When One Piano Move is Not Like the Other

Paul Wagner doesn’t talk about moving like it’s just a job. For him, it’s a craft. From the way he describes his work, it’s clear that every move carries weight well beyond what’s physically being lifted.

“I go up and beyond on my job,” says the Edmonton mover. “I take pride in my job, so I’m a very professional mover. I think of every piece as a million dollar piece.”

That mindset matters most when the item on the truck is already worth far more than it looks — and few things demand more respect than a piano. Over the years, Paul has moved plenty of uprights and grands on tight staircases in renovated homes that were never designed to let a piano leave again.

“Oh, I’ve done lots of them,” he says casually, but the stories behind that statement are anything but simple.

One of the most memorable piano moves Paul recalls happened earlier in his career, when he and a team were called in to move a grand piano that had effectively been trapped inside a home by renovations done after it was delivered.

“We actually had to go and move a grand piano and it took six of us to move it,” Paul explains. “They built the stairs and everything after they got the piano… didn’t think it was going to happen.”

That’s a situation professional movers see more often than customers realize. Homes change. Staircases get narrowed. Railings move. Door frames shift. And suddenly, a piano that once slid in comfortably has no obvious path out. At that point, brute strength alone won’t solve the problem.

“We padded it all up, secured everything,” Paul says. “It took us almost an hour and a half to be able to get this piano down the stairs out of the house.”

That hour and a half wasn’t spent rushing. It was spent adjusting angles, rechecking straps, repositioning hands, communicating constantly, and making sure nothing — not the piano, not the house, and not the movers — was put at risk. When it was finally done, the effort spoke for itself.

“Once we were done, our customer was so happy,” Paul says. “They tipped us each $500 just because of how professional we were.”

Moving a grand piano isn’t just a heavier version of moving an upright. Paul is quick to point out that the complexity increases dramatically the moment a piano is no longer standing on its own.

“There’s actually a lot more work that you have to do with a grand piano than you do with a stand-up,” he explains. “With the stand-up it’s basically already standing for you — you just gotta pad that thing up, put it on a skid, strap it to the skid, and you’re moving it.”

A grand piano, on the other hand, has to be dismantled carefully before it can even be lifted. Legs come off. Weight shifts unpredictably. Internal components can move if the piano isn’t positioned correctly.

“With a grand piano there’s just so much more because you have everything inside that can move,” Paul says. “They’re worth so much more, and the wood on them is so soft. If you don’t have it padded properly, you can do a lot of damage.”

That’s why process matters. Paul walks through the steps like muscle memory.

“You gotta drop the legs in,” he says. “Then you tip it up. You always put a couple pads on the floor. Tip your piano up on the side, pad it all up, string wrap it, strap it in, put it on the piano skid, and then you just go from there and do whatever you gotta do to get it out.”

Even with everything done right, coordination is critical. Piano moves are never solo efforts, and when six people are involved, every position matters.

“It’s usually two guys at the bottom, two guys at the top, and then you have the two guys on the side just to keep the balance,” Paul explains.

Balance isn’t just about protecting the instrument — it’s about protecting lives. Paul has seen what happens when piano moves are rushed or understaffed, and the consequences can be severe.

“When I was working at another company, we had this one move where they sent me and one of my other guys,” he recalls. “They tried to move the piano without the other two of us around.”

Without enough hands to control the weight, the situation spiraled quickly.

“The piano ended up sliding down and going through the wall,” Paul says. “The guy on the bottom got severely hurt. He ended up breaking his leg and his arm.”

The incident demonstrated the importance of safety standards, for which Two Small Men is renowned. 

“That’s why safety is huge,” Paul says. “You’re protecting the piano, the walls, the home… but you also gotta be protecting yourselves.”

Over time, Paul has developed clear rules about positioning and experience during piano moves, especially on stairs.

“I always try to make sure that you got at least one experienced guy on the bottom that’s strong,” he says. “Because if he’s a smaller guy, the piano’s just gonna slide over him if something goes wrong.”

That bottom position carries the greatest risk. Above them, strength and control matter just as much.

“You have a nice big guy or two on the top to hold it while you’re going down the stairs,” Paul explains. “And then always have that balance guy with you.”

Those side positions act as insurance. If something slips, if a strap shifts, if gravity suddenly wins, those hands can mean the difference between a close call and a catastrophe.

“As long as those guys on the side are there, if something bad goes on, at least they can jump in and grab that piano,” Paul says. “Try to stop it from running over the guy at the bottom.”

This level of planning and caution is exactly what separates professional piano movers from risky shortcuts. It’s also why Paul’s approach hasn’t led to complaints.

“All my customers are always happy,” he says. “I’ve never had a complaint yet.”

For Paul, that record isn’t luck. It’s the result of treating every piano like it’s irreplaceable, every staircase like it’s dangerous, and every move like it demands full attention. At Two Small Men With Big Hearts, that philosophy isn’t just encouraged — it’s expected.

When a piano needs to be moved, there’s no room for guesswork. There’s only preparation, teamwork, and respect for the weight — physical and otherwise — of the job.

Ready to plan your move? Contact us for a free quote.