Rather than lower rates, why not give away your tuning for free? Ok class, stop laughing . As always, there should be underlying method in madness. And here it is: I regularly donate tunings to fundraiser auctions, especially those that are likely to have music and/or an upscale clientele. You get a tax deduction, you get your name out there, and you might get a new customer after his free tuning. I've had very good success with this. Besides the auction winner, I usually scribble down the names of all the bidders and call them, too. I get permission to do this, and donate 10% of subsequent PAID tunings after I make the calls to these people (who demonstrably WANT their pianos tuned) and book a few more appointments. If I can't be present at the event, I'll ask the contact person to supply me the names and phone numbers of the non-winning silent auction bidders, reminding them that I'll donate 10% of the business immediately generated by those calls. I have my office helper make a really nice certificate entitling the winner to a tuning. My business name is prominent. It's like putting an 8"x12" business card on the table. And it generates good will of course. WARNING: put a fuse on it! I usually make the certificate good for one year. I don't want them to all pile up on me at once! Oh, and for a VALUE, if they ask, I quote a tuning PLUS a pitch raise, because that's what you'll usually do! The last auction tuning I did, I asked the customer out of curiosity how much it went for. He told me it was a bit over $400.00!!! Talk about yer upscale crowd, huh? Last Monday I did a paid tuning for the school that held the auction for the $400.00 tuning above. It pays. I'm their guy now. John Dorr Helena, MT
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