who's responsible???

[Mary Smith]

Michelle,

I'm sorry I couldn't get back to you yesterday, and you have probably 
gotten lots of posts by now, but here's my two cents worth. I have 
gotten into this position more times than I care to admit with a 
local chamber music group, run by a friend of mine, which makes it 
even trickier! Anyway, my feeling is that the opera company is 
responsible for paying you, since they engaged your services. If they 
don't like it, they will learn to choose more carefully the locations 
for their performances (i.e., places with decent pianos). If they 
persist, you can request that they clarify with the home owner/venue 
beforehand that the home owner/venue is responsible (financially) for 
any and all tuning, repairs, voicing required. If they still persist 
in asking you to do work that you feel will leave you holding the 
bag, you can politely decline to do so until they establish a clear 
policy for payment of your services. Ask me how I learned this!...

Mary


>Hmmm... I'll give you the sinerio ( spelling???).
>
>THe small town opera company wants to perform at the small towns nicest
>hotel.
>You are called in to tune.
>You go there and the lyre is busted off and on the floor... needing mucho
>repairs.
>
>here's another..
>
>ANOTHER small town opera company wants to perform at a private home with a
>refurbished piano...BUT you realize you'll have to replace about 16 tuning
>pins before you can justifiably charge for a tuning.
>
>You guessed my question..... and if you didn't....
>* does the small town opera company pay for the tuning AND the repair..or
>just the tuning. ( and then the piano owners pay for the repair.) *
>
>I have yet to send out a bill for this actual problem. I'm calling all pro's
>with this matter.
>
>Also- what's the BEST touch up for your average beat-up Steinway stain
>finish..
>Shoe dye or auto finish touch up paint???
>
>
>:) michelle up at oswego