[CAUT] Getting paid for non-university events

[johnsond]

Rob-

That has been an issue here for years as well.  For a long time I said 
nothing, but gradually the extra load becomes so much that it conflicts 
with the priority business of the department.  That was about 2 years 
ago when our chair finally implemented a new policy of charging these 
events for both tuning and rental, and invoices were printed up.  The 
catch is that money collected from this new policy will be held in a 
special account for my later use to contract tuning help back to the 
department. The logic is that in this way the department can be 
reimbursed for my time taken by outside events.  If these events request 
tuning during an especially busy time when I can not be available, then 
can hire my recommended help directly.  This seems to work better than 
trying to charge personally for the time, since the reality is that 
ultimately my time does get taken away from the department for these 
special requests.  Once people realize that the proceeds are going back 
to help the department, no one seems to object. I'd rather keep my 
outside private work on outside private pianos anyway. The interesting 
bit is that now that the policy has been in effect, there has been a 
noticeable decline in extra tuning requests- which is fine with me.  One 
of those significant extra events we have here all summer long are 
weddings and conferences.  The rest of the good story is that now that 
there is a special fund set up aside from my usual parts budget to hire 
help as needed, they found money from somewhere to jump start the 
process and get the needed help coming sooner.  Naturally we will be 
fine tuning the system, but so far- much better. 

good luck,

dennis.
St. Olaf