reselling the piano service

[Kent Swafford]

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Hi Brett,

It was below zero here in Kansas City this week with almost a foot of  
snow. Just to let you know what you are missing...

My relevant experience has been with a venue that does tunings that  
are required by their contracts with the artists. A tuning is a  
tuning, even if the last tuning was just a few hours ago. So I charge  
full price for the rehearsal tuning, and full price for the "touch  
up". The touch up normally requires a separate trip and lots of  
waiting, so my actual time spent isn't that different between the  
two. Once this year, they even changed pianos between the rehearsal  
and the concert, so I was glad that I have a practice of charging  
full price for the "touch up".

I am familiar with the practice of providing tunings with a rental  
piano, but I'm not sure that tuning income should be shared by the  
piano renter. Charge what you need to charge and if someone can still  
mark up your tunings, more power to them, but if they can do that it  
may suggest that our fees our too low.


Kent


On Dec 11, 2005, at 2:50 AM, BRETT GLASS wrote:

> Hello Everyone ,  I recently ran into a situation where I was asked  
> if I could lower my price so that it could be marked up . I was  
> tuning for a concert and the venue manager had been using another  
> tuner for a long time that has left the area . They had a price set  
> up that had been in place a long time (years) . And had not been  
> increased . In fact the price for in home tunings in this area was  
> higher . And had been for over four years . Price is not my question .
>
> After I explained how others were marking up my work , and what I  
> was charging them he seemed ok with it . I live in an area where I  
> do alot of concert work . In fact this promoter has me set up to  
> tune two more times before the first of the year . But we got into  
> a discussion about follow ups after the rehearsal . Most of the  
> time there is not much work needed except when you run into that  
> picky pianist . Or the venue is outside . Includes more than one  
> piano , temperature change etc. . But time is money . Why should I  
> set around . Sometimes I have to wait hours before I can do the  
> follow up . Some want it right before doors open .  Anyway what is  
> the most accepted practice . Charge say 1/2 of the original fee 1/3  
> or charge by the hour ? For the easy follow up I've gone with 1/2 .  
> To some that might seem like a lot but I'm actually losing money .  
> Had I been able to schedule two in home tunings . I'd have come out  
> ahead . This time of year it would be no problem . I have no  
> openings until after Christmas . When these concerts come up they  
> tend to cost me money . Taking up an afternoon because I don't know  
> how or when I can set other appointments . I'd like to just tell  
> them what I charge per hour . I don't know how many times I've got  
> to the location only to find the piano is not ready . Or the stage  
> crew is working . Or I'm half way done and they want to move the  
> Piano .
>
> Also what do most of you do for professional accounts . Do you  
> discount ? I don't . The only time I mark down my work is when I  
> feel like it. Say a church piano needs more work than they can  
> afford. Or the occasional family that might go without a piano if  
> the cost for repairs is more than they can afford . I only discount  
> the tuning service for floor tunings at dealers . I know that I'm  
> going to get customers in return for that work . Do any of you have  
> any experience with your work being marked up and resold say by a  
> Resort  or concert hall ect.?  I do charge more for a concert  
> tuning but not very much more . Only about 10% more . So If they  
> turn around and mark that up what would be a normal markup . Say 25  
> % ?  I know that this is not really my problem . I'm just curious  
> what others may have seen or heard being done .One of the Piano  
> rental companys that I tune for marks up my tunings 25 % .
>
> I just don't feel I should make less so they can make more .  
> Eventhough I do tune for them more often .
>
> Maybe I'm looking at it all wrong . ???
>
> Thanks for your input in advance , and have a great Christmas season !
>
> Brett Glass
>
> A Sharp Piano Service Maui
>
>
> --
> ___________________________________________________
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