Paid for Pitch Raises?

[piannaman at aol.com]

I agree with the two of you...but...when I tune for an elderly person who's on a fixed income, or a family that bought a junky little spinet for their child that's already more than they can afford and the kid REALLY wants to play, I use the sliding scale.  I might spend two hours to fix things that have been untended for years, pitch raise it, and tune it, then charge less than my standard 1 1/2 hour fee.  I see it as a way of giving to a worthy cause:  music in the lives of people who are struggling to afford it.  
 
At the other end of the spectrum, you have wealthy clients who own a Steinway or a Mason because of its investment value.  It sits in the corner of the 2,000 square foot living room and gets serviced more often than it gets played (which isn't much).  Those folks get the benefit of paying full pop.
 
Then there are stores, which is where this discussion originated.  You HAVE to get paid for the work you do.  You HAVE to have a working agreement with the dealer before you put hammer to pin.  You HAVE to defend your right to earn a good living, because many of them won't give you anything if you don't ask for it.  You'll find yourself putting gluing little pieces back onto decaying rentals, pitch raising new instruments, reattaching hammers to shanks, etc. as part of your "tunings."  
 
If you're going to do dealer work, you'll get a wealth of experience and good referrals.  But you need to get paid for the work you do.  Hourly rates are the way to go.  
 
Dave Stahl


 
-----Original Message-----
From: tompiano at bellsouth.net
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Sent: Tue, 13 Feb 2007 3:52 AM
Subject: Re: Paid for Pitch Raises?


David Andersen wrote: All the same, I have seen, and see today, so many good men and women pianotechs that have undervalued their skill set, and have suffered in one way or another for it. I just want to help people out of that particular box canyon. 
 
David,
You are so right. Once again you've nail it on the head.  Somewhere in this free world one has to be able to make a living. 
Tom Servinsky
----- Original Message ----- 
From: David Andersen 
To: Pianotech List 
Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2007 1:49 AM
Subject: Re: Paid for Pitch Raises?


Norma, I understand. It's so hard to make sweeping assumptions and judgements given the custom nature of each of our businesses, and email is a cold, rather context-less medium.  All the same, I have seen, and see today, so many good men and women pianotechs that have undervalued their skill set, and have suffered in one way or another for it. I just want to help people out of that particular box canyon.  
David A. 




On Feb 12, 2007, at 10:24 PM, Norma Neufeld wrote:


David, I think you may have misunderstood some of my post.  I do not give away my expertise or de-value my services in any way.  Quite the contrary actually.  The 'free' things I do for some clients are things they may not even know about like taking up lost motion on an upright for example,  it's quick and easy and makes a big difference.  I explain it needs regulating etc, etc..they may go for it, or not.   All they know is that the piano sounds and feels much better and I'm happy knowing that they will get more enjoyment from their instrument from a few extra minutes of my time. 
 
A few years ago, I did a lot of cheap work for the University as part of my training.  Because of that, I now look after all the uprights in the department for my regular fee.  No discount.   That a good steady income that I can count on.
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