<HTML><BODY style="word-wrap: break-word; -khtml-nbsp-mode: space; =
-khtml-line-break: after-white-space; "><DIV>Hi Brett,</DIV><DIV><BR =
class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>It was below zero here in =
Kansas City this week with almost a foot of snow. Just to let you know =
what you are missing...</DIV><DIV><BR =
class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>My relevant experience has =
been with a venue that does tunings that are required by their contracts =
with the artists. A tuning is a tuning, even if the last tuning was just =
a few hours ago. So I charge full price for the rehearsal tuning, and =
full price for the "touch up". The touch up normally requires a separate =
trip and lots of waiting, so my actual time spent isn't that different =
between the two. Once this year, they even changed pianos between the =
rehearsal and the concert, so I was glad that I have a practice of =
charging full price for the "touch up". </DIV><DIV><BR =
class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>I am familiar with the =
practice of providing tunings with a rental piano, but I'm not sure that =
tuning income should be shared by the piano renter. Charge what you need =
to charge and if someone can still mark up your tunings, more power to =
them, but if they can do that it may suggest that our fees our too =
low.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV><BR =
class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>Kent</DIV><DIV><BR =
class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><BR><DIV><DIV>On Dec 11, 2005, =
at 2:50 AM, BRETT GLASS wrote:</DIV><BR =
class="Apple-interchange-newline"><BLOCKQUOTE type="cite"><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></DIV><BR></B=
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