<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML style="FONT-SIZE: x-small; FONT-FAMILY: MS Sans Serif"
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=iso-8859-1">
<META content=Word.Document name=ProgId>
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2912" name=GENERATOR>
<META content="Microsoft Word 11" name=Originator><LINK
href="cid:filelist.xml@01C6A0D2.DFDBAD10" rel=File-List><o:SmartTagType
namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name="PersonName"></o:SmartTagType>
<STYLE>st1\:* {
        BEHAVIOR: url(#default#ieooui)
}
</STYLE>
<STYLE>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
        {font-family:Jester;
        panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
        mso-font-charset:0;
        mso-generic-font-family:auto;
        mso-font-pitch:variable;
        mso-font-signature:131 0 0 0 9 0;}
@font-face
        {font-family:Cornerstone;
        panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
        mso-font-charset:0;
        mso-generic-font-family:auto;
        mso-font-pitch:variable;
        mso-font-signature:131 0 0 0 9 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
        {mso-style-parent:"";
        margin:0in;
        margin-bottom:.0001pt;
        mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
        font-size:12.0pt;
        font-family:"Times New Roman";
        mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
        {color:blue;
        text-decoration:underline;
        text-underline:single;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
        {color:purple;
        text-decoration:underline;
        text-underline:single;}
span.EmailStyle17
        {mso-style-type:personal-compose;
        mso-style-noshow:yes;
        mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
        mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:Arial;
        mso-ascii-font-family:Arial;
        mso-hansi-font-family:Arial;
        mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;
        color:windowtext;}
@page Section1
        {size:8.5in 11.0in;
        margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
        mso-header-margin:.5in;
        mso-footer-margin:.5in;
        mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
        {page:Section1;}
-->
</STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY lang=EN-US style="tab-interval: .5in" vLink=purple link=blue
bgColor=#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Brian - Mostly good suggestions so far. I'll share what
experience I have. I tune 16 Yamaha C3s biweekly. Half the pianos are about two
years old and the others are maybe five or six. These pianos are on two large
cruise ships - 7 on one and 9 on the other. The AC is generally on 24/7 and the
pianos are very stable. On the biweekly visits, I find that 25%
of the pianos can get by with two or three unisons tweaked. 50% of
the pianos will need a bunch of unisons tweaked. And maybe 25% of them will
need a thorough tuning because the pitch in the treble or low tenor has
wandered too much.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>My per-piano-visit fee for these pianos is about 50%
of my regular tuning fee. I commonly work about three hours or so to tune eight
pianos - it works out to something pretty close to my normal per-hour tuning
rate.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Your church may be quite a bit different - or not. Much
will depend on climate control and if it is on 24/7. What kind/age/condition
piano is it? How picky are they? The service I describe above for my cruise ship
pianos results in 16 pianos that are pretty darn "decent" all of the time - not
to suggest in any way, shape or form that they are always in a state of "concert
tune". If your church folks want perfection and the piano is maybe less than
stellar and climate varies a bit - you may find that a pretty thorough tuning is
required every two weeks.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>I would suggest using your trial month to determine
exactly what state of "in-tune-ness" they are looking for, how much time you
need to spend to meet their needs, and how climactic influences might affect
things.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Hope this helps.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Terry Farrell</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"> </DIV>Stability
will hinge on changing as little as possible when tuning. <BR><BR>Let
them know the month trial period is from your side also...<BR><BR>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. <BR><BR>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. <BR><BR>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...<BR><BR>David Ilvedson, RPT<BR></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black">I'll be
very interested in reading what some of the more experienced listers have to
say. While I have never had to negotiate the kind of contract you are
talking about, I do have some technical observations.</DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>You don't mention type of piano, age and condition. Does it have a
DamppChaser? Is it kept closed and covered between Sundays? Your
phone number puts you in Indiana, therefore big humidity swings.
For estimating your own time (not necessarily for sharing with the church
during negotiations), you might want to estimate how long you can get away
with "tweaks" between complete tunings, and how long you can get away with
tunings between pitch corrections. Perhaps a year of bi-weekly
visits consists of 4 pitch corrections, 8 tunings, and 14 "tweaks". Also
might want to have an understanding with the church regarding repairs,
regulation, and voicing. For example, if they are willing to pay
for a tuning every visit, then on "tweak" days you could do other maintenance,
thereby keeping the whole instrument in top shape.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Incomplete and not too helpful, I know. Let's see what others have
to say.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Mike</DIV>
<DIV></DIV></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt Arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><FONT
size=2>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P><FONT
face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Can you
help?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I have situation that I
have never had before and need some wisdom on how to
proceed.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=Section1>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">A large local church called me
and asked for a proposal to tune their sanctuary piano. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The tuner that they did have was a
member of the church and tuned it every week….yes every week. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The church is involved with a TV
ministry and I am guessing that it might need “tweaked” every
week.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>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></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It would be
great to have the steady work, but I don’t want to undersell my services
either.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">They wish to have a month “trial
period” to see if things work out. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I said that it sounded fair to
me.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">I am used to tuning a piano
twice a year, so twice a month is new to me.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Is there anyone out there who
can share some wisdom with me on how I might
proceed?<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Does anyone have a similar
situation but the church/institution has you on a retainer fee
?<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><STRONG><B><FONT face=Jester size=5><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; FONT-FAMILY: Jester; mso-no-proof: yes">Brian P.
Doepke</SPAN></FONT></B></STRONG><FONT face=Cornerstone><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Cornerstone; mso-no-proof: yes"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><STRONG><B><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-no-proof: yes">AAA Piano
<st1:PersonName w:st="on">Work</st1:PersonName>s,
Inc.</SPAN></FONT></B></STRONG><SPAN
style="mso-no-proof: yes"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-no-proof: yes">Piano
Tuning-Repair-Purchase Consults</SPAN></FONT><SPAN
style="mso-no-proof: yes"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-no-proof: yes">260-432-2043</SPAN></FONT><SPAN
style="mso-no-proof: yes"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-no-proof: yes">260-417-1298</SPAN></FONT><SPAN
style="mso-no-proof: yes"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>