Agreed. If I am asked to tune for a school that I have never turned for before, I quote my tuning price adding that major pitch corrections are not included nor is any repairs tossing out my "approximate figure" saying, it's better to plan on the higher side and then come down in price if I am able, than it is to plan on the lower end and now, try to charge more. I don't go to the powers that be once I am there for additional permission to raise or lower pitch 1/2 tone. If it needs it, I just do it and send my bill accordingly with a short explanation of why it was needed. For my regular schools and my college, I charge a regular fee knowing full well that within 3-4 months or less, every single one of them will require another pitch correction. If they require any minor repairs, I add that onto my bill. Anything major, I send an estimate. Jer Groot RPT From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of tom Sent: Thursday, September 24, 2009 10:09 AM To: pianotech at ptg.org Subject: Re: [pianotech] pitch correction dilemma Marshall, Jim Coleman- George Defebaugh taught a pitch raise class that I attended in the 80's at convention. If I remember correctly we were told if it takes more than 15-20 minutes you're taking too long. My point here is that we don't want to work for free but a Wham Bam P.R. takes less time than the time you take worrying about it. One tech told me it takes longer to explain it to the customer, than to just do it. School tunings are often not much fun for a variety of reasons ( condition of the pianos, vandalized pianos , crap in the pianos, access when you want, noise around the piano ,waiting to get paid), but they can fill in the empty spaces in your schedule and create lots of contacts that will build your clientele. I suggest that you consider each piano's needs and the time you wish spend on it. Maybe a quick pitch raise, maybe spacing hammers, adjusting lost motion, tightening action screws, lubing squeaky pedal. Cut down your tuning time and pick one other thing that the piano needs each time you're there. You can agonize over every wavy unison or really improve the playability of each piano. That will build appreciation of your skill's and ultimately your reputation. The perfect unison in a practice room might last a week where the other improvements much longer. They are paying you X amount to SERVICE the piano. Fit in what you can for that amount and forget about permission. Tom Driscoll _____ From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Marshall Gisondi Sent: Thursday, September 24, 2009 9:22 AM To: pianotech at ptg.org Subject: [pianotech] pitch correction dilemma Hi Everyone, When I approach a piano tha tis too sharp or flat instinct kicks in and I'm ready to correct it, but my problem is this. The school district has to have it approved before they'll pay for it. The thing is then , should I just tune it to itself and then go back and correct it later? I've already had to fix two and yesterday a third one that was a half tone sharp roughly. I only have time for two passes since there are so many pianos to get doe by next month. So any of you out there who tune for school, what is yoru approach? It was so engrained in us to correct pitch at the Piano Hospital, that I cannot think any othe way. each time we'd tue a pinao we were asked, "Was it on pitch?" "Well. no" "Did you do a pitch raise?" Ahh "if a piano is not at pitch alwas do a pitch raise or lowering." well not those exact words but you get the picture. So here I am at a slight dilemma. When I get the check after these tunings, I'llbe happy I had the dilemma. :-) Thanks everyone. Marshall Marshall Gisondi Piano Technician Marshall's Piano Service pianotune05 at hotmail.com 215-510-9400 Graduate of The School of Piano Technology for the Blind www.pianotuningschool.org <http://www.pianotuningschool.org/> Vancouver, WA _____ BingT brings you maps, menus, and reviews organized in one place. Try it now. <http://www.bing.com/search?q=restaurants&form=MLOGEN&publ=WLHMTAG&crea=TEXT _MLOGEN_Core_tagline_local_1x1> _____ avast! Antivirus <http://www.avast.com> : Outbound message clean. Virus Database (VPS): 090923-0, 09/23/2009 Tested on: 9/24/2009 10:27:14 AM avast! - copyright (c) 1988-2009 ALWIL Software. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/pianotech.php/attachments/20090924/53570916/attachment.htm>
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC