The thing is, CAUTs are ridiculously understaffed and under paid for what is expected of them. Like your situation, while I was at USC, the program grew leaps and bounds. What that means for the one piano guy trying to do the work of three is that it just gets harder and harder to actually get to put your hands on what it is you're expected to do. Heck, it can take 1/4 of your time just to do the scheduling!!!!
Yes, Wim, weekend work may be required in the job description, but it should be on rare occasion, not the norm. My predecessor took time and a half off when he was asked to do weekend work and nobody ever fussed (state employees don't get overtime pay in SC -- just comp time). But when things started getting exponentially busier on my watch, people started fussing, and I just got to the point where wasn't willing to give my life to the university 24/7 for the price of 6 1/2 tunings a week. My family was too important for that.
You can make the same money in 15 hours a week outside and get better tax deductions. It's the bennies you're giving them your life for, and you can cover that in another 5, maybe 7 hours a week. Granted, that doesn't include time spent scheduling. You might be able to do better with health care on your own and my dad tells me his Social Security is a much better paycheck than his pension check is (but then, he didn't have to pay in to his pension like we do, so, that's a free paycheck for him).
Tanner
----- Original Message -----
From: Paul T Williams
To: David Ilvedson ; caut at ptg.org
Sent: Sunday, March 07, 2010 2:57 PM
Subject: Re: [CAUT] I've had it!
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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