Jonathan Mason is an Auckland piano tuner. Photo / Thinkstock
Jonathan Mason, Auckland piano tuner.
What is your business?
I'm a piano tuner technician. I work for both private and institutional clients,such as councils and churches, schools and various music groups.
How long have you been working by yourself?
I have been working for myself for 20 years.
What do you like about your way of working life? Does it suit you?
I prefer the freedom of self-employment, which seems to suit my temperament.
Have you managed to take a holiday during the year the last couple of years? If not, why not?
I have not had a proper holiday where I go away for a few weeks in three or so years. The temptation, when self employed, is to keep going rather than down tools and let the world look after itself, particularly when work is slow.
How has business been this year?
Despite the apparent recovery in this wonderful economy, my observation is that whatever spare cash there is, seems to be spent on such necessary items as new cars and flash electronics rather than pianos and various intangible services such as tuning.
People's priorities appear to have changed over the past few years and in my estimation,
not for the better.
How are you feeling about the approaching holiday season?
The Christmas and January period is usually a bit of a tightrope for the self-employed.
The best thing though is to enjoy the good weather and remember to rest up and do
precisely nothing for a few weeks at least.
The data show Rotorua has the highest proportion of burglaries in New Zealand.