Official Luthiers Forum!

I know most people here have a day job and build on the side. For the last year and a half I have been building full time and am now considering taking a day job. At first things were looking good and I had lots of orders coming in and thought I would be making good money, but as you know, nothing goes as expected and the bottom line is I am not making as much as I needed to so raised my prices and then the orders started slowing down. Not a problem at first but now I am sitting with 2 guitars that will be finished next week and then one more that will be finished up next month and thats it, no waiting list. So I am now looking at building on the side well working 9-5 in the city (1 1/2 hours away) Been offered a good paying one year contract in social work so will probably be taking it. For those who have a day job and are thinking of leaving it to go full time think carefully, as others have said it is hard to make a living as a luthier. What really kills me is my wife, who has a college diploma can make twice what I can with 5 University degrees but still feels a man needs to have a full time job. Oh well. When the contract is up in a year maybe I'll be ready to try this full time again. I'll just really miss telling people that I'm a "Luthier" when they ask what I do.

Hey Arvey you can still build. Most people find the time even with full time jobs. And who knows, you may just be in a slow cycle. Things might pick up. But a day job isn't the end of the world. Keep plugging away on the guitars when you have the time. You probably already know that it's too addicting to stop "cold turkey." But, the family always comes first. Hang in there my friend.

The important thing is that you don't give up! Do what you have to do to support the family, but keep on building. Perhaps you can work part time after a while if the orders start coming back and split your time between the workshop and the day job? Start doing more repairs if you can, find a different way in. You full time guys are my heroes !

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

I don't see why you can't still tell people you are a luthier if you are still planning to build, even if it is on the side. Don't ever give up on something that is your dream because our dreams are what keep us going. Maybe this opportunity for full time employment has presented itself for more of a reason than earning a paycheck...you never know who you might meet or who that person might know.

And besides, good for you for being in the human services field. My wife was a social worker before stopping to raise our children, and I applaud people in this field as it can be extremely challenging work.

As Arnt said, do what you need to do to support your family, but remember that your personal happiness will also directly effect your ability and desire to support them. I hope you and your wife can find a happy medium.

All the best.
Craig

I will continue to build on the side and it is nice to know there is always something to fall back on. The 3 hour comute each day won't be fun compared to the 30 second walk to the shop. Of course as soon as i take a job the orders will start coming in and in this type of work you can't just quit. But it is a one year contract to help reduce the case load so maybe by that time I'll have a years waiting list which is what I figure I need to keep a steady income.

Even DaVinci took work he didn't like when he couldn't find engineering or art commissions. So at least you are in good company.

Don't sweat it. Do what you have to to put food on the table. The guitar gig is a lifelong pursuit.

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

   I still work a full time job. My wife is the only full timer at my business. I am soon going to be full time but this took me about 6years to build to this point.
      Most people don't realize the amount to money it take to make money. Expensises , taxes and insurance and parts of business that take profit without any real return. Things that I didn't realize early I am learning through experience and sharing info with other small business.
       Reinvestment into your business is the biggest key to success . Not all businesses succeed and that is a fact but why do businessess fail? Mostly from lack of planning and poor use of time. If one can't use time wisely this is waisting resources.
     If it was meant to be it will happen.
good luck
john hall

Even Torres had to leave building for a while to run a furniture shop before picking up building again. His guitars are known as first epoch and second epoch. You are just facing a new chapter in life.

I tried for several years to go full time but chose to take a full time day job and build on the job and for me it was the right choice. I agree with Arnt that the Luthiers that do it full time are my heroes.

I knew alot of full time Luthiers (Ken Parker, Tom Humphrey, Michael Gurian, William Cumpiano and others) who have gone on to be very successful but at the time we were all struggling single luthiers working in New York City.

I also ran a woodworking business that produced high end art furniture and catered to celebrities but could not have begun to afford my own work. It is hard to make big bucks at any art related craft but for those who are able to make it work it is extremely gratifying.

As someone who wanted to do it fulltime but chose to build on the side, for me the difference is that I did not function well under the pressure so by having a day job that pays the bills has freed me to be able to build at the level that I want at a pace that is acceptable without having to compromise on quality or materials.

I wish you well but agree with everyone else...Dont stop building, just moderate it but the choices in front of you.

Rich, look at it this way; with a day job paying the bills and keeping the homestead happy, you're now free to build on your terms, instead of having to take on any work you can get, on their term(s). You were working against what the guitar market generally wants, anyhow, so this will allow you to keep going there, if you so wish. or allow you another chance at building more "commercially" in your "second epoch".

I often long for the freedom a day job allows. Really do. Self-employment isn't for everyone, me included. But...., I had no choice!

Next step will be to find soemthing closer to home <g> 3 hour's drive is a lot, but at the same time, it leaves plenty of time to think things over, and see where you can do things differently, better, etc....

The plus side of having a day job is having access to health insurance, pension plans etc etc. It would take a LOT of orders for me to even consider quitting. For me it makes sense to keep working a regular job. It's not so bad. Mario makes a very good point about building on your terms.

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

Well the reason I orriginaslly went full time was because I lost my Job. As far a sfinding a job closer to home you need to remember that I live in a mill town and with what is happening in the forestry industry here in Northern Ontario it won't be long till UI is the biggest emloyer in my town. The three hour drive is total driving there and back so it is only 1 1/2 each way. Still considering it is on one of north americas most dangerous stretches of highway it isn't my idea of fun.

I totally agree with Mario. It is very rewarding to be building on YOUR terms. My day job pays all my bills and leaves me to build what I want to, and when I want to. The downside is that I will only be able to create a limited number of instruments in my lifetime. I have people ask me all the time, why I don't go full time. I guess I'm just too much of a chicken to give up that security blanket. While I envy people like Mario and the reputation he has gained, I realize that it probably will never happen for me. I'll be working full time when I'm 92 and still building guitars part time. I just hope that it continues to bring me the pleasure that it has for the past 10 years. We are all extremely lucky to be engaged in such a rewarding endeavor, whether it be hobby, part time income, or career. Go with the flow and enjoy it.

We are all extremely lucky to be engaged in such a rewarding endeavor, whether it be hobby, part time income, or career. Go with the flow and enjoy it.

well said James I agree whole heartedly.

my shop motto is:
It is what it is! flow with it.

having done just about every crummy job on the planet
I feel exteremly lucky to have fallen into guitar making,and since I am used to being really poor guitar making has been a step up!

Matt

I had a career working as a police officer in a very large rocky mt metro dept. I then after a severe injury in that job had a chance to go full time in my own business. I thought maybe doing same in guitars, but I found the best was doing something very good at and take time in the lutherie. I am now retired as I built the business to do that and once apprenticeship was over I now find need to build and repair full time to justify my efforts of last 3 years(maybe justify strong word but lot of work just to let it pass on doing just a little) If started this years ago, I would have done what best for family and providing, which would not have been building full time. Mario has it right, take some of the worry of other things, gives freedom in other things. I chose to go into self employment due to circumstances I would have rather not have had. That said, when I did, I went into something very good at and a big market for. If you can do it (building) and do it well and have a market and do the things needed to provided for family go for it, if not do it part time and still make money until time is right. I found alot of times what I want and what is best conflict. Sometimes I chose wise and did the best thing and knew it. Sometimes I didn't and learned it the hard way. Your a good builder, that won't change and sounds like making the wise choice, which always bears fruit

As far a sfinding a job closer to home you need to remember that I live in a mill town and with

If no one else, at least I know how you feel and what the job outlook is like for you. Same reason I build guitars....

But, think outside the box a bit. Take two low paying jobs(guitar building, and ".........") and add them up, you have a good paying job. The second job could be pumping gas, or helping out at the grocery store a couple days a week, etc... A nice, low-level, stress-free job near home, with plenty of time to pursue after-hours' guitar making. add the two incomes, factor in the tax breaks, reduced gasoline usage and vehicle wear and tear, and it coule look pretty good!

Here's what I'd do:

Take the year-long job you have available now, but while there, start looking at every venue possible near home, swallowing pride if need be. Maybe you can stuff envelopes at home or soemthing. If something pans out, great, complete your contract(never burn a bridge!), then skittle-on over to the new job! Remember that it and the guitars can add up to the other "big/career" job's income.
While you're working and everything is humming along, invest in the business. Buy good woods, the kind that are easy to sell. Skip the silly mesquite and what-not, and buy some EI RW and mahogany. Buy some decent quality Sitka and Eng. Not master; no need, just get some decent stuff. Buy a few sets of Waverly machines. Not gold. Just nickel. Get some lacquer or KTM-9 and learn to do a killer finish. Buy smart.

Richard,

I'll add my "don't dispair" message here also. I was in a similiar situation 15 years ago. I had a good city job that I hated and a 2.5 hour commute each day. I quit my job and went back to school, but I soon had to drop out of school and go back to the city to make ends meet. Boy, was I depressed. Turns out that the second job gave me the flexiblity and finances to go to school and I was able to complete my degree and get the job I'd always wanted.
Life's paths are seldom straight. You'll get back to doing what you enjoy.