I know you are asking about “formal” events, but I would point out that the definition of “formal” events and less formal events can be rather murky. For example, there was the day that I realized Jeremy Denk [!] was scheduled to give a master class for the piano majors, master classes having a set form that included welcoming the general public and requiring a pair of matched concert grands to be at the ready. And no one had mentioned it to the piano tech.
So, over the years I put into place some things that provided me with the information I needed in order to best match the piano service needs with the piano service resources. First off, the matching of demands for piano services with available resources was my job, because no one else wanted to do it, and because it came to be written into the piano tech job description, which helped give weight to the following requests I made in order to carry out the function independently:
Full access to the concert schedule as events are scheduled. (A good relationship with the scheduler is helpful.)
Full advance access to the concert programs as the they are created. (This is essential for discovering when pianists and piano repertoire, including dual-pianist works, are programmed.)
Full up-to-the-minute access to the concert hall daily schedules as they evolve (See above about good relationship with the scheduler. This catches the rehearsal schedule for the concerto competitions and other “routine” events that need pianos that recur each term.)
Daily scheduled inviolable tech time in the hall. (I worked in the marginal times that few wanted anyway, and I was able to preserve this time over the years because it, technically speaking, wasn’t for me specifically but for general tech activities in the hall. This rarely resulted in conflicts with stage and lighting crews because they didn’t like the marginal [you know, early morning and such] times anymore than anyone else. The only times this presented a problem for piano service was, for example, when a crew opened the outside overhead stage doors in February while a tuning was in progress.)
I welcomed last-minute notices of piano service needs. This is important. Usually I could respond by saying, “That tuning is already on the schedule.” But the last thing the piano tech should want to do would be to respond negatively, thereby discouraging faculty from giving the piano tech needed information. Occasionally, these last minute notices would be helpful.
Requested repairs (inherently last-minute) were given absolutely top priority, generally completed early the next morning, or at least, within 24 hours.
And that brings us back to the management function of matching service needs with service resources. For even last-minute changes, if it fit, it got done. If it really didn’t fit, it didn’t get done. No muss, no fuss, so to speak.
I would plan the work about a week at a time, but always retained flexibility. Then I would check everything briefly every morning, and would routinely make priority adjustments as needed. If 4 concert grands and 2 harpsichords needed to be tuned on a given day before 9 am, then that is what happened, as far as anyone knew. [!]
This all meant that the piano service happened under the radar, out of sight, out of mind. This worked well for me personally, in keeping with my [ahem] socially-challenged nature. I suppose this of course did indeed mean that it was easy to take piano service for granted, making me somewhat under-appreciated. You can’t have everything. But I am retired now, and can seek solace in my retirement accounts and pension checks. [!]
Original Message:
Sent: 12/29/2024 6:50:00 PM
From: Alan Eder
Subject: Advance Notice for Concert Piano Servicing
Greetings List,
Wondering how much lead time counterparts at other institutions have before a concert that will use one or more pianos or harpsichords.
We have several noon concerts each week that take place in an open public space. For these, I get an overview for the semester in advance, but finalized needs only days in advance. I am NOT talking about these kinds of less formal events.
This is about concert piano and harpsichord servicing for "formal" events in a primary concert venue.
Randomly, I have heard reports of everything from "at a moment's notice" to "the entire semester (or even year!) at the beginning of the school year," (which would be oh so sweet).
It's time to gather more data to help shape the future of these logistics at CalArts.
Thanks,
Alan
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Alan Eder, RPT
Herb Alpert School of Music
California Institute of the Arts
Valencia, CA
661.904.6483
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