Community College Work

[Francis Dubé]

Ted,

 Having serviced both a college and a university.I believe its best to
establish a servicing contract. 3 tunings per year at a 20-30% reduction
from your regular tuning rate.Additionally, you should factor in a $50.00
per piano per year fee for regulating and small repairs. I presume these are
pianos that students and teachers will use for at least a few hours per day
almost every day. If the climate shifts are very "shifty" i.e. 20-80%
humidity change from winter to summer, temp from freezing to scorching..you
will be busy doing a lot of regulating and tuning, especially if the
building is not very climate control efficient.
You are the expert, you -educate- them. Tell them the salesman's information
is wrong! -Give- the administration and staff literature to read.(PTG tech
bulletins) Present a clear and simple contract.Suggest an annual purchase of
2 humidity control systems or at least one per year. Establish a servicing
shedule that's in sync with the yearly use of the pianos  i.e tuning and
regulating in end of August for September end of Dec for Jan. and  end of
Apr. for May exams.
Access to pianos should be on a come and go as you please basis. You have a
set of keys to get to the pianos you need to get to.
Concert tunings are at a full tuning price plus perhaps $25.00 for voicing
and regulating.

Francis Dube, RPT

----- Original Message -----
From: Ted Simmons <ted@yourlink.net>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Tuesday, January 11, 2000 3:16 PM
Subject: Community College Work


> I have been asked to bid on tuning a local community college's pianos.
> These pianos have been recently purchased and the dealer told the music
> director that they should need a tuning only once a year.  Now that's
> baloney and I can get through that OK.  But what I would like to know is
> what would I be letting myself in for if I take this contract.  Some
> things I worry about is access to the pianos whenever I want to. Also,
> what about charging for tunings and extra work.  Should I give them a
> discount (we're talking about 15 pianos)?  What about concerts for the
> stage piano?  I'm inclined to charge extra for concert tunings because
> it involves more than just tuning.  It involves checking all mechanical
> operations as well as voicing.  Would it be unreasonable to charge a
> double tuning charge?  Before Christmas I was scheduled to tune their
> stage piano at noon.  I showed up right on time but they were still
> rehearsing their Christmas program.  I had to wait around for a
> half-hour before the rehearsal was over.  Delays like that are something
> to consider in finalizing a contract.  Can anyone give me some pointers
> to help me out in this matter?
>
> Ted Simmons
> Merritt Island, FL
>