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“You bring the kid in here that did this, let me kick his ***, then, maybe, I’ll fix it again!!”

We all experience being Sisyphus at times. Yours is working on the same instrument, and sometimes even the very same dents or damage on the very same horn occasionally. Mine is the same client coming back to the office each year to dig them out of the same hole with ex-spouse and supporting (or lack thereof) kids.

iiipopes wrote:We all experience being Sisyphus at times. Yours is working on the same instrument, and sometimes even the very same dents or damage on the very same horn occasionally. Mine is the same client coming back to the office each year to dig them out of the same hole with ex-spouse and supporting (or lack thereof) kids.

That sounds a bit like a guy I know who is trying to get custody of 2 children. He is an habitual drug user, mainly pot, who lost a good career as a jockey due to his habit. One of the conditions for visiting is NO positive drug tests. His solution is to illegally import some very expensive shampoo from the US so tests done on hair samples will show negative. Some people never learn to take responsibility for their actions.

Recently he drove his car into a utility pole at high speed and totalled the car as well as the pole. His solution was to quickly report the car as stolen. Some poor fool who inspected the wreck - looking for a dead or injured driver - got charged for the phony theft and several other charges. Needless to say, Jockey hasn't fessed up to anything. He has a 14 year old son who is learning all of dad's tricks. I sometimes feel like dobbing him in so he has to 'face the music'.


Bloke, I know your pain, having rrepaired many smashed instruments over the years.

That's unbelievable, Ken. I thought that kind of nonsense only happened in America.

Didn't used to happen much anywhere. Problem is, a couple generations of "entitled" types have grown and every generation seems to get more "entitled" to do whatever the hell they want and not have to pay any consequences.

One teaching job I had a bit over 40 years ago was as a specialist brass teacher in a public high school. The "special" classes were 40 or more grade 6 up. There were no instruments in playing condition. I would take boxes of smashed parts home and make workable instruments - at no charge to anybody - just in hopes some would actually want to make some music with them.


I got a few - thank F... - which almost made the job worth the effort though the frustration almost turned me into an alchy. A few who really made the effort and developed their potential helped me keep sane.

About 20 years ago I was repairing instruments for schools up to 80 miles apart at a "I hope I break even" cost basis. It didn't really, but I managed to keep a few school music programs going. MOST in that situation were cases of years of no maintainance rather than abuse so it did not feel so bad, but eventually it ran me broke when I spent thousands on parts and materials and found the schools only had less than $400 to pay for everything. One school alone was 15 flutes, a dozen clarinets, 8 saxes an oboe , bass clarinet and bassoon all of which needed full overhauls over the summer break.

Frustrating as hell - but at least I had the satisfaction of knowing that the music programs could continue.

I get some of the same 'repeats'. But... the most annoying calls I get are from the parents looking for $30 overhauls on their Chinese clarinets.

bloke wrote:

Dan Schultz wrote:I get some of the same 'repeats'. But... the most annoying calls I get are from the parents looking for $30 overhauls on their Chinese clarinets.

Tell them that their price range is "close", but it's going to need to cost $60, and not $30.
...Then buy a new $40 Chinese clarinet, throw theirs away, and charge them the $60.

Love it!