On 2 Nov. Eric Leatha wrote: Ahhhh, I can get up late, tune my fingers off and go home when I want. <I can do that, too. It's called comp. time here for when I work 10-11 hour days waiting to tune at 5:30 for the concert that night.> Can't get into that studio, can't get into this studio, blast it! <Admittedly, sometimes a problem. But that's the advantage to being here year-round. We can come in at 7 AM to get it done or even stay until all the classes and lessons are done and tune it then.> I'll never get all these pianos done!!! <Granted. It's called job security> My personal fear about working the university racket is that when the school needs to cut funding they do it first in the music dept. and of course in the maintenance of their instruments, not much job security there. Students can do more damage to a piano in six months than most of my clients can do in twenty years. <Granted. But that's also called job security. As long as a school has a degree program and 100+ pianos or so, it doesn't seem too likely that the position will be cut. The money might be cut back for rebuilding, etc. but there are always pianos to tune.> I miss dragging myself to Mrs. Jones' house, rearranging her furniture and annoying her cat for an hour. One thing I don't miss are the vacuum cleaners, dishwashers, lawn mowers, etc. that always seem to be turned on about the time I start to lay a temperament!> Sorry, all. I just couldn't resist. I've only been in this "racket" for a little over 2-1/2 years, but I enjoy it. I have an excellent faculty to work for/with and they are very appreciative of any improvements I can make. It's also kind of nice not to have to worry about all the taxes, insurance, etc., that I had to contend with before. So, since I'm long past the probationary period, I'll probably be here as long as I can still hear (practice room tunings, you know) or until I retire. Thanks for bearing with me. Avery Todd atodd@uh.edu
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