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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hi Brett,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I tune regularly in a big =
auditorium. I
always charge my full fee for both the initial tuning and touch-up (even =
if I
hardly have to do anything--I'm there). If I have to take care of =
a
problem that I don't consider normal concert prep, I bill that
separately. I also find out what time I need to be back for =
the
touch-up. I'm not always interested in doing other work =
in-between,
because the piano is troublesome and takes a lot of energy--so I =
just
charge more for the work I do there. :-) I have no =
idea what
the auditorium charges for my work, but they always pay me. My
situation may be unique(?) because I was hired to turn around =
a bad
piano situation. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>As far as tuning conditions go--well, =
I'm glad I
have an Accutuner, because sometimes the stage is so noisy I =
rely
<heavily> on it. I have relaxed a lot since I started =
working
there. Though I have done my best to educate the tech staff about =
what
will help me give good results (and will continue to remind them), =
I just
go in and do the best I can. When conditions are really bad,
I <politely> inform them my take on the situation, either on =
the spot
or with a follow up memo. The memo goes to the stage manager, the
technical director and the auditorium manager. I work hard at
communicating with them, though occasionally I feel like I'm =
yelling
into a great abyss...</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hope this is helpful.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Barbara Richmond, RPT</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></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">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=bgpianoman@email.com =
href="mailto:bgpianoman@email.com">BRETT
GLASS</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A =
title=pianotech@ptg.org
href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Sunday, December 11, 2005 =
2:50
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> reselling the piano
service</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<P>Hello Everyone , I recently ran into a situation where I was =
asked if
I could lower my price so that it could be marked up . I was tuning =
for a
concert and the venue manager had been using another tuner for a long =
time
that has left the area . They had a price set up that had been in =
place a long
time (years) . And had not been increased . In fact the price for =
in home
tunings in this area was higher . And had been for over four years . =
Price is
not my question .</P>
<P>After I explained how others were marking up my work , and =
what I was
charging them he seemed ok with it . I live in an area where I do =
alot of
concert work . In fact this promoter has me set up to tune two more =
times
before the first of the year . But we got into a discussion about =
follow ups
after the rehearsal . Most of the time there is not much work needed =
except
when you run into that picky pianist . Or the venue is outside . =
Includes more
than one piano , temperature change etc. . But time is money =
. Why
should I set around . Sometimes I have to wait hours before I can =
do the
follow up . Some want it right before doors open . Anyway what =
is the
most accepted practice . Charge say 1/2 of the original fee 1/3 or =
charge by
the hour ? For the easy follow up I've gone with 1/2 . To some that =
might seem
like a lot but I'm actually losing money . Had I been able to schedule =
two in
home tunings . I'd have come out ahead . This time of year it =
would be no
problem . I have no openings until after Christmas . When these =
concerts come
up they tend to cost me money . Taking up an afternoon because I don't =
know
how or when I can set other appointments . I'd like to just tell them =
what I
charge per hour . I don't know how many times I've got to the location =
only to
find the piano is not ready . Or the stage crew is working . Or I'm =
half way
done and they want to move the Piano .</P>
<P>Also what do most of you do for professional accounts . Do you =
discount ? I
don't . The only time I mark down my work is when I feel like it. Say =
a church
piano needs more work than they can afford. Or the occasional family =
that
might go without a piano if the cost for repairs is more than they can =
afford
. I only discount the tuning service for floor tunings =
at
dealers . I know that I'm going to get customers in return for =
that
work . Do any of you have any experience with your work being =
marked up
and resold say by a Resort or concert hall ect.? I do =
charge
more for a concert tuning but not very much more . Only about 10% more =
. So If
they turn around and mark that up what would be a normal markup . Say =
25 %
? I know that this is not really my problem . I'm just curious =
what
others may have seen or heard being done .One of the Piano =
rental
companys that I tune for marks up my tunings 25 % .</P>
<P>I just don't feel I should make less so they can make more . =
Eventhough I
do tune for them more often . </P>
<P>Maybe I'm looking at it all wrong . ???</P>
<P>Thanks for your input in advance , and have a great Christmas =
season !</P>
<P>Brett Glass</P>
<P>A Sharp Piano Service Maui</P><BR>--
<P>___________________________________________________<BR>Play 100s of =
games
for FREE! <A href="http://games.mail.com/"
=
target=_blank>http://games.mail.com/</A></P></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>=