how to politely ask for a raise

[A440A at aol.com]

Brian writes: 

<< How would you handle this?   Or...would you just leave the situation as it 
is? >>

            If you leave it as it is, you are going backwards, 
professionally.  I don't think I have ever 'asked' for a raise. I  had to price my time for 
whatever market I could cobble together would bear. I knew I wasn't charging 
enough when I began to turn customers away because I didn't have the time.  A 
higher price took care of that problem, and more than paid for itself with the 
added income offsetting the few lost customers.  Then, soon enough, I started 
to run out of time, again.  Raise'em,  I say.    
    You want clients that understand your need to raise your prices, yearly.  
If not, you will pay for the difference, year after year, for as long as they 
are your customer.  We can't leave it to the clientele to shape us, we want 
to shape it, so, as our business progresses, our prices should gradually rise 
upwards.  Away from apprentice wages, where we all began, away from beginner 
prices, and by the time we finally have to end our career, we should be getting 
top dollar for our area.  At least, that is the ideal progression I have in 
mind.  
       As we do, our customers will reflect a higher degree of cost and 
value.  And we won't be saddled with an appointment book full of bottom dollar 
clients!  This is a good thing. 
Regards,  
Ed Foote RPT 
http://www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/index.html
www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/well_tempered_piano.html
 <BR><BR><BR>**************<BR>Biggest Grammy Award surprises of all time on 
AOL Music.<BR>     
(http://music.aol.com/grammys/pictures/never-won-a-grammy?NCID=aolcmp00300000002548)</HTML>