I do not work for a university (hope David Graham will respond on that score) but I tuned as a hired hand at a junior college for several years, and I am a "concert tuner" of high caliber. My opinion (and that's all it is) is that if you find out the other two guys are mediocre, you should go for it. By that I mean that if you were trying to get the business away from more qualified people, it would be better to back off until you get your chops up, so to speak. If you can do some detective work and find out that those guys are not so hot, then you are offering a step up in quality. Why not take the tuning exam, or find a really good tuner who would critique your work so you know where you stand? I knew I was getting really good, but I didn't realize HOW good until I took the exam. After that, I felt much more confident when offering my services. I don't think in your situation you can up your price without showing that you meet some standardized criteria. I usually knock $5 off each piano if they are in the same location because it saves me driving time, etc. If you get in with the school and they are happy with your work, you can always up your price in the future, but you really need to be able to convince them (which means convincing yourself first) that you are worth it. Good luck! Barb Barasa Sycamore, IL
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC