[CAUT] I've had it!

[Paul T Williams]

Hi David,

I thought all CAUTS should also read this as they might be going through 
something similar;

My job is "glued" to 40 hours per week...how ever it works out. So 
spending 6-10 hours on a weekend, (as I had to come in again today for a 
few hours) takes away from the rest of the week. We go Thursday to 
Thursday for pay periods.  I'm trying to get a Steinway L restrung (ala 
pre-Wapinized with new soundboard and bridges) and a Baldwin R prepped for 
a Wapin retrofit for one of the classes here at the Central West Regional 
Conference starting on the 18th.  I spend many hours per week "putting out 
fires", if you will, as well as the usual heavy spring semester recital 
loads during the week.  All in all, I'm in a huge crunch to get my shop 
projects done, but will have to leave early several days this coming week 
to keep myself in the 40 hour check. I'm not kidding in saying that our 
director has a fit if I ask for overtime, and that this overtime must be 
applied for in advance.  How does somebody know how many hours extra one 
will need??? I think a conservative 100 hours would be needed between 
today and the 18th.  Can't do it!

I'm not looking for sympathy (Wim), but just so sick and tired of students 
and faculty,and the Lied center for outside events, not having the 
capability of thinking ahead, looking at what is happening besides 
themselves in the performance venues, or just giving me more time to 
figure these things out. I'm convinced that these artists are so self 
centered and tunnel visioned that they have no capability of rational 
thought. I'm all alone with 110 instruments and 40 hours.  The more last 
minute notices I get, the more the pianos suffer.  Now there are two 
fairly important concerts that will not get any tunings this week due to 
others' lack of planning.

Each year since I started in 2006, (and this is a good thing) our school 
of music has grown leaps and bounds. But, on the downside, it's still only 
me, my budget hasn't changed for some 15 years, and the recital demands 
have increased at least 25%.

I'm very blessed that Richard West, and his daughter, Rachel, came in this 
past week for a few hours and got the Steinway stringing job under way. 
THANK YOU RICHARD AND RACHEL!!!

What's making the shop projects tough, besides, is that I hurt my right 
thumb pretty badly a couple weeks ago rescuing our basement at home from a 
sewer back-up. My wife is off to Washington to be with her dying father, 
my son has a very busy schedule after school things, etc, etc... So I'm Mr 
Mom....I got to hand it to you people that are single parents!  I'm very 
impressed with those of you who juggle this much stuff.  My relief is 
knowing it is only temporary. 

In the end, I will have a vacation, a chance to breathe, and only have to 
deal with this (this time!) for 8 more weeks. 

I'm now convinced;  Half the people are below average!! ;>)  lolol

I hope y'all aren't going through this much S#$%

Paul




From:
"David Ilvedson" <ilvey at sbcglobal.net>
To:
caut at ptg.org
Date:
03/07/2010 01:06 PM
Subject:
Re: [CAUT] I've had it!



I don't get it?   You have a 40 week spread out over an entire week?   Are 
you on duty M - F, 8 hours a day + whatever is needed on the weekends? 
That's a crime, but at least I would be taking off time from the M - F to 
make up for the 6 hours on Saturday.   Paul, please explain...and you can 
do this privately if you like, how your week typically goes.   Do you have 
typical concert work every week that requires you to be at the venue in 
the evenings? 

I'm sincerely trying to understand the insanity.   I have a contract for 
just 6 hours every Saturday.   Anything beyond that including concert work 
is extra.    A half-time position might happen

David Ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, CA  94044

----- Original message ----------------------------------------
From: "Paul T Williams" <pwilliams4 at unlnotes.unl.edu>
To: caut at ptg.org
Received: 3/6/2010 4:12:56 PM
Subject: [CAUT] I've had it!


>OK.  This week has been more than I can stands, and I can'ts stands no 
>more.

>After mister spoiled van cliburn dude, I'm supposed to tune for Abraham, 
>inc. right.  This morning was fine and great tuning.  An "open arena" 
>sound check from 3-5;   right.  Then I'm supposed to tune again from 5-7 
>(or until I'm done...I figure 30-40 minute touch up), right.  they all 
>have fun yaking it up and practicing until 5:40, right.  Then, the people 

>who were supposed to be here for the pre-concert talk from 3-5... show up 

>at 5:45.  Somebody lets them in while I'm starting to tune, they all file 

>in yaking away, they are offered seats, they sit down, the group politely 

>starts to talk and etc, etc, etc.  I gave up. Touched up 2 really sour 
C's 
>(c-4 and C-5) and leave.  I can do NO more today. (this Steinway B has 
>develped some bad rendering problems in this area that are new to me and 
>were fine a month ago)

>Next monday, a flute day with guest artist;  no time to tune; next 
Friday; 
>a two piano chamber music thing I just found out about,; again, 
absolutely 
>not an opportunity to tune.  When will these people ever learn?  I'm 
going 
>home now for some malt beverage of some kind.  I'm only paid for 40 
hours, 
>and, being a state employee in a budget crunch, get in trouble if I go 
>overtime.  So here I am for 6 hours on a Saturday....do the math!

>Not so happy,

>Paul



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