No meeting is scheduled for February.

Next meeting: Tuesday March 14, 2017

Piano guild meeting January 10, 2017 at Frank and Camille's. Michael Slavin called the meeting to order at 7 pm. Seven members were in attendance.

Paul Keogler, a Nassau member for many years and a well respected tech gave this month's technical about business practices. He gave us tips on how to run your business. Here is an outline of his lecture:

• Have an organized workplace. Tools set and ready to be used. A sloppy workplace makes for sloppy work.
• It's best to concentrate on one repair at a time. Don't jump on too many jobs at the same time.
• Don't answer phone or e-mails when you're deep at work - you lose concentration and the job takes longer.
• Do a task you don't like first - it will make the rest of the job go faster.
• Keep a record of how long each job takes. Write it down - not in your head.
• Learn from each job - how to cut costs and be more time effective.
• Have a mobile office with you - phone, paper products, receipts, catalogs, etc.

Paul showed us a jig he made to glue felt to whippens. This jig saved him much time on finishing the job. The next job to glue felt he's all set. Paul finished by answering questions about glue, especially hot hide glue, which he is an expert on.

The meeting was dismissed at 8 pm.

A note from the secretary: before tuning, ask the customer if they look up songs on YouTube and put their iPad on the piano and play along. If yes, 440 is the way to go. Then you have a good reason for a pitch raise.

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