<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:st1="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> <head> <meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 11 (filtered medium)"> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="State"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceType"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceName"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PersonName"/>  <style>  </style> </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=blue> <div class=Section1> Such a thing would certainly lose the likes of me. I’d put “former RPT” on my card and live with it, easily explaining to customers that it got too expensive.  There are technicians who make big bucks. (“If you don’t net $100K a year you need my class”).  I gross about 40% of that, but am in the top tier of quality tuners in the area.  I don’t happen to be a good business person, and have to work harder than some because of hearing issues.  I can’t afford to pay like the rich folks.<o:p></o:p> Les bartlett <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <div> <div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'> <hr size=2 width="100%" align=center tabindex=-1> </div> From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Paul T Williams Sent: Friday, July 01, 2011 3:39 PM To: <st1:PersonName w:st="on">pianotech@ptg.org</st1:PersonName> Subject: Re: [pianotech] Right Here, Right Now (was Stuff Which Should Really Be on PTG-L)(OT)<o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> Hey Ryan, I might have a problem coming up with $450/year for dues.  I'm, as you know, a CAUT, and due to all the university cuts in this and that, my salary has not gone up for 2 years, and wasn't huge to begin with.  My fault I guess for getting into the university setting.  When I began, I was in love with this job, as I could finally just do all the things I have learned over the years without selling anything.  My clientele was, on average, not interested in anything but basic service. Now, I rebuild, restring, etc with only my budget to argue with.  And...it's a very nice budget...just got bumped up, too!  a lot!, but my salary only just got raised 2%. Amazing, though, considering the state of the U. I guess they like me and know they're getting a great bargain for my services. The 2% doesn't even begin to catch up with what I started with.  It was my gamble, and I lost. However, my salary has not gone up by very much since I started here 5 years ago. With all the everything else that has gone up, it's pretty much swallowed up in life, so a $450 dues charge would be quite a tough hit on my family...especially right after the holiday season. I have no way to raise my rates to compensate.  It is a great thing we have in PTG, but I would hate for a lot of folks to drop out just because they can't afford it. That would create a bad scene. Best, Paul <o:p></o:p> <table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%'> <tr> <td valign=top style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'> From: <o:p></o:p> </td> <td valign=top style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'> Ryan Sowers <tunerryan@gmail.com> <o:p></o:p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign=top style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'> To: <o:p></o:p> </td> <td valign=top style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'> <st1:PersonName w:st="on">pianotech@ptg.org</st1:PersonName> <o:p></o:p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign=top style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'> Date: <o:p></o:p> </td> <td valign=top style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'> 07/01/2011 01:44 PM <o:p></o:p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign=top style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'> Subject: <o:p></o:p> </td> <td valign=top style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'> Re: [pianotech] Right Here, Right Now (was Stuff Which Should Really Be on PTG-L)(OT)<o:p></o:p> </td> </tr> </table> <o:p> </o:p> <div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'> <hr size=2 width="100%" noshade color=gray align=center> </div> Like our piano service businesses, when you raise your rates, you mostly lose the lowest level of your clientele and keep the bottom feeders out of range. I think most technicians underestimate what they can charge. I don't think we should underestimate members willingness to pay for a top notch organization. If you are a full time technician $450 a year is a drop in the bucket in your yearly expenses. Ryan Sowers On Fri, Jul 1, 2011 at 10:05 AM, Coleman, Jim <<a href="mailto:jcolem21@utk.edu">jcolem21@utk.edu</a>> wrote: Alan & All, <o:p></o:p> About 3 years ago my report to Council stated that for PTG to be a dues based operation the dues would have to be around $350.  Since then the cost of doing everything has gone up.  In today’s dollars they would probably need to be $400-$450. <o:p></o:p> Personally I think that is where we should be (and it  would still be a bargin) but as Dale Probst has stated, we do not know what the fall-out would be in terms of losing members. <o:p></o:p>   <o:p></o:p> See you in KC! <o:p></o:p>   <o:p></o:p> Jim Coleman, Jr   RPT <o:p></o:p>   Staff Piano Technician <o:p></o:p>      <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Tennessee</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> <o:p></o:p>      <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Knoxville</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">TN</st1:State></st1:place> <o:p></o:p>  <a href="tel:%28865%29%20748-0998" target="_blank">(865) 748-0998</a> <o:p></o:p> <a href="tel:%28602%29%20989-0005" target="_blank">(602) 989-0005</a> <o:p></o:p>   <o:p></o:p> -- Ryan Sowers, RPT <st1:place w:st="on">Puget Sound</st1:place> Chapter <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Olympia</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">WA</st1:State></st1:place> <a href="http://www.pianova.net/">www.pianova.net</a> <o:p></o:p> <div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'> <hr size=1 width="100%" noshade color=gray align=center> </div> No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - <a href="http://www.avg.com">www.avg.com</a> Version: 10.0.1388 / Virus Database: 1516/3737 - Release Date: 07/01/11<o:p></o:p> </div> </body> </html>