Church situation

[Farrell]

Brian - Mostly good suggestions so far. I'll share what experience I have. I tune 16 Yamaha C3s biweekly. Half the pianos are about two years old and the others are maybe five or six. These pianos are on two large cruise ships - 7 on one and 9 on the other. The AC is generally on 24/7 and the pianos are very stable. On the biweekly visits, I find that 25% of the pianos can get by with two or three unisons tweaked. 50% of the pianos will need a bunch of unisons tweaked. And maybe 25% of them will need a thorough tuning because the pitch in the treble or low tenor has wandered too much.

My per-piano-visit fee for these pianos is about 50% of my regular tuning fee. I commonly work about three hours or so to tune eight pianos - it works out to something pretty close to my normal per-hour tuning rate.

Your church may be quite a bit different - or not. Much will depend on climate control and if it is on 24/7. What kind/age/condition piano is it? How picky are they? The service I describe above for my cruise ship pianos results in 16 pianos that are pretty darn "decent" all of the time - not to suggest in any way, shape or form that they are always in a state of "concert tune". If your church folks want perfection and the piano is maybe less than stellar and climate varies a bit - you may find that a pretty thorough tuning is required every two weeks.

I would suggest using your trial month to determine exactly what state of "in-tune-ness" they are looking for, how much time you need to spend to meet their needs, and how climactic influences might affect things.

Hope this helps.

Terry Farrell
  ----- Original Message ----- 

  Stability will hinge on changing as little as possible when tuning.  

  Let them know the month trial period is from your side also...

  1st tuning should be at your normal rate.  Good solid tuning and evaluation of instrument.   What does it need besides tuning?  Did the other tuner do good work?   Is the piano going to take a pounding?   A well regulated piano with well-shaped hammers and voiced will "stay in tune" better...let them know what needs to be done to facilitate a good week to week piano.  You can not do your best work on a poorly maintained instrument.   

  2nd tuning "could" be discounted if all is well with the piano.  If they balk at doing other needed maintence, I wouldn't discount.  Remember not to discount your work and then find out they are going to try someone else after a month.   

  Bi-weekly service should be discounted, but only because it should take less time the tune the piano.   Every other week of unisons only should be possible.   Get them to install a dampchaser system...

  David Ilvedson, RPT

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  I'll be very interested in reading what some of the more experienced listers have to say.  While I have never had to negotiate the kind of contract you are talking about, I do have some technical observations.

  You don't mention type of piano, age and condition.  Does it have a DamppChaser?  Is it kept closed and covered between Sundays?  Your phone number puts you in Indiana, therefore big humidity swings.   For estimating your own time (not necessarily for sharing with the church during negotiations), you might want to estimate how long you can get away with "tweaks" between complete tunings, and how long you can get away with tunings between pitch corrections.   Perhaps a year of bi-weekly visits consists of 4 pitch corrections, 8 tunings, and 14 "tweaks".  Also might want to have an understanding with the church regarding repairs, regulation, and voicing.   For example, if they are willing to pay for a tuning every visit, then on "tweak" days you could do other maintenance, thereby keeping the whole instrument in top shape.

  Incomplete and not too helpful, I know.  Let's see what others have to say.

  Mike

    ----- Original Message ----- 

    Can you help?  I have situation that I have never had before and need some wisdom on how to proceed.
     

    A large local church called me and asked for a proposal to tune their sanctuary piano.  The tuner that they did have was a member of the church and tuned it every week..yes every week.  The church is involved with a TV ministry and I am guessing that it might need "tweaked" every week.

     

    I am told that the piano will NOT be moved as much as it was in the past and they are thinking that perhaps tuning it every other week would be sufficient.  I did tell the caller that it sounds reasonable, but if they feel it continues to need the weekly tuning, then I would work with them.

     

    The music department secretary was very kind and not gruff at all, but I am not sure what kind of fee to propose to them.  It would be great to have the steady work, but I don't want to undersell my services either.

     

    They wish to have a month "trial period" to see if things work out.  I said that it sounded fair to me.

     

    I am used to tuning a piano twice a year, so twice a month is new to me.

     

    Is there anyone out there who can share some wisdom with me on how I might proceed?

     

    Does anyone have a similar situation but the church/institution has you on a retainer fee ?

     

    Brian P. Doepke 

    AAA Piano Works, Inc.

    Piano Tuning-Repair-Purchase Consults

    260-432-2043

    260-417-1298

     
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