Comments interspersed ....... Paul T Williams wrote: > It's pretty obvious that we don't charge enough hourly wage for our > craft. > > I know we're not supposed to discuss our rates, but it would be very > interesting to know what we all charge, or what the average is > > Duaine for one, probably doesn't charge enough if he is the only one > taking on those old player beasts, yet complains that he only makes > enough to "get by", or sadly, doesn't have enough technical knowledge > to re-string, regulate, rebuild all but major items like soundboards, > bridges, and the like, or even rebushing keys; therefore can't afford > to take the time at a convention to learn more about the instrument he > fixes. Very sad indeed. I have the - basic - knowledge enough to do the above - but - most important factor, is that I - don't - have - a - shop - - only - a - basement. > > The more one learns and can implement into his/her business, the more > he/she can and should earn. Learning more piano skills always ends up > earning us more $; and I'll estimate our average is somewhere between > $50-75/hr. or (should I say, more?..Less than that is very sad > indeed). Every time I attend a convention, my head hurts from so much > new information pouring into my brain in such a short amount of time. > It's always worth more than the time I lose from not working for 4-5 > days!! > > BTW, teachers at the conventions are the best in our industry and have > a checkbook to prove it. If you're not earning at least $50/hour, > then it's time to add more knowledge and charge accordingly. > > Nobody can do what we do....especially tune (ETD or aural....I'm not > opening that can-o-worms again), yet people always need to have their > piano tuned. Perhaps people need carpenters, electricians, plumbers, > more than us, but we're more specialized than most of these on the > list. Tattoo artists at 200/hour?? I don't have one, but interesting! > > Time to boost the rates, eh? > > Best to you all. > > Paul > > > > From: Robert Uckie <robertuckie at gmail.com> > To: pianotech at ptg.org > Date: 05/19/2010 03:49 PM > Subject: [pianotech] Wurlitzer Reeds > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > > > I was just online ordering Wurlitzer reeds (for myself) at > _vintagevibe.com_ <http://vintagevibe.com/> and came across this > really great comparison on their FAQ page which I thought was pretty > awesome. Here it is: > / > Examples: If you were to go out and look for any of these tradesmen > there would be yellow pages full of them. Even amplifier techs are a > dime a dozen comparatively. On the other hand, there are a small > handful of truly qualified vintage keyboard technicians across the > country. The true techs deserve every bit of money they get. > > Hourly rate in this area > Tattoo Artist 200.00 per hour > Carpenter 100.00 > Electrician 125.00 > Plumber 125.00 > Mechanic 85.00 > Lawyer 400.00 > Regarded Guitar Amp Techs $95.00 -120.00 hour > > Unlike an Amplifier technician who just works on electronics, a true > keyboard tech has to be well versed in piano regulation, tuning and > electronics, this is why it takes about 3 times as long or more to > repair a keyboard than an amplifier. A gifted Keyboard tech can make > magic happen and you will know it instantly by playing your > instrument, an average keyboard tech will tell you what he fixed, > charge you and you will not even notice any change other than the > obvious./ OK - I'll open the can - "in this area" - *what area ?* Next, I hate it when people go into these rate issues because one HAS to take into consideration the "lay of the land" + "the state of the economy" + union + non-union + (shouldn't be, but sometimes is) race and/or gender. $50-$75 range probably sounds just about right for the mid-west corridor. Now, West coast and East coast is a whole different bundle of dampers. -- Duaine Hechler Piano, Player Piano, Pump Organ Tuning, Servicing & Rebuilding Reed Organ Society Member Florissant, MO 63034 (314) 838-5587 dahechler at att.net www.hechlerpianoandorgan.com -- Home & Business user of Linux - 10 years
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