Business Classes

NOTE: Click on an instructor's name to see a bio.

“If You Did Not Earn $100,000 Last Year... You Need to Attend This Class”

Randy Potter, RPT

Randy Potter, RPT - Randy Potter School of Piano Technology - Portland, OR

Randy PotterRandy is the founder and director of the Randy Potter School of Piano Technology which has become the largest producer of training materials for piano technicians in the world. Randy has written three books, and he is the editor of The Piano Action Handbook, third edition, published by the Piano Technicians Guild. He has produced numerous technical articles and over a dozen technical training video tapes. Randy is a frequent instructor at local, state, regional and national PTG conventions, and has taught at seminars in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Asia and Cuba. Randy is the 2009 recipient of the Piano Technicians Guild Hall of Fame award in recognition of service to PTG and the industry.

Randy begins with the premise that we ought to be earning at least $100,000 a year - and many piano technicians do - yet the recent PTG survey makes it clear that only about 25% of our members are in this income category. 

Piano Talk

Wally Brooks, RPT, and LaRoy Edwards

Wally Brooks, RPT

Wally BrooksWally has been a member of the Connecticut Chapter of PTG for over 50 years. He has over 30-years experience running a complete rebuilding shop including soundboard replacement, pinblock replacement, action replacement and case refinishing. Wally has instructed at over 35 national conventions and countless regional seminars and technicals. He and his wife Vivian were the recipients of the PTG 2006 Golden Hammer Award. Together they established and owned Brooks LTD, a quality rebuilding supplies & piano parts business from 1980-2008.  Brooks LTD has successfully moved into its second generation owned by Melanie Brooks since 2009.

LaRoy Edwards, RPT

LaRoy EdwardsLaRoy is a legend in the piano technical community. He is an inventor, gifted teacher charter member of PTG and Golden Hammer award recipient (1987). With Cecil Short, he founded the Pomona Valley chapter and was the first president of Pomona Valley Chapter. He is National Piano Service Mgr. for Yamaha. LaRoy's two daughters will for the first time be in attendance at WestPac V and will be assisting him in the class. Susan and Jane Edwards-Kimball, RPT were official tuners for the Montery Jazz Festival for over 25 years.

This first time ever WestPac class with two stars in the field is backed by more than 120 years of combined experience! Their careers captured just about every angle of the piano business, from basic service expanding into major rebuilding, factory work, and company service manager, owning retail stores and supplying replacement parts to the trade. These experiences have left them with substantial piano business experiences – half on the East Coast, half on the West Coast. This promises to be an interesting and thought-provoking class covering a myriad of subjects along with a good joke or two from LaRoy. Bring your questions and thoughts along to share in the chatter of “Piano Talk.”

Top Ten Web Site Challenges

Steve Taylor

Steve Taylor

Growing up in the family business with one of the largest Baldwin piano dealers and a service department with an active customer base in the ten thousands, Steve was literally raised by piano technicians. Following military service and college, Mr. Taylor joined Marriott Corporation as a restaurant management trainee and worked up the ladder to District Manager; during that time, also serving as a certified trainer in management and leadership. Steve moved forward with a Marriott Vice-President to help form a new restaurant company in the Mid-Atlantic region and advancing to Director of Operations, overseeing the building and management of a multi-unit restaurant venture; a business that today is a quarter billion dollar corporation. After 20 plus years in the restaurant industry, Steve returned to the piano trade in sales and operations management with one of the largest Steinway and Yamaha dealers for 12 years. Then starting Professional Piano Technicians Association (ProPTA), offering business support for piano technicians and producing professional seminars. He most recently joined the management team at Allied Piano LakeOne USA. Steve has been privileged in serving as the creator and driving force behind the PTG Mid-Atlantic Regional Convention (MARC) these past 14 years.

Steve will discuss marketing for the piano technician in today's electronic world, the opportunities that are available and the pitfalls. Creating a web presence is becoming more important, even for technicians looking for the new quality customer to complete an otherwise busy schedule. Make sure you are promoting your business correctly. Avoid the top 10 errors and omissions. It will make a difference.

Websites & Internet Marketing

Edward Klein, RPT

Edward Klein, RPT

Ed KleinEdward Klein, RPT was trained at the North Bennett Street School in Boston in 1972. He has owned piano service businesses in Boston, Santa Clara, and Los Angeles. He is also co-owner of Websites With Ease, a website company specializing in piano technician websites. He enjoys teaching piano technicians about effective online marketing strategies.

Edward will discuss the value of Internet marketing, describe the different types of online advertising available for piano technicians, and explain the benefits of having a highly effective website.