[CAUT] stand-by & pitch change charges

[David Skolnik]

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Barbara -
Basically, everything you've gotten is good advice, especially, if 
possible, doing the pitch change in advance.  Out of curiosity, exactly 
what pitch has been requested, and do you know if the repertoire entails 
orchestral or solo piano?  Out of even more curiosity, at what pitch do you 
generally maintain the piano at  that time of year? When will you have last 
tuned the piano prior to this engagement?  What's the humidity control in 
the hall like?  How much, if any, do you need to lower pitch for the 
beginning of the concert season? Oh, so many questions!

Jon amended his initial response to allow for the possibility that they 
may, in fact, not be rehearsing at all.  In fact, they requested the tuning 
within 6 hours of performance, not to be finished by  6 hours before.   If 
you were to pre-raise the pitch, you could come in, maybe 2 to 3 hours 
before the "call" time, and you would not be dealing with standby at 
all.  Otherwise, In theory, you could come in at 8:00am and wait around all 
day, and that would be mucho stand-by.  $$$  :)

A question begs:  what is the purpose of your  stand-bying?  If it's 
waiting for the approval of whomever, well, what time are they coming In? 
And what are you supposed to do if there's a problem if the "sign-off" time 
coincides with "call" time or "house open" time?  duh.

As has been said, you need to be paid for your time.  If you live across 
the street from the hall, you can afford to be a little flexible on the 
"leaving and coming back" scenario.  Otherwise,  unless there's time to fit 
in some other work, that's not particularly satisfactory.

Can't believe we have to wait until December to hear how this one resolves.

David Skolnik



At 03:36 PM 8/5/2005 -0500, you wrote:
>Howdy all,
>
>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."
>
>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?  :-)
>
>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.
>
>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??
>
>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........)
>
>Thanks,
>
>Barbara Richmond, RPT

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