Music to the ears

TECHNIQUE, passion and a musical soul are all important to the budding pianist. But perhaps even more important is a piano that’s affordable and available around the clock in a city known for its limited living space.
Coming to the rescue is Leo Hu, co-founder of Piano Fong (fong is the Cantonese transliteration for “room”), who provides a comfortable, cheap and convenient piano-room rental service in Kwun Tong. What sets Piano Fong apart is that services proceed entirely on the Internet. Simply click a few buttons on the phone and the piano is yours. 
Hu says he started the piano-room rental services because he saw music centres asking for commission fees from piano teachers. 
“Because the music centres often provide piano teachers for their students, they don’t want to introduce competition,” he explains. “Sometimes they do not provide rental services to others because of this.”

A musician practises at Piano Fong (Photo/China Daily)

He believes most Hong Kong people, because of their living conditions and the price of a piano, struggle with the decision over buying one. Piano Fong offers another option.
Hu did think of starting shared office space but decided the competition in this sector would be too strong. Instead, he identified another niche market targeting piano learners and tutors. “We see more and more children start learning piano and there are an increasing number of piano teachers.”
Piano Fong is convenient, six minutes away from Kwun Tong MTR station. The area is home to several factory outlets and is crowded, especially on weekends. 
And with rental of its former factory space very reasonable, Hu expects to earn his money back within eight months.
“The major investments are in the piano and the networking system. The system for coordinating the website, the amenities inside the rooms and the software for the mobile phones accounts for the major proportion of our investment,” he says. 
Accessing Piano Fong is straightforward. Simply set up an account, which only requires your email and a password and select your preferred time-slot and piano room. The transaction will be conducted through PayPal. Then, you will receive a QR code. Scan the QR code on the scanner installed on the door and everything is ready.
After checking-in, lights and air-conditioning will be switched on automatically.
When time is up, lights and the conditioning will be switched off. However, a small torch will be lit to let customers pack their belongings. 
Sensors in the corridor sense when people are present and turn on lights.
“It’s 24-7. This is something traditional piano rooms cannot provide,” Hu says, adding that his main competitors are traditional music centres.
“There pianists often get interrupted by a knock on the door telling them their time is up,” he notes.

Renters scan a QR code to gain entry to a Piano Fong stall. (Photo/China Daily)

Musicians strongly believe in their own value so conflicts are sometimes inevitable. Piano Fong has installed CCTV to protect everyone’s interests though there will be no staff working at the practice venue on a regular basis.
“We have regular cleaning services in order to ensure a satisfactory and comfortable experience for our customers,” Hu says
If clients exceed their booking period and illegally occupy the piano room, they receive a a report about violating of the terms and conditions.
“That doesn’t happen very often,” says Hu. “In the end it’s all about trust.
Piano Fong is planning to expand its business to different locations and Hu is also hoping to bring the idea of automated processes to other business modes. 
“Piano Fong is a shared business between me and a friend so we do not have enough capital to move things forward. Therefore, we are looking for investors and other cooperative opportunities,” he says.