[CAUT] Position Announcement, 20 reasons why I like my job

[Paul T Williams]

Wow, Jim, 

You've landed in Heaven.
On the negative:
I don't get free tuition for myself, I get 9 credits per year that I lose 
if I don't use them.  I can transfer 6 of those to my wife or son (who 
won't attend until 2015).  Still with no 'build up of credits, (that 
really sucks!  Oberlin gets full tuition, so I'm told...) My shop doesn't 
have capabilities to replace soundboards, bridges, or refinishing, no 
outside projects allowed (so I'm told) in the shop.

On the positive:

Great people I work with,
Great security,
Great, and I mean great, retirement plan,
great medical and all that
steady salary ( I know... not enough)
flexible hours (again, I don't get to attend chuch much... but I make up 
for it with private prayer time...after all it's all between you and God, 
right?)  Church just helps sometimes...
I get great referrals for tunings, but have little time to do it.( I go 90 
miles to tune the new Bluthner!  It's worth the trip!!!!)
I get to use the facitilies for PTG meetings and seminars and sometimes, 
get positive work on some of my pianos!
My wife and I had our 15th anniversary last Thursday... I was able to 
secure the main recital hall with that Baldwin D I've been talking about, 
...gave her a personal recital on it with the stage dude giving the 
"please turn off your cell phones and no photography allowed" recording 
prior to.  That was cool!  I played several Chopin's and a Bach two-part 
invention I hadn't played since I was 15!!!  She wondered why I had to 
come down to work the last 2 weekends!!!!!!  AND, He made a CD without my 
knowing!  She'll charish that forever... WHO can top that??!?
I'm still waiting for the wine and dine part!!!!!

Let's all try to get newby's at a better starting salary or get us some 
more.... I'm stumped on how to better my paycheck!  I 
shoulda..coulda..woulda...if I had any b@#$!!

Best,

Paul





Jim Busby <jim_busby at byu.edu> 
Sent by: caut-bounces at ptg.org
08/19/2008 04:34 PM
Please respond to
College and University Technicians <caut at ptg.org>


To
College and University Technicians <caut at ptg.org>
cc

Subject
Re: [CAUT] Position Announcement, 20 reasons why I like my job






Chris,
 
Thanks for the “positive” perspective. I empathize with Jeff and agree 
that CAUTs should make more, but for some of us this is an ideal job. (NOT 
perfect, however!) While I was at the airport after the convention I was 
lamenting/contemplating the fact that I could double my salary in the 
private sector, but I came up with this list of reasons why I genuinely 
like being a CAUT, at this stage in my life, at this university. You hit 
on most of them, but here is the “list” I wrote off the top of my head;
 
1.       I genuinely like the faculty here. They are my friends. (If I 
didn’t life would indeed be miserable…)
2.       The work environment is good. (Good shop, etc.)
3.       It is secure. (No fear of getting laid off!)
4.       My co-workers are good to work with (Keith Kopp, student 
employees)
5.       Free tuition for myself and my wife.
6.       ½ tuition for my kids 
7.       Great retirement plan
8.       Good medical plan
9.       A steady salary which I consider a “base” for everything. (This 
seems to be the deal breaker for some, but all things considered this is 
only ONE thing!)
10.   Freedom to have flexible hours (I work when I want)
11.   Freedom to tune outside and have my own rebuilding shop
12.   Referrals which come into the shop
13.   Being considered an “authority” because of my position (Seems petty, 
but it’s nice to be “honored”, or have some clout)
14.   Use of facilities (We hold PTG meetings, etc. here and BYU lets us 
use their equipment)
15.   Being able to buy new instruments, new equipment, tools and toys
16.   Being “wined and dined” by stores and manufacturers (It’s always 
nice to be treated well, even though it is because they just want your 
business ; - 0)
17.   Being sent to conventions and training seminars (on the Universities 
nickel)
18.   Sick leave
19.   Vacation leave
20.   Recognition of service with awards for 5 years, 10, etc. (I got a 
nice pair of binoculars for the 5 year)
 
So, not trying to totally discount the salary issue, which is big, I try 
to dwell on these kind of things. Jeff has good points, and to be honest 
if I had to work with bad co-workers, or with nasty faculty, or in a poor 
facility, etc. etc. I guess I wouldn’t stay. For now, I have the best of 
all possible worlds, only lacking the 6 digit income, but getting along 
just fine, thank-you.
 
Jim Busby BYU
 
From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of 
Christopher Purdy
Sent: Tuesday, August 19, 2008 1:20 PM
To: College and University Technicians
Subject: Re: [CAUT] Position Announcement, SIU, Carbondale, IL
 
I would like to add a bit of perspective to the discussion about the job 
posting at SIUC.  The salary quoted is misleading and has caused a flurry 
of emails.  Please note that the State of Illinois requires the university 
by law to advertise the lowest possible salary when posting a job search. 
Although the figure posted is in fact their minimum, the actual salary is 
quite flexible and open to negotiation.  It is unfortunate that the state 
mandates this policy but it is a reality that SIUC has to comply with. 
 
When their piano technician, Larry Reynolds, was killed in a tragic car 
accident this May, I accepted a month long appointment at the school to 
fill in for him.  The Southern Illinois Music Festival was just a couple 
of weeks away and with 57 events taking place over a 200 mile radius in 
three weeks time, I was kept very busy.  I also performed a lot of routine 
tuning and repair in the music building during my month there. 
 
I found the school, the university, and the town of Carbondale extremely 
welcoming and a very positive experience.  The music building is a piano 
technicians dream!  It is a beautiful, 100 plus year old building, (it 
looks like a castle!) and just a few years ago it was totally renovated. 
The new HVAC system is amazing.  I have never experienced a facility with 
better humidity and temperature control, period, and the condition of the 
pianos showed it.  The piano inventory is mostly newer instruments.  I 
didn't take the time for a total inventory but almost every piano I 
encountered was a Steinway, Baldwin, or Yamaha and considering the use and 
abuse that pianos in a music school experience, in very acceptable 
condition.  One policy they have that is new for me is that the 
approximately 27 practice rooms are kept locked and students are issued 
keys.  I found absolutely no vandalism or careless damage to pianos.
 
The faculty that I met were all very supportive and I got the impression 
of extended family there.  Just an interesting side note, they estimated 
that some 2,000 people went to Larry's visitation!  Every faculty member I 
met gushed with praise for him.  It was obvious that he enjoyed complete 
support there at school. 
 
The piano shop is a little small but well equipped.  It is a good sized 
school with about 40-50 music faculty.  There are some very nice 
performance venues and the main auditorium is next door and connected to 
the music building.  It is also a very beautiful building with two nice 
Baldwin SD-10's.  Their new Steinway D lives in the music building but one 
of the Baldwin's is so nice that Emanuel Ax chose it over the Steinway in 
a recent performance there.  I personally prepared both of the Baldwins 
for the Mozart double piano concerto and the pianists loved them!
 
I could go on but the point I would like to make is this, this is actually 
a nice opportunity for someone at SIUC.  If you know anyone that might be 
interested, I would encourage you to recommend checking this out.  The 
official wording of the job posting may read like they want the world's 
most experienced tech to work for peanuts but please remember that 
everything is negotiable to some extent.  Not only the salary but the 
experience requirements.  This would be a really good job for someone with 
good skills but maybe not the years of experience.
 
Although the life of a CAUT may not be for everyone, I am extremely happy 
with my position here at OU and would recommend it to a like minded tuner. 
 Yes, a self employed tech in a larger city can make much more than I do 
but I would not be happy doing that.  I really enjoy being in a small town 
but working for a larger university.  I love the benefits that I have, not 
the least of which is a tuition deferment.  My second of four kids will be 
a freshman here this fall.  And, I have as much outside work as I care to 
take.  My salary is more than twice what it was when I started in 1991 and 
I am happy with it. 
 
If you know of anyone that might be interested in applying for this gig, 
they are welcome to contact me.  I will answer any questions that I am 
able to. 
 
Chris
 
 
 
 
Christopher D. Purdy R.P.T.
Registered Piano Technician
School of Music, Ohio University
Rm. 311, Robt. Glidden Hall
Athens, OH  45701
Office (740) 593-1656
Cell    (740) 590-3842
fax      (740) 593-1429
http://www.ohiou.edu/music


 

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