LearnJazzPiano.com archives: Out of tune piano on gig/live recording, you tune it, extra comp?

tune -- 03/16/2007, 09:22:34 -- #33831

I've just got the chance to audition with a big band, something I've never done before. They gave me a cd of a live recording they did. The baby grand was terribly out of tune. I also tune pianos. I've talked to one guy in the past who told me he would definitly charge the owner to tune it. It's work and rightly so for a full job, touching up I'd do for free. Anyone else been in this situation and how you handled it. I guess this is a gray area, but any advise.

Scot -- 03/16/2007, 15:24:34 -- #33831

I always touch up bad pianos when I have to play on them, but I've never been paid for it.  However, I'm not giving it a full tuning, just fixing unisons. If you are a pro technician, then the thing to do is getting a normal tuning gig at the club and keep it separate from your piano playing gig.

tune -- 03/19/2007, 08:58:38 -- #33831

I agree about just fixing unisons, I'm not sure of the clubs schedule for tunings, but as they've been in business for years I assume they have a regular person who does it. I guess I was just really surprised that a big band would go into a club and record live on such a bad piano. Why bother? For that matter, I just heard a recording of Joanne Brackeen on a terribly out of tune piano. Of course, they are touchy but at some point you got to say no.

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