[CAUT] stand-by & pitch change charges

[Chris Solliday]

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Re: [CAUT] stand-by & pitch change chargesBarbara, For pitch changes I =
charge for a pitch correction and a fine tuning, and then unless the =
next act that can't understand an International Agreement is coming in =
back to back, I also charge for a pitch correction and a fine tuning to =
put it back at 440. The pitch raise I do before hand I like to do a day =
or two ahead of time to see how the instrument reacts and if necessary =
I'll go over it again the day of the concert. What they really need is =
stability and guaranteed pitch so give it to them and let them pay for =
it. BTW this has cost over $800.00 when it falls on a weekend and when =
it includes "stand by" it has been over $1000.00. And if a venue wants =
to play with the big boys that's what it can cost. Most venues I deal =
with have at least learned (quickly) to suggest sticking with the =
Treaty. and some have absolutely said our piano is A-440Hz and that =
should be good enough for you traveling acts. I have seen quite a few =
European orchestras come to their senses and they sounded fine at 440. =
But for now I would just charge for what you do and let the chips fall.  =
Best of luck, Chris Solliday
  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: Barbara Richmond=20
  To: College and University Technicians=20
  Sent: Friday, August 05, 2005 11:05 PM
  Subject: Re: [CAUT] stand-by & pitch change charges


  Fred, Jon, Avery, Alan........

  It's the hall's piano and it's that Pops orchestra out of Boston as =
part of a subscription series making a stop here in the corn and soybean =
fields of Central Illinois.  (A nice little Christmas-time gig to bring =
out the families.)  I already let the hall's director know that there =
would be an additional charge for the pitch change, but haven't given =
her an amount yet.  Shucks, it's the first request I've had for anything =
besides 440 since I started tuning 23 years ago.  How could that be?   I =
attribute it to clean living.....ahem.  :-)   I  said I'd let her know =
how I would charge for the stand-by thing.  The hall always pays me--how =
they collect or cover for my services, as you said, is their business.  =
Thanks all, I appreciate the input.

  This is a learning experience for both the management and me.  In the =
past they used the university tech, who didn't charge them (long story) =
and when he got fed up with the piano and environs, he quit providing =
service to the hall.  Then they used anyone they could get their hands =
on.  New management called on me and I only agreed to do the job if I =
was allowed to make the piano sound and play better.  That's how I ended =
up rebuilding the action.   I'm training them about real piano care and =
getting professional results.  Silly me, I thought my previous =
experience as a university technician prepared me for this job (ha!).  =
Oh yeah, well, I suppose I did have to train the faculty back then, but =
things ran smoothly after that.  The rules were established and that was =
that.  Here, it seems every group that comes in has its own rules.

  You may ask, why, Barb, do you know the details about this concert so =
far in advance?  In trying to get the staff to respect my time (making =
sure I'm available) and to put an end to those panicky last minute =
requests, I asked that I be contacted every time a <contract> came =
through that includes the use of our pianos.  Golly, they're doing it!!


  Barbara  Richmond, RPT




  ----- Original Message -----=20
    From: Fred Sturm=20
    To: caut=20
    Sent: Friday, August 05, 2005 7:39 PM
    Subject: Re: [CAUT] stand-by & pitch change charges


    Hi Barbara,
        In general, I agree with Jon: charge your hourly rate. But that =
could be negotiable should the contract be amended to say "The tuner =
will return at X o'clock (say an hour before the concert) to touch up =
and deal with any problems." Then it's a service call. I would think =
that solution would meet everyone's approval.
        About charging for pitch change back to 440, that's a complex =
question. Whose piano? What's the status of the event? Is the orchestra =
renting the hall, or the hall presenting the orchestra? I'd say the =
policy is the hall's responsibility. I would advise them, if this is a =
rental, to charge the orchestra an additional tuning to bring it back =
(and for two tunings to get it to non-standard pitch and stable). Just =
tell them the next time they have it tuned, it will need two tunings - =
that should be sufficient to persuade them. Of course if it is a =
co-production, or the concert is produced by the venue, it becomes a =
different kettle of fish. But make sure the folks in the hall know that =
non-440 means extra tuning in both directions. And leave it to them as =
to who pays (as long as it isn't the tuner working for free).

    Regards,
    Fred Sturm
    University of New Mexico=20

    =20
    On 8/5/05 2:36 PM, "Barbara Richmond" <piano57@insightbb.com> wrote:


      Howdy all,
      =20
      Just had a note from the director of the big auditorium.  A =
contract from a big orchestra has come through specifying that the piano =
be tuned not more than 6 hours before the concert and  "The piano tuner =
should remain available and on stand-by until concert start time."
      =20
      What's a fair charge for stand-by?  Would it be my normal hourly =
fee, even if I'm sitting in the tech office reading a book?  :-)
      =20
      Unless I'm planning on staying for the concert for my own =
enjoyment, I usually stay until I get the OK from whomever, but it =
usually isn't long after I've finished working.  At this point I haven't =
been informed what the afternoon schedule is.  This is the first time =
I've had this in a contract ('tis only my second season).  Just =
wondering how you all handle these things.
      =20
      Also, this orchestra has requested something other than 440, so =
I'm thinking they should not only pay for bringing the piano up in =
pitch, but also taking it back down again.  Comments??
      =20
      I realize a lot of you on this list are salaried techs, but =
someone out there must be servicing additional concert facilities.  (Oh, =
yeah, I'll be getting to that report after "going to the lake" =
season........)
      =20
      Thanks,
      =20
      Barbara Richmond, RPT




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