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Well, I have done some soul searching and have decided to put my 2 week notice into my day job (mental health therapist at the largest youth detention center in Georgia     ). With this opportunity arising, I have decided to try and make a living building guitars. As many here can relate, building guitars has consumed me. I spend the majority of my day thinking about building (corny, I know, but true) and thinking of the next thing I want to do to the current build. This jump is really scary (mortgage, insurance, etc.). I know I would regret it if I didn't give it a go, so...here it goes. Any words of advice about starting full time (do's and do not's). y'all have been a real asset the past few months and I really appreciate it   

Kristopher,

I sincerely hope you have already completed a few comissions and have a pretty strong customer base and word of mouth referral list going? It takes a while to get your name out there and get going.

If you have already done this and already have some work to get started on, then I think you have done the right thing by following your deam. I worked for someone else for over 25 years and I wasnt really happy until I started working for myself and doing what I love to do. Being self employed doesnt mean you will instantly be rich (you may never get rich...), but you will live life to its fullest because you believe in what you are doing. Use you mind and be creative and you will do ok in your venture. Just remember that time is now money, and plan your days accordingly. Be aware that people will suck up your time for free if they can.

 

congrats!

Ken

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Reguards,

Ken H

Im jealous

Best wishes in your leap of faith Kristopher!
That takes some guts!

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

This year I have built so far 4 commissions with three more in progress or on the books. My average invice price per guitar is near this year has been $2400. Looking at the books taking in to account consumables, Required materials and utilities. dutie free cash (meaning money left over after materials and such) will be near $8k if I complete all seven with in the year(aint happening) no way I could live on that.

You know, it's probably one of the toughest decisions you'll ever make.

If you can afford to not make any $ for the next year at least, I'd say go for it.

Ken has some great points. Having some sort of customer base to start with sure would help.

Looking back in the archives, I see here that you have some good guitar building chops (IMO) and many other's in that thread. How did this work out for you Kris? Have you spoken with that customer recently? What is the feed back like on your guitars that you've sold?

Again, make sure you have enough $ to get you through the next year or so and have at it. Like you said, you may certainly regret it if you don't give it a try.

Good luck

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"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

Just reading the comments of Michael and Rod made me think that another way to supplement your income is to do repair. I think this is fairly common among the full timers.
That said, being a good repairman i.e David Collins is another full skill set that is honed over time.

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Very good... I thank you for your honesty and best wishes.
Rod, As it turns out the customer is very happy with the instrument and noted he was never dissatisfied, but just wanted to point out "issues" that were not perfect. i have spoken with him several times since he received the instrument and he is enjoying it. I have some money saved and have other **Small** forms of income.
Michael, I definitely hear you and agree...it is difficult (very) to make a good living building guitars. Fortunately, i do not have any children, no wife, no pets, and two roommates to help with the mortgage . I really don't mind surviving on Ramen for a while and nobody else will suffer but me. If need be, therapists are always needed and I could find a job if need be. I just feel like I need to do this now. Seems like the right thing to do

The hard part for me is getting used not having a "real" job...and treating my previous "hobby" as a business.

If you can afford to, and the worst case is that you go back to your previous occupation when you run out of cash, then I see no downside. Worst case is you take a vacation making guitars and go back to work when you run out of cash. Best case is, well, that you make it!

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Bob Garrish
Former Canonized Purveyor of Fine CNC Luthier Services

This class at the Healdsburg Guitar Festival 2007 would no doubt hold some pointers for you.

He's on page 10 of the HGF Program of Events from LMI. I wonder if they taped it? Anyone have notes for Kristopher?

Good luck, someone pass the beans and rice. You'll do fine.

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http://www.dickeyguitars.com

Now you are worrying me Hesh!!!!!

Hesh, I would very much appreciate that...keep me company on the cold winter days. I actually feel myself getting sick right now (no offense, of course). what shade of lipstick by the way??? (i will be very angry with you if I actually receive this in the mail )

Bruce, that would be very helpful if you or anyone has information about the class. I'm just trying to get all of the logistical things out of the way and get the process smoothed out (keeping files on customers, shipping, tax info., etc).    

That's awesome! I hope it works out for you; please keep us up to date.

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http://www.PeakeGuitars.com

Kris - From the content of the next to the last post you made you have your 'ducks in a row'.  Go for it now while you have the opportunity.  No family commitments, kids, etc..

Twenty years ago I went out on my own in a commercial photography venture.  It had been a hobby I enjoyed, but the pressure of trying to make a business of it got to be too much.  My wife went along but it strained our relationship.

So, after 18 months I went back to school in engineering.  But, if I had not tried it I would never heve known if it would work.  Setting up a small business is hard but can be very rewarding.

Talk with an accountant and set up the business end of it.  There are tax consequences both favorable and unfavorable.  You may not have to worry about zoning if it is small and not much customer trafic.

The repair options are an excellent idea.  It would provide another source of income while sharpening skills in set-up and finishing and correcting others mistakes.

God's speed my friend,

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Steve Walden
Aspiring Builder,
Bartlesville, OK

Good luck, Kristopher. Let us know how it goes.

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John Cavanaugh
Saint Paul, MN
"What could possibly go wrong?"

Bruce, Kent Everett's seminar at HGF was certainly worthwhile.  There was a lot that was relevent to all builders and some that was more relevent for his business model of production (selling primarily to stores who take a very large cut).

They did tape it.  I'm guessing Chris, the contact at LMI for the show, would know when and if those taped seminars will be available.  You can find the contact info on the HGF site.

My experience is that the less skill required, the easier it is to make a living working with wood.  I did best financially as a carpenter/contractor, less well as a furniture/cabinetmaker.

I suplemented guitar building with other woodworking for 10 years before going full time.  A good way to justify more tools too!

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http://www.chassonguitars.com

Kristopher,

Until I read the bit about you not having a wife or children I was going to say whoa .. hang on a minute

But in your position, when you love something that much, you don't really need the luxuries in life like food so go for it.

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Dave White
De Faoite Stringed Instruments
". . . the one thing a machine just can't do is give you character and personalities and sometimes that comes with flaws, but it always comes with humanity" Monty Don talking about hand weaving, "Mastercrafts", Weaving, BBC March 2010

10 reasons to go full time...

1.     Life is too short to not do something you love.

2-10. See reason number 1.

I wish you all the best, Kristopher

long

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"No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.” -Heraclitus of Ephesus

See above post!!

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"It's a Tone Faerie thing"
"Da goal is to sharpen ur wit as well as ye Sgian Dubh"
"Sippin Loch Dhu @Black lake" ,Kirby O...

Hey Kris,
Like you I have recently just jumped into building guitars full-time (well
about 1 year ago) -- it took me a bit longer than expected to my artistic
and tonal goals met before I started selling them. And likewise, I also
have no wife and kids - just myself to worry about.

My only advice is to make sure you have a product that is flawless before
you start selling for a living. You don't want early guitars coming back to
haunt you because you will really need to sell guitars for well over $5000
base cost to ever make a decent wage. This means the quality of your
work MUST be exceptional and your guitars must also sound very good -
certainly, better than anything coming from Martin or Taylor. Also, you
need to have a product that looks attractive and has your own unique
artistic touch.

My honest opinion is that if you can't achieve the above - you don't need
to be selling guitars for a profit much less doing it for a living. Your
reputation is of the utmost importance. And only you can know how your
guitars stack up against the competition (which is both plentiful and
incredibly talented).

And like the others, I wish you all the sucess in the world. I think if you
have the passion then you should pursue it - my warning is to make sure
you don't make the jump to early.

God bless friend,
Simon

[QUOTE=Bruce Dickey]He's on page 10 of the HGF Program of Events from LMI. I wonder if they taped it? Anyone have notes for Kristopher? [/QUOTE]

I have notes, typed up in Word.  Send me a PM with your email address and I'll be happy to send it.  - Bill

 

Bill, send me a copy, I'd like to tail on to what Kent had to share, thanks.

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http://www.dickeyguitars.com

   keep your day job.

Matt

[QUOTE=Matt Gage]    keep your day job.

Matt[/QUOTE]

I think that's the best recommendation yet.

BTW...I've seen too many guys try to sell their wares way before they have a quality product. Unfortunately, some continue to sell while their reputations plummet.

Keep your day job and keep building. You'll know when your product is ready for prime time. Sorry to sound negative but that's the reality IMO.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

Kris,

Just can'rt resist but ... it sounds like you need Therapy.

Why would you just up and quit...instead, perhaps you could find a job that requires less hours. That way you will be able to feed the ugly wood acquisition monster as well. Working 25-30 hrs per week would still leave plenty of time for lutherie. Your heart is right but your approach is wrong. It just doesn't make good business sense to leap blindly into any profession with no steady stream of income. Savings is not for living...it's for saving.

I wish you all the best.

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Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"