Be Careful! Don't just advertise $40 for a tuning!!!!! That's what got me into trouble once 20 years ago when I was new!. All you get are people who haven't had their pianos tuned since the 70's or worse, and they're almost always grandma's ancient old uprights that haven't worked with broken parts, strings, etc for years and are looking for a cheap "fix". Don't do it!. They really don't understand that the fixes will be $x,000 bucks and many many tunings, or rebuilding or replacement (usually the case). The price you advertise is what they expect to pay, period. Oh what a mess I got myself into when I started out!!!! On afterthinking this while licking my wounds, was to advertise a "coupon" for $40 off piano tuning services. No details, no fuss no muss! State your expected tuning fees and hourly rate up front and don't cheat yourself! We're all suffering from this and we should be paid much higher than a plumber or electrician! Who can do what we do??.... Far less than 1% of the people out there, so go for it! I have often challenged a plumber or electrician or carpenter who wants to charge $85/hour: Lets trade places; after 6 months of training, and see who can do a better job!! Nobody's taken me up on that! I could do any of their jobs with a month of training if I chose to do so. I love what I do, so that's what I do. I have no desire to clean out somebody's plugged up toilet. We are very unique! Take it into your soul and sell what you're really worth! Paul From: Ryan Sowers <tunerryan at gmail.com> To: pianotech at ptg.org Date: 10/11/2010 01:02 PM Subject: Re: [pianotech] rates for new techician It sounds like you are off to a good start Zoe! I remember the first ad I ran in the classified ads for a $50 tuning special! I think others were charging around $70 or so. That was 1994 and at 26 years of age I was starting a business in a smallish state town with about 5 other established tuners in the city. It was impossible to make enough money with private clients at that point so I did what you are doing - work for someone else in the meantime. Another way to stay busy is to always have a project piano that you are fixing up to sell. Getting through my first few piano taught me a lot about regulating. It's a perfect way to practice voicing too without the stress of meeting someone else's expectations. Keep track of how much time you spend on the piano so you can figure out how much money you actually make. At first it may be only minimum wage! But you will feel more confident with each one, and you will make more money accordingly. Maybe instead of setting your rates lower, have an introductory "special". That is better psychologically. Then when you start getting busier, you can get rid of the special, and you automatically get a raise! I recommend throwing in extras, especially CLEANING. Take the action out on the porch and blow it out,(make sure the client sees the dust cloud that comes out of the action!) take out the keys and clean the key bed (make sure the client sees the 'before and after'!) vacuum out the bottom board area, give the keys a good cleaning, and wipe the case down with a little polish. There are many clients who will appreciate THAT more than the tuning! One advantage of starting out low, is that you give yourself room for regular pay raises. It was satisfying to start out as the cheapest tuner in town and end up 16 years later being the most expensive! ("be expensive and worth it, said my mentors.) Those regular raises kept my motivation up, and kept me striving to do my best work. Make a commitment to continuing education, find good mentors and USE THEM, collaborate with colleagues, dress like a professional, and promote full service piano care. Best of luck to you! Hope to see you at Westpac or Kansas City in 2011! -- Ryan Sowers, RPT Puget Sound Chapter Olympia, WA www.pianova.net On Sun, Oct 10, 2010 at 7:48 PM, Zoe Sandell <yiddishtangofever at shaw.ca> wrote: Thanks everyone, I am looking to take my PTG exams soonish- (still working on perfecting the temperament!) I am working/apprenticing 4 days week as an assistant technician at the local Conservatory of music. It is an incredible experience- with tons of pianos to tune and work on I agree with the quality- I wouldn't sell a tuning job if I am not confident about it- so why would I charge a lot less... It is very interesting to me that there is pretty much a consensus that clients wanting cheap prices- are not loyal, nor interested in quality work- great advice- thanks again Zoe -----Original Message----- From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of David Stocker Sent: October 10, 2010 2:01 PM To: pianotech at ptg.org Subject: Re: [pianotech] rates for new techician Zoe, I think it is common practice for new techs to charge less, but not smart practice. You might even get a tuning or two more in the first year if you do. You will not get enough extra customers to make up for charging less. I think you want to feel confident you can accomplish a solid tuning before you sell one. In the most basic sense, that is what you are selling. If it takes you longer, so be it. Sell quality, charge what you have to charge in order to deliver it. David Stocker, RPT Tumwater, WA -------------------------------------------------- From: "Zoe Sandell" <yiddishtangofever at shaw.ca> Sent: Sunday, October 10, 2010 12:16 To: <pianotech at ptg.org> Subject: [pianotech] rates for new techician > Hello > > I am wondering if it is general practice for a technician starting out > (like > myself) to charge slightly less because I do not have the same years of > experience. > > Ideas? > > Thanks > Zoe > > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/pianotech.php/attachments/20101011/d1dbf90a/attachment.htm>
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