[CAUT] University rentals

[Jeff Tanner]

On Jun 19, 2007, at 1:26 PM, Paul T Williams wrote:

> Dear List,
>
> Over the last year, the School of Music here at UNL has had an  
> increasing number of requests to rent or borrow grand pianos for  
> various events both on and off campus.  Our charges are apparantly  
> much cheaper than the music store in town and are considering  
> upping the fee to at least meet their prices and perhaps be  
> slightly higher-Not to just make more $, but to discourage so much  
> moving around of our pianos. Also, our pianos worth going out in  
> public are much better cared for than your average store rental.   
> We use two Steinway B's and a " 50%"  rebuilt Steinway L (new  
> pinblock,bridge restoration, restrung  and new stack earlier this  
> year)

I don't suppose there is any official policy in place here, but we  
don't rent grands, and any other rentals have been rare.  And in most  
cases, even school of music functions off campus often have to rent  
from local stores, and I suppose even pay other technicians for  
tunings.  Logistics discourages and insurance coverage doesn't really  
permit renting to outside entities.

> I have had to interrupt status quo of several classrooms to  
> "borrow" its grand and  put in an upright for short periods of  
> time,  and not only getting complaints from faculty,

This is also why we do not rent grands.  The instruments here were  
purchased for a purpose, and renting to the public or other  
departments is not that purpose.  We have "rented" (for basically the  
cost of a tuning fee and they paid for drayage) well kept practice  
room studio pianos (we have plenty of studios) to other departments  
for special events, but it has been years since that happened.

> but also see a "snowball" effect developing of increasing demands!   
> We are considering designating a 1911 Steinway A being fully  
> restored this summer to pose as the "rental"  It's home was in a  
> practice room, but will be relocated in a faculty meeting/gathering/ 
> reception room.
>
> I have been asked to come up with a "rental policy" of grands for  
> outside performances.  We need to determine rental charges and all  
> the right rules, etc.

Since your pianos are better kept than those which can be rented from  
a store which is in that business, if your department wishes to  
continue on its current path, your fees should be the highest in  
town, and not by just a little.  Renting a piano which is in less  
than optimum condition and charging a fee for that is inexcusable.

Jeff
Jeff Tanner, RPT
University of South Carolina



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