This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment Re: [CAUT] stand-by & pitch change chargesBarbara, For pitch changes I = charge for a pitch correction and a fine tuning, and then unless the = next act that can't understand an International Agreement is coming in = back to back, I also charge for a pitch correction and a fine tuning to = put it back at 440. The pitch raise I do before hand I like to do a day = or two ahead of time to see how the instrument reacts and if necessary = I'll go over it again the day of the concert. What they really need is = stability and guaranteed pitch so give it to them and let them pay for = it. BTW this has cost over $800.00 when it falls on a weekend and when = it includes "stand by" it has been over $1000.00. And if a venue wants = to play with the big boys that's what it can cost. Most venues I deal = with have at least learned (quickly) to suggest sticking with the = Treaty. and some have absolutely said our piano is A-440Hz and that = should be good enough for you traveling acts. I have seen quite a few = European orchestras come to their senses and they sounded fine at 440. = But for now I would just charge for what you do and let the chips fall. = Best of luck, Chris Solliday ----- Original Message -----=20 From: Barbara Richmond=20 To: College and University Technicians=20 Sent: Friday, August 05, 2005 11:05 PM Subject: Re: [CAUT] stand-by & pitch change charges Fred, Jon, Avery, Alan........ It's the hall's piano and it's that Pops orchestra out of Boston as = part of a subscription series making a stop here in the corn and soybean = fields of Central Illinois. (A nice little Christmas-time gig to bring = out the families.) I already let the hall's director know that there = would be an additional charge for the pitch change, but haven't given = her an amount yet. Shucks, it's the first request I've had for anything = besides 440 since I started tuning 23 years ago. How could that be? I = attribute it to clean living.....ahem. :-) I said I'd let her know = how I would charge for the stand-by thing. The hall always pays me--how = they collect or cover for my services, as you said, is their business. = Thanks all, I appreciate the input. This is a learning experience for both the management and me. In the = past they used the university tech, who didn't charge them (long story) = and when he got fed up with the piano and environs, he quit providing = service to the hall. Then they used anyone they could get their hands = on. New management called on me and I only agreed to do the job if I = was allowed to make the piano sound and play better. That's how I ended = up rebuilding the action. I'm training them about real piano care and = getting professional results. Silly me, I thought my previous = experience as a university technician prepared me for this job (ha!). = Oh yeah, well, I suppose I did have to train the faculty back then, but = things ran smoothly after that. The rules were established and that was = that. Here, it seems every group that comes in has its own rules. You may ask, why, Barb, do you know the details about this concert so = far in advance? In trying to get the staff to respect my time (making = sure I'm available) and to put an end to those panicky last minute = requests, I asked that I be contacted every time a <contract> came = through that includes the use of our pianos. Golly, they're doing it!! Barbara Richmond, RPT ----- Original Message -----=20 From: Fred Sturm=20 To: caut=20 Sent: Friday, August 05, 2005 7:39 PM Subject: Re: [CAUT] stand-by & pitch change charges Hi Barbara, In general, I agree with Jon: charge your hourly rate. But that = could be negotiable should the contract be amended to say "The tuner = will return at X o'clock (say an hour before the concert) to touch up = and deal with any problems." Then it's a service call. I would think = that solution would meet everyone's approval. About charging for pitch change back to 440, that's a complex = question. Whose piano? What's the status of the event? Is the orchestra = renting the hall, or the hall presenting the orchestra? I'd say the = policy is the hall's responsibility. I would advise them, if this is a = rental, to charge the orchestra an additional tuning to bring it back = (and for two tunings to get it to non-standard pitch and stable). Just = tell them the next time they have it tuned, it will need two tunings - = that should be sufficient to persuade them. Of course if it is a = co-production, or the concert is produced by the venue, it becomes a = different kettle of fish. But make sure the folks in the hall know that = non-440 means extra tuning in both directions. And leave it to them as = to who pays (as long as it isn't the tuner working for free). Regards, Fred Sturm University of New Mexico=20 =20 On 8/5/05 2:36 PM, "Barbara Richmond" <piano57@insightbb.com> wrote: Howdy all, =20 Just had a note from the director of the big auditorium. A = contract from a big orchestra has come through specifying that the piano = be tuned not more than 6 hours before the concert and "The piano tuner = should remain available and on stand-by until concert start time." =20 What's a fair charge for stand-by? Would it be my normal hourly = fee, even if I'm sitting in the tech office reading a book? :-) =20 Unless I'm planning on staying for the concert for my own = enjoyment, I usually stay until I get the OK from whomever, but it = usually isn't long after I've finished working. At this point I haven't = been informed what the afternoon schedule is. This is the first time = I've had this in a contract ('tis only my second season). Just = wondering how you all handle these things. =20 Also, this orchestra has requested something other than 440, so = I'm thinking they should not only pay for bringing the piano up in = pitch, but also taking it back down again. Comments?? =20 I realize a lot of you on this list are salaried techs, but = someone out there must be servicing additional concert facilities. (Oh, = yeah, I'll be getting to that report after "going to the lake" = season........) =20 Thanks, =20 Barbara Richmond, RPT ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/caut.php/attachments/84/58/3b/b1/attachment.htm ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment--
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