I'm a piano and player piano tech in the New York City metropolitan
area.  In 150622 MMDigest, Eric Bergstrom mentioned that the location
of the player business is an important factor.  Getting lots of player
work is no problem where I live for an experienced tech.  Service calls
are very worthwhile.

In the New York City metro area, piano technicians tend to specialize.
They mostly or primarily "tune" and do basic in-the-field repairs and
light shop work.  This leaves all other facets of piano work wide open.
I work with several technicians who mostly or primarily tune pianos.
My associate sells the job as well as "me" and my business to the
customer.  The customer trusts me and will pay me well to do the work.
In exchange for the referrals, I do free work for them.

The biggest challenge player techs in my area face is the cost of
living and costs of maintaining a suitable work shop.  Many of my
competitors have been forced out of the pneumatic player business due
to high costs of living.  I have had to adjust my lifestyle to keep my
costs lower.

If one has huge expenses, the player business will not pay those bills,
e.g., a big mortgage, high credit card bills, property taxes, insurance,
kids, car payments or a spouse who will not accommodate your player
rebuilding business, etc. etc.

One of my associates gives me the Piano Technicians Journals when he
is done reading them. I don't have to pay for expensive PTG membership.
I have been very resourceful in keeping my expenses low.

Many player technicians will not accommodate the "low end" of our
customers (the majority who do not want to spend thousands).  I'm
willing to do partial rebuilds on newer Aeolian players and install
suction boxes.  I will work with someone else's 20- or 30-year-old
restoration work if need be, and feasible.  I will also accommodate
those who want my best possible job and are willing to pay for it.

I have a modern Aeolian stack in my shop that I'm going to recover the
pneumatics in a cost-effective way.  I just strip off the old cloth in
the hinge area and inside with a box cutter, scuff with sandpaper and
clean with naphtha.  I use the less expensive nylon cloth with PVC-e
adhesive.  I use power screwdrivers.

The neoprene valves are going to leak a little, but newer Aeolian
systems are so compact this leakage won't matter much.  I can "knock
these out" really fast.  My competitor told this customer to throw the
piano out (sentimental, belonged to their mother) and it would cost
$3500 if they were to have them fix it.

Making and selling these suction boxes _is_ very resourceful; there
is a big demand for them.  I have been making my own suction boxes.
I also offer used suction boxes to my customers where feasible.  I have
many used vacuum motors and control boxes.  Being resourceful is very
important in running a successful player business.  Many may not
approve of the way I often do things.  If I run my business for the
approval of those who are not my customers, it wouldn't make any sense.

Bill Maguire