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 <table width=100%> <tr valign=top> <td width=40%>Jim Busby <jim_busby@byu.edu> Sent by: caut-bounces@ptg.org 08/19/2008 04:34 PM <table border> <tr valign=top> <td bgcolor=white> <div align=center>Please respond to College and University Technicians <caut@ptg.org></div></table> <td width=59%> <table width=100%> <tr valign=top> <td> <div align=right>To</div> <td>College and University Technicians <caut@ptg.org> <tr valign=top> <td> <div align=right>cc</div> <td> <tr valign=top> <td> <div align=right>Subject</div> <td>Re: [CAUT] Position Announcement, 20 reasons why I like my job</table> <table> <tr valign=top> <td> <td></table> </table> 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@ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces@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 <a href=http://www.ohiou.edu/music>http://www.ohiou.edu/music</a>