Christmas "overtime" premium?

[DGPEAKE@AOL.COM]

In a message dated 12/7/99 9:22:29 PM Pacific Standard Time, 
studiorenaud@qc.aibn.com writes:

<< Lets say your booked up too capacity and then some till Christmas.
 What is the consensus about charging a premium for short notice
 "emergency" tunings.
 
 For example:     Last week someone requests four
 concert tunings on 24 hrs notice. There are two grands to
 tune together twice for 4 hands concerts.  They are coming
 into town after sitting in a cold truck for a few days.
 They want them both done on the Friday and Saturday.
 Yes, they waited till Thursday to book a technician.
 I already have over 12hrs work both days, but it is possible
 and 5 min. from home. The usual people I call for help are busy.
 The client was insistent that they should get a discount for the
 second piano as usual, but I was insistent that I
 should not be doing it, but if they must have me I would charge
 my regular rate for each, no discounts.
 They reluctantly paid, but not without some tension.
 Worked out OK. Pianos were very nice. Easy tunings.
 
 So.
 In general is it wrong to charge extra for emergency overtime?
 Would most people walk away, avoiding creating ill will with an extra
 charge?
 How do you deal with promoters that order tunings like ordering pizza.
 I've heard of a technician charging $250 to go out on New Years Eve on a
 couple hours notice.
 
                                 All opinions welcome
                                 Cheers
                                 Dave Renaud
                                 RPT
                                 Canada
 
  >>
Your time is valuable, and if you are working extra long hours to sqeeze the 
extra tunings in, then charge overtime as well.  When your customer works 
overtime is it any different?  My schedule is booked until 2 days before 
Christmas.  Overtime after that.

Dave Peake, RPT
Portland Chapter
Oregon City, OR