I am the full-time, year-round piano technician here at CalArts. Since you may want even more details, I usually do one private servicing after each days work at the school (and occasionally on the weekends, too). It is NOT "extra money". It sure would be nice to have just one job to focus all of my time and attention on, but the pay is simply not enough for the primary income of a middle class family of four. Maybe if I ditch the wife and children...nah! Alan Eder -----Original Message----- From: David Ilvedson <ilvey at sbcglobal.net> To: caut at ptg.org Sent: Wed, Nov 14 1:46 PM Subject: Re: [CAUT] CAUT credential vs. academic program? Are you a part-time tech or full-time? David Ilvedson, RPT Pacifica, CA 94044 ----- Original message ---------------------------------------- From: reggaepass at aol.com To: caut at ptg.org Received: 11/14/2007 8:45:04 AM Subject: Re: [CAUT] CAUT credential vs. academic program? >Yo. >Alan Eder >-----Original Message----- >From: David Ilvedson <ilvey at sbcglobal.net> >To: caut at ptg.org >Sent: Tue, Nov 13 11:48 PM >Subject: Re: [CAUT] CAUT credential vs. academic program? > Another question, how many CAUT's work outside of the university in >addition to their positions?  >David Ilvedson, RPT >Pacifica, CA 94044 > Original message >From: "Ed Sutton" >   >To: "College and University Technicians" >   >Received: 11/13/2007 10:00:32 AM >Subject: Re: [CAUT] CAUT credential vs. academic program? > Jeff- >  > What is the point of your thread? Do you think we're not aware >of the conditions you describe? > Do you think we should not bother to try to improve things? > Things were pretty messed up when the Guild was organized. Do >you think it was worth the bother of keeping up the Guild for the last >50 years? > And how about this RPT exam so many people have worked to >develop and maintain? Just another waste of time? > Are you saying the effort to create a CAUT standard, and >curriculum should be cancelled? > Do you mind if the people interested in developing the concept >dedicate some of their lifetime to it? >  > Ed Sutton > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Jeff Tanner > To: College and University Technicians > Sent: Tuesday, November 13, 2007 12:11 PM > Subject: Re: [CAUT] CAUT credential vs. academic program? > On Nov 13, 2007, at 9:18 AM, Jon Page wrote: > Bottom line for Universities is that they will pay > more only if they feel they are getting enough >return. > I see that I missed a perfectly good opportunity > to stay out of this discussion but where some >positions > don't even require RPT status what good are merit >badges? > Raise the bar on RPT for your desired recognition. >In this > association, RPT should be reclassified to >Apprentice status > and after the 'tests' a Journeyman, with Craftsman >as the > next step to Master Craftsman. (bring back Allied >Tradesman). > If the term RPT had real teeth to it there wouldn't >be a need to > even have this discussion. > It doesn't matter how many clinics or seminars you >attend, > if there is no budget for salary increase those >certificates are > simply wallpaper. If the organizations thought >your services > were worth more, they'd offer more. But then if no >one would > accept the positions, a larger salary would be put >on the table. > Supply and demand economics. > Any job opportunity has some sort of coping skills >attached. > Time management and schmoozing are not marketable >items > for a labor-oriented trade. > Speaking of time management... > I better pound some bridge pins in... >    > -- >Regards, >Jon Page > Unfortunately, Jon is absolutely correct. We are paid what >we are paid already because that is what human resources departments >are finding the market to be. That market value comes with the >assumption that we are already supposed to be equipped with the large >palate of skills we are trying to identify with an endorsement. > As long as qualified piano technicians are willing to >accept the current pay levels, that is all we will be worth. And what >is happening out there is that there are very qualified individuals who >are accepting lower salaries because they are in unique positions of >being able to live on lower incomes. If we were to equate what is >happening out there, it would be like one RPT charging half or less for >tuning prices than everybody else, just because he or she doesn't >require as much money to live on. > It is free market economics. But salaries are what they >are because CAUTs are too willing to lowball their worth. It has >nothing to do with qualifications or certifications or the lack >thereof, and it has nothing to do with how good a concert technician we >are. > Guilty as charged. I made the mistake of taking a lower >salary during the first year until my skills had been evaluated with >promises of salary improvement if everyone liked my work. Nine years >later, we are finally starting to get the the salary to where it should >have started.  That's my fault.  I honestly didn't know any better at >the time. But that salary improvement is not coming about because in >the meantime I became an RPT. It isn't coming about because everyone >likes my work. That was established in year one. It is coming about >because I am threatening to leave because the university job is keeping >me from being able to properly provide for my family.  The amount of >moonlighting I'm having to do to compensate is compromising the quality >of my work at the school, and I have made no secret of that.  So far, >that is all that has worked.  Flashing my RPT certificate didn't do a >darned thing.  Getting rave reviews from visiting artists and comments >along the lines of "I'd fly him to Oklahoma to work on my pianos," or >"your pianos are better than at Eastman" had nothing to do with it. > They don't want to lose me because of the quality of work I've shown. > But I've had to be a real pain in the behind around here to get >raises.  But at the same time there will be a brick wall in the >process. At some point, the dean is going to say, "no, I can get >another technician for less than that."  > Because he's probably right. Somebody else will be >willing to come in here and sign up to work for half of what they're >worth. > Jeff > Jeff Tanner, RPT > University of South Carolina >___________________________________________________________________ >_____ >Email and AIM finally together. You've gotta check out free AOL Mail! - >http://mail.aol.com ________________________________________________________________________ Email and AIM finally together. You've gotta check out free AOL Mail! - http://mail.aol.com
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