<!doctype html public "-//W3C//DTD W3 HTML//EN"> <html><head><style type="text/css"></style><title>Re: Maintenance Costs</title></head><body> <div>Avery,</div> <div>I'm taking a break from stringing, so I'll give you a quick overview.</div> <div><br></div> <div>The figure you present will<u> not</u> be what you can expect to actually get, so you will want to have accurate enough figures that you can explain, but all these figures should be on the high side.  You may only get half of your estimate.</div> <div><br></div> <div>Use figures that are based on actual facts at your school.  While the Steinway Guidelines and CAUT Guidelines should be kept in mind when you do this, do not reference them in your report.  All the data you use should come from your own actual experience in order to stay completely credible.  </div> <div><br></div> <div> Use last year's calendar to figure the number of recitals.  This real number is often more impressive if you pick a very busy month as additional information.</div> <div>Example:  600 concerts in 2000 -2001, but in the busiest part of the year, there were 59 concerts in 9 days.  (This actually happened at NU last year.)  Use the total number of concerts.  It doesn't matter if the piano was needed......</div> <div><br></div> <div>Every concert has a few rehearsals, and the instruments have to be kept in "concert-ready" condition, so add two or three tunings for each concert.</div> <div>Multiply the total number of tunings by 2hrs to get the total man-hours spent on tuning.  Multiply this figure by your current hourly rate and add 20% for benefits.  This is the "Hard cost" to the University for tuning. <u> The commercial value of services you are providing as an employee should not be used in this case.</u> </div> <div><br></div> <div>IN addition, you will need to figure the yearly maintenance, including cleaning the case, regulating, voicing, fixing the bench, etc. Again, your estimated hours X rate + 20%.</div> <div><br></div> <div>Also to be considered is the depreciation of the instrument. This may or may not be considered part of the maintenance budget, but someone in the Provost office may not realize that Steinway's don't last forever. The piano will need complete remanufacture or replacement ever 10 years (?).  Don't forget the cover, artists bench, stage truck.  Anything you can think of to increase that budget. </div> <div><br></div> <div><u>An important thing to consider is that you should be allowed to present your information directly to the Provost office, without the information being filtered  by the theatre manager. </u> Find out who required the report and see if you can meet directly with that person to deliver your report. </div> <div> </div> <div>Back to work .... #15 wire.</div> <div><br></div> <div>Ken Eschete</div> <div>Northwestern Univ.</div> <div><br></div> <div><br></div> <div><br></div> <div><br></div> <div><br></div> <div><br></div> <blockquote type="cite" cite>List,<br> <br> I've been asked to come up with an app. dollar figure on what<br> it might cost on a yearly basis, to maintain the two Steinway<br> D's in our major performance hall. This should include<br> maintaining the instruments at a high level of performance<br> capability plus eventual replacing of action parts, stringing,<br> etc. that will be needed. I'm assuming they mean this to be<br> based on the value of my services if they had to bring in an<br> independent technician to do the work.<br> <br> The Provost's office has asked the theatre manager to come up<br> with an estimated cost of what it costs to run the facility,<br> independent of the remainder of the School of Music, with the<br> idea of paying for some or all of it out the university budget<br> instead of the music budget.<br> <br> One piano was purchased new when we first moved into our new<br> facility about 5 years ago and the other was completely rebuilt<br> (except soundboard) by the Rappaport's about 6 yrs. or so ago,<br> including a new keyboard, frame and damper assembly.<br> <br> The hall is used primarily for guest artists, faculty recitals,<br> large ensemble performances and occasional rentals to outside<br> competitions, performances, etc. The Houston Symphony also uses<br> the facility once or twice a year for a performance series their<br> Chamber Orchestra does, sometimes using piano and/or harpsichord.<br> <br> This is a very performance oriented school, with app. 500 music<br> majors, so the hall gets quite a bit of use, although not as much<br> as our smaller recital hall that the students use.<br> <br> Since I've never had to do this type of thing before, I need any<br> help doing this that anyone could give me today. The tuning part</blockquote> <blockquote type="cite" cite>I can figure out but the rest is what I need help with. The report<br> has to be submitted Friday and I just found out about it this<br> morning.<br> <br> Any takers? Thanks.<br> <br> Avery<br> University of Houston</blockquote> <div><br></div> <div>-- <br> Kenneth Eschete<br> Director of Keyboard Maintenance        <span ></span>       Phone: 847/467-6970<br> Northwestern University School of Music<x-tab>     </x-tab>       FAX: 847/491-5260 <x-tab>       </x-tab><x-tab>        </x-tab><x-tab>        </x-tab><x-tab>        </x-tab><x-tab>        </x-tab>    711 Elgin Rd.; Evanston, Il 60208 <br>  <br>  EMAIL: k-eschete@northwestern.edu<br> </div> </body> </html>