Dan The Moving Man - Spokane Washington

Tales from the Truck

Moving advice, local lore, and everything in between.

Meet Dan: The Man Behind the Music (and the Move)

Long before he became a local legend, Dan the Piano Man was just a kid in North Dakota, learning to play piano on his mother’s knee. The winters were long and frigid—perfect for staying inside and making music. It’s where Dan’s lifelong love of the piano took root, and where a remarkable journey began.

Dan Loibl started college at 16 and went on to juggle two careers—teaching band by day, tuning and repairing pianos by night. He even led a dance band that played professionally for 25 years. Somewhere along the way, a Ramada Inn marquee dubbed him “Dan the Piano Man,” and, well… it stuck.

After a move west and a stop in Spokane during the 1962 World’s Fair road trip, Dan never forgot the beauty of the Inland Northwest. In 1980, he made it home. He settled in the Valley, built a business from the ground up, and relied on word of mouth, elbow grease, and good old-fashioned service to make a name for himself.

Over the decades, Dan has moved and tuned thousands of pianos, helped generations of families relocate, and built something even more lasting: trust.

While Dan is now semi-retired, his legacy lives on in the employee-owned team he built. Today, Rex Robinson leads the business with the same care, attention to detail, and passion for service that Dan instilled from the start.

This blog is a space to share stories like Dan’s, along with moving tips, community connections, and a few unexpected tales from the road. Because around here, it’s never just about getting from Point A to Point B—it’s about the people you meet along the way.

A Day in the Life of a Moving Man

April 21, 2025

(Yes, We’ve Moved a Stuffed Moose Before)

dan the moving man local mover strikes a pose while on a household piano move

At Dan the Moving Man, no two days are the same. One minute we’re wrapping grandma’s china, the next we’re carrying a couch up a spiral staircase while a Pomeranian named Tiny Boots supervises (loudly). Whether you’re searching for local movers near me, wondering how much movers cost, or just curious about what movers won’t move (spoiler: not your pet tarantula), here’s a peek into a day in the life of a real moving man.

7:00 AM – Coffee, Crew Huddle, and GPS Drama

The day starts with strong coffee and stronger opinions about which back roads will save us five minutes getting up South Hill. We load up the truck, double-check the address (trust us on this), and make sure we’ve got everything from moving blankets to bubble wrap to a playlist of dad rock.

8:00 AM – First Stop: The Heavy Stuff

Today’s client is downsizing from a big house on South Hill. Half the stuff is going to their smaller lake house out past Nine Mile, the rest is headed to their kid’s place in Millwood. We’ve moved pianos, gun safes, and once—an elk head named Roger. If it fits in the truck and doesn’t bite, we’ll move it.

11:00 AM – Box Tetris & Sofa Acrobatics

Packing a moving truck is a bit like playing Tetris… if the blocks were fragile, sentimental, and sometimes smelled like lavender. We label boxes, stack smart, and use every inch. Pro tip: Label your boxes. “Misc Stuff” won’t help you find your coffee pot at 7 a.m. tomorrow.

1:00 PM – Lunch (Finally)

Some of us hit Stockwells Chill & Grill, others crush a PB&J on the tailgate. One guy swears by tuna and jalapeño chips. It’s a judgment-free zone… unless you forget your deodorant.

2:00 PM – The “Wait, You’re Moving That?!” Moment

Every move has one. A vintage vending machine. A ceramic bear collection. A 7-foot-tall nutcracker. These are the moments we live for. If it’s awkward, oversized, or mysteriously sticky, we’ve probably moved it.

4:00 PM – Wrapping It Up (Literally)

Final walk-through. High fives. A lot of “thank yous” from people who now believe in miracles. We take pride in offering moving services in Spokane that are fast, friendly, and surprisingly fun.

5:00 PM – Back to HQ, Back to Normal

We unload, prep for the next move, and head home with sore backs and good stories. It’s not glamorous, but it’s honest, sweaty, occasionally hilarious work—and we love it.

Dan The Moving Man | Dan The Piano Man