has had a bad day,
they are frustrated with their own mistakes, or they may be a little
nervous.  Whatever the case they take their frustrations out on the
piano.

In such cases sometimes I must resort to the ol' concert tech's
psychologist therapy, (I didn't invent it).  The technique is simple.
I tell the pianist that "I know exactly what to do; I just need to be
left alone with the piano for a half hour.  When I am finished you will
absolutely _love_ it, I promise!"

When they leave I go to work -- doing absolutely nothing!  During this
time the pianist has had time to calm down and get some fresh air.
When they return they have a completely new disposition.  Suddenly they
love the piano and I am praised for doing such a miraculous job!

Charles Davis wrote:

> Horowitz had a Steinway technician go with him on his concert tours
> to get his piano just right before a concert.  And usually Steinway
> had a certain piano that Horowitz had picked out at the factory went
> on his tours.

Yes, Horowitz had his own piano technician.  His name is Franz Mohr.
He is alive and well and I have met him twice.  He has a book, "My Life
with the Great Pianists", in which he talks about his many adventures
around the world working with Horowitz and many others.  As I recall,
he writes about using the above technique to pacify pianists who become
frustrated with the piano.  His son Michael Mohr is currently head of
the production department at Steinway in New York.

Rob Goodale, RPT
Las Vegas, NV