<HTML xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40" xmlns:o = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:st1 = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> <META content=Word.Document name=ProgId> <META content="Microsoft Word 11" name=Generator> <META content="Microsoft Word 11" name=Originator><LINK href="cid:filelist.xml@01C6A0D2.DFDBAD10" rel=File-List><o:SmartTagType name="PersonName" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:SmartTagType> <STYLE> st1\:*{behavior:url(#default#ieooui) } </STYLE> <STYLE>  </STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY lang=EN-US style="BORDER-TOP-STYLE: none; BORDER-RIGHT-STYLE: none; BORDER-LEFT-STYLE: none; BORDER-BOTTOM-STYLE: none; tab-interval: .5in" vLink=purple link=blue>Stability will hinge on changing as little as possible when tuning.  Let them know the month trial period is from your side also... 1st tuning should be at your normal rate.  Good solid tuning and evaluation of instrument.   What does it need besides tuning?  Did the other tuner do good work?   Is the piano going to take a pounding?   A well regulated piano with well-shaped hammers and voiced will "stay in tune" better...let them know what needs to be done to facilitate a good week to week piano.  You can not do your best work on a poorly maintained instrument.   2nd tuning "could" be discounted if all is well with the piano.  If they balk at doing other needed maintence, I wouldn't discount.  Remember not to discount your work and then find out they are going to try someone else after a month.   Bi-weekly service should be discounted, but only because it should take less time the tune the piano.   Every other week of unisons only should be possible.   Get them to install a dampchaser system... David Ilvedson, RPT Pacifica, California <DIV style="PADDING-RIGHT: 5px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 3px solid; PADDING-TOP: 5px"> <HR> Original message From: "Brian Doepke" <DOEPKEB@COMCAST.NET> To: "Pianotech List" <PIANOTECH@PTG.ORG> Received: 7/6/2006 5:04:58 AM Subject: Church situation <DIV class=Section1> Hello List,<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Can you help?  I have situation that I have never had before and need some wisdom on how to proceed.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> A large local church called me and asked for a proposal to tune their sanctuary piano.  The tuner that they did have was a member of the church and tuned it every week….yes every week.  The church is involved with a TV ministry and I am guessing that it might need “tweaked” every week.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> I am told that the piano will NOT be moved as much as it was in the past and they are thinking that perhaps tuning it every other week would be sufficient.  I did tell the caller that it sounds reasonable, but if they feel it continues to need the weekly tuning, then I would work with them.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> The music department secretary was very kind and not gruff at all, but I am not sure what kind of fee to propose to them.  It would be great to have the steady work, but I don’t want to undersell my services either.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> They wish to have a month “trial period” to see if things work out.  I said that it sounded fair to me.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> I am used to tuning a piano twice a year, so twice a month is new to me.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Is there anyone out there who can share some wisdom with me on how I might proceed?<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Does anyone have a similar situation but the church/institution has you on a retainer fee ?<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Brian P. Doepke <o:p></o:p> AAA Piano <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Work</st1:PersonName>s, Inc.<o:p></o:p> Piano Tuning-Repair-Purchase Consults<o:p></o:p> 260-432-2043<o:p></o:p> 260-417-1298<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p></DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>