<WBR>Steve<br> <br> As a follow up. I understand how you want to treat the school fairly. But at the same time, you don't want them to take advantage of you. Even though you've been with them for 20 years without a contract, you're still "hired help". What you might want to do, so that there will be no surprises, is tell your "boss", what you are planning to charge. If he/she seems to be surprised with it, then you might want to work out a compromise of some sort. <br> <br> <div style="CLEAR: both">Willem (Wim) Blees, RPT<br> Piano Tuner/Technician<br> Honolulu, HI<br> Author of <br> The Business of Piano Tuning<br> available from Potter Press<br> www.pianotuning.com</div> <br> <br> -----Original Message-----<br> From: Steven Sandstrom <sandstromsw@hotmail.com><br> To: Pianotech List <pianotech@ptg.org><br> Sent: Sat, 19 Jan 2008 4:39 am<br> Subject: Re: charge for time<br> <br> <div id=AOLMsgPart_2_46123d1d-1e7c-48b7-b716-d2a5b42cbc22> <div> <div>    This is school that is willing to spend money on their pianos. They have always taken care of the pianos better then most schools do. They know it will cost them more for me to stay and are willing to pay whatever. Most groups that they have come in only need the piano tuned the day of the concert. I have worked for this school 20 years or so and have never had any written contract. They just plan on me taking care of the pianos. They have only around 30 pianos. I will probably just figure a charge for the time I'm there in addition to the tuning fees. I'm not going to over charge them as I like the job. I just wondered what techs did?</div> <div> </div> <div> Thanks,  Steve Sandstrom</div> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <div style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </div> <div style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>From:</B> <A title=mailto:phil@philbondi.com href="mailto:phil@philbondi.com">Phil Bondi</A> </div> <div style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=mailto:pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech List</A> </div> <div style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, January 19, 2008 8:20 AM</div> <div style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: charge for time</div> <div><br> </div> Steve, there's too many variables to give a pat <br> answer. College= they keep you busy and <br> historically they have no money to pay techs <br> what they're worth in a situation like this - <br> They keep their pianos in good condition= 'why <br> do I need to be around (is it in the rider) or a <br> requirement from the College to cover potential <br> back-side embarrassment?<br> <br> This could be classified as 'stand'by' and in <br> which case you charge either by your hourly rate <br> or by the 1/4 hr. - whatever your AGREEMENT is <br> with the venue.<br> <br> You need to make yourself happy..or have an <br> agreement with the college about concert work <br> which is agreeable to both side.<br> <br> Like I said - no easy solution in my opinion.<br> <br> -Phil Bondi(Fl)<br> <br> </BLOCKQUOTE></div> </div> <div class="AOLPromoFooter"> <hr style="margin-top:10px;" /> More new features than ever. Check out the new <a href="http://o.aolcdn.com/cdn.webmail.aol.com/mailtour/aol/en-us/text.htm?ncid=aolcmp00050000000003" target="_blank">AOL Mail</a>!<br/> </div>