<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2668" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>David,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Too many questions!  I've = asked some of them, but haven't had responses.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Actually, I was pleased to see the = suggestion of doing the pitch change in advance--I had already told the management = that that would be the case.  Our D is a son of a gun to tune (pins = riding on the plate, lots of stiction, etc.-- and yes, the request for a new = pinblock has been made).  Just tuning it is hair raising enough, never mind = throwing in a pitch change.  I seem to be the only person around who can get = it to stay in tune--I attribute this to my superior hammer technique = (coughing/choking fit) and wearing my lucky socks (the real secret to successful piano = tuning).  :-)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I have a house full of company right = now and must be a polite hostess, so I'll try to find a time to write later.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Barbara Richmond</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; = BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: = black"><B>From:</B> <A title=davidskolnik@optonline.net href="mailto:davidskolnik@optonline.net">David Skolnik</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=caut@ptg.org href="mailto:caut@ptg.org">College and University Technicians</A> = </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, August 06, 2005 = 9:46 PM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [CAUT] stand-by = & pitch change charges</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV>Barbara -<BR>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!<BR><BR>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 <I><U>within</U></I> 6 hours of performance, = not to be <I><U>finished by </U></I>6 hours before.   If you were = to <I>pre-raise </I>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 <I>mucho</I> stand-by.  $$$  :)<BR><BR>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.<BR><BR>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.<BR><BR>Can't = believe we have to wait until December to hear how this one = resolves.<BR><BR>David Skolnik<BR><BR><BR><BR></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>