[pianotech] rates for new techician

[Ryan Sowers]

It sounds like you are off to a good start Zoe!

I remember the first ad I ran in the classified ads for a $50 tuning
special! I think others were charging around $70 or so. That was 1994 and at
26 years of age I was starting a business in a smallish state town with
about 5 other established tuners in the city. It was impossible to make
enough money with private clients at that point so I did what you are doing
- work for someone else in the meantime.

Another way to stay busy is to always have a project piano that you are
fixing up to sell. Getting through my first few piano taught me a lot about
regulating. It's a perfect way to practice voicing too without the stress of
meeting someone else's expectations. Keep track of how much time you spend
on the piano so you can figure out how much money you actually make. At
first it may be only minimum wage! But you will feel more confident with
each one, and you will make more money accordingly.

Maybe instead of setting your rates lower, have an introductory "special".
That is better psychologically. Then when you start getting busier, you can
get rid of the special, and you automatically get a raise! I recommend
throwing in extras, especially CLEANING. Take the action out on the porch
and blow it out,(make sure the client sees the dust cloud that comes out of
the action!) take out the keys and clean the key bed (make sure the client
sees the 'before and after'!) vacuum out the bottom board area, give the
keys a good cleaning, and wipe the case down with a little polish. There are
many clients who will appreciate THAT more than the tuning!

One advantage of starting out low, is that you give yourself room for
regular pay raises. It was satisfying to start out as the cheapest tuner in
town and end up 16 years later being the most expensive! ("be expensive and
worth it, said my mentors.) Those regular raises kept my motivation up, and
kept me striving to do my best work.

Make a commitment to continuing education, find good mentors and USE THEM,
collaborate with colleagues, dress like a professional, and promote full
service piano care.

Best of luck to you! Hope to see you at Westpac or Kansas City in 2011!

-- 
Ryan Sowers, RPT
Puget Sound Chapter
Olympia, WA
www.pianova.net

On Sun, Oct 10, 2010 at 7:48 PM, Zoe Sandell <yiddishtangofever at shaw.ca>wrote:

> Thanks everyone,
>
> I am looking to take my PTG exams soonish- (still working on perfecting the
> temperament!) I am working/apprenticing 4 days week as an assistant
> technician at the local Conservatory of music.  It is an incredible
> experience- with tons of pianos to tune and work on
> I agree with the quality- I wouldn't sell a tuning job if I am not
> confident
> about it- so why would I charge a lot less...
> It is very interesting to me that there is pretty much a consensus that
> clients wanting cheap prices- are not loyal, nor interested in quality
> work-
> great advice- thanks again
>
>
> Zoe
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On
> Behalf
> Of David Stocker
> Sent: October 10, 2010 2:01 PM
> To: pianotech at ptg.org
> Subject: Re: [pianotech] rates for new techician
>
> Zoe,
>
> I think it is common practice for new techs to charge less, but not smart
> practice. You might even get a tuning or two more in the first year if you
> do. You will not get enough extra customers to make up for charging less.
>
> I think you want to feel confident you can accomplish a solid tuning before
> you sell one. In the most basic sense, that is what you are selling. If it
> takes you longer, so be it. Sell quality, charge what you have to charge in
> order to deliver it.
>
> David Stocker, RPT
> Tumwater, WA
>
>
> --------------------------------------------------
> From: "Zoe Sandell" <yiddishtangofever at shaw.ca>
> Sent: Sunday, October 10, 2010 12:16
> To: <pianotech at ptg.org>
> Subject: [pianotech] rates for new techician
>
> > Hello
> >
> > I am wondering if it is general practice for a technician starting out
> > (like
> > myself) to charge slightly less because I do not have the same years of
> > experience.
> >
> > Ideas?
> >
> > Thanks
> > Zoe
> >
> >
>
>
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