Valuing ourselves

[A440A at aol.com]

David writes: 
<< I've been an acolyte of Ed Foote in the business realm for about 10  
years because he KNOWS what he's worth, and raises his rates EVERY  
SINGLE TIME he needs to, usually every 18 months. >>

    Ah, David, that makes me sound better than I am!  
    
For the record, I don't "know" what I am worth.  If I did, it would be easy, 
but I am continually taking a risk as I raise my prices.  I am taking a chance 
that I am worth the higher price, and though experience gives me some guide, 
I never know who I am going to lose.  However, risk and gain are proportional, 
so my choice is between safety and profit.  Life is short, I'm gonna die, so 
safety is losing its appeal.    
     I did intentionally price myself out of the recording studio business, 
simply because I didn't want to be chained to an account that might need me to 
be in town for a full week at a time, (and the fact that the ego/artist 
personalities in that business, when combined with a little cocaine, become 
downright unpleasant).  
Long ago, my father told me that the man that cannot ask for a raise doesn't 
deserve one.  I believe it.  
Regards, 
Ed Foote RPT 
http://www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/index.html
www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/well_tempered_piano.html
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