This isn't exactly along the lines of compliments, but it still somehow seems to fit in with the intent of this thread, so I'll include it with apologies...
Many, many years ago I was playing a fairly steady gig in a place up in Alexandria Bay, NY. The piano was horrible, but the band I was in played trad jazz and wanted to stick with a real piano. Typically, I would agree with that sentiment; I'd rather play a very mediocre real piano on a jazz gig, trad, bebop, or whatever, than the best sampled keyboard. Still, this one was so bad, with missing keys, strings, and WAAAYYYY out of tune, that it was an exercise in frustration. I had spoken to the owner of the club a few times, nicely, offering to recommend a piano tech, asking him to get it tuned, and even offering to help defray some of the cost. He was always apologetic for it's condition, but never followed through.
Then, when we showed up for a gig, he greeted us excitedly as we entered the place, and led me over to the piano, smiling from ear to ear. He had had it painted!!! Nothing else.
