Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Clarky on June 24, 2013 at 3:15am

I'm wary that if I start to do this for money I'll not enjoy it.  Seems like this has happened to you.  Is it your first source of income?  If not I would go back to making it purely a hobby, which means you can do it as and when you like.

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Permalink Reply by darryl kernaghan on June 24, 2013 at 3:32am

if money is the incentive and you can,t get excited enough to build,or more importantly,build better,well you,re way out of luck for nurturing advice here

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Permalink Reply by Bad Finger (Eric) on June 24, 2013 at 3:51am

I'd take a break and build when you are inspired, not when you feel forced.  An effort that is contrived will show up in quality at some point.  Don't feel bad about slowing down.  It isn't a factory.

Play more.  Build less.

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Permalink Reply by ChickenboneJohn on June 24, 2013 at 3:59am

Well..I've made around 500 more cigar box guitars than you have..I'm not saying that to brag..but just to give you a little perspective. I've been doing it for several years, and it's gone from a hobby to my main source of income..but it's not the only thing I do..I perform, organise events, run workshops, do repairs, make other instruments.

If you don't enjoy it, don't do it, simple as that...maybe try and enjoy another aspect of the scene, learning new stuff to play, doing gigs or whatever. Unfortunately, as with much in life, being creative is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration..so the motivation and pushing through is the biggest and often hardest part of it. Actually needing to make money to pay the bills and put food on the table is a heck of an incentive..like when you've got no choice but to do it, rather than it being a bit of extra vacation money. That's what drives me to keep going, but I also need some inspiration..so look at what other people are doing, learn from them, borrow ideas, try a new slant on something, talk to people. Also, look beyond this forum for inspiration...I use Facebook a LOT to develop my contacts and business. Even if it's a hobby that you'd like to see grow, you have to take a pretty disciplined approach to develop it further...do a daily or weekly "to do" list and keep it updated, if you've got a day job, make sure you set aside some time to work on your guitars. If you feel brave enough, committing yourself to take a booth at a craft fair or guitar show will give you a target to aim for...and most importantly it will put you in touch with real people. Sometimes talking and selling guitars on the internet is a soul-less and sterile way of doing things - most weekends I'm either teaching a class of 20 people how to make guitars, or at a guitar show or festival dealing with hundreds if not thousands of people coming to look and listen to my guitars. I'm not a natural salesman or businessmen, nor am I particularly outgoing...but when you put yourself in a different environment, it can fire-you up to face new challenges. Heck, I've just spent a weekend in another country selling guitars and stuff to people who perhaps never knew these guitars existed, dealing with a multitude of different languages, a whole different culture and taking payment in another currency. It was a real challenge to get ready for it, but now I'm exhausted but fired up to do more of it. I'd set myself the challenge, had to meet the deadline and then had to commit to just doing it. Having a slump is only natural, I often just run out of steam for a week or so, but my diary is busy, so I can't lollygag around for long, and if the inspiration isn't there, well...you just have to get on your hind feet, walt to the workshop and see the job through.

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Permalink Reply by darryl kernaghan on June 24, 2013 at 4:06am

great comments cbj

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Permalink Reply by Craig Mayhem on June 24, 2013 at 4:00am

What keeps me going is new ideas / non-traditional projects. I've sold lots of ukes & guits and I like building them, but I do tend to get in a rut or at least lose a bit of motivation.

So I plan projects that depart a bit from the norm.

• Built a guit for a charity show that I liked so much I built its clone.
• Built a 3-string for a little person. Figuring out proportions was a fun challenge
• Gathered parts for a fiddle that'll be done next month (finally!)
• Round pretzel tin for a dulcimer strum stick
• Monkeypod wooden bowl for a dulcimer lute
• Got a Corvair hubcap for a banjo
• Building a dobro with a stainless top & catbowl out of a super old tobacco box
• Got a vintage parlor guitar neck and 1920's cigar box for a project
• There's a "Wizard of Oz" themed art show coming up. I'm building a Tin Man inspired guit for it out of a vintage 2-gallon gas can & oil funnel
• Bought a home-built vintage tool box that will be an upright bass
• 1/2way through building a guit for the Service Member Project

Getting that typed out for the first time... Yikes! There's a lot to do! But finding cool odds and ends inspires projects for me and keeps me excited about building. Plus in early fall a bar I go to that also features local art is going to display some of my work (which means I have to get cracking!).

I think stuff like that keeps it fun. Your mileage may vary.

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Permalink Reply by Clarky on June 24, 2013 at 4:12am

Like you my motivation is trying something new.  My projects are far simpler than yours though and my idea of something new is just something I haven't done before, like my last one had a rod piezo, and my current one has my first attempt at sanding a box down entirely and cutting f-holes.

My other motivation is just loving being in the shed, building stuff and having a beer whilst listening to some tunes. Quality!

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Permalink Reply by Josh Thompson on June 24, 2013 at 4:18am

Thanks everyone for the advice.

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Permalink Reply by The Phrygian Kid on June 24, 2013 at 1:13pm

Doing something in the pursuit of money is a sure way to suck all the other rewards out of it, something you once loved becomes a chore.
I say slow down, spend time on each one, try something new and challenging each and every time, and make em for yourself and your loved ones more than strangers. Work on your playing and musicianship, and build in the quest for the perfect player rather than dollars

I've seen so many guys around here who start selling then settle into a routine or system, after that all their builds may as well be the same, no experimenting, no risks taken. You'll never make a dollar out of this, don't build in pursuit of that or the art becomes the commerce.

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Permalink Reply by Diglydog on June 25, 2013 at 3:51am

Good advice !  I think you may have just prevented me from making a 'production run' of 4 boring CBGs - thanks !

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Permalink Reply by Mark Lindsay on June 25, 2013 at 9:46am

^^THIS!!! ^^

I've turned a couple of hobbies into small-time home based businesses, and it's a great way to kill an otherwise fun hobby. What works for me is building (or creating) in pursuit of the hobby, then if someone wants to buy it, great. If not, no big deal. I want to keep this a hobby - no production runs for me. Even if that means I miss a chance to set up a booth at a show. I do this for my pleasure - I work for my money. I will not ruin this hobby by turning it into work.

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Permalink Reply by the anonymous pick on June 24, 2013 at 1:31pm

as  others  have  mentioned  here  ..  switching things  up  a  bit  ,,  offering  new   aspects    ,  different  designs  and   models    gets  the    creative  juices  flowing  ..  and  nothing is more motivating than trying out your  new  idea  and making it a reality  . heck   , you  will even  get a feel  for   what people  like   and  its satisfying  to  supply that  .  

but  if you are   not willing to  put yourself  into your    work and  breath  life  into    your  ideas  ..  ,

  it  will  be like work   and suck  the life  out of    it,  and  you  .  

take  a break ,  come  back  .  see if  it  was  just like  writers  block.  

or  maybe its not for you  ..  try   something you truly  enjoy  instead  .  

   i wish  you  the best of  luck    either way .  

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