Shop Notes

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At almost every guitar show I do, someone walks up to my booth, looks around, and eventually asks some version of this: “I’m a hobby builder. I’d love to do what you do. How did you get to where you are?” I love this question. Partly because I remember being the person asking it. I wasn’t born into this. I had a full career in IT, and I built guitars on the side for years before I ever sold one. So when someone asks how to make the leap, I don’t give them the exciting answer they might be hoping for. I owe it to them to give them the honest one. Here’s what I actually say. Be “crazy” enough not to stop when it gets hard. Not making sales, difficult customers, things going wrong that come out of your own pocket. There are always rough patches. Most people quit during one of them. Don’t quit your day job until you’re so busy you can’t sleep. It takes a real investment of time and money before this becomes sustainable. There’s no shortcut through that part. Consider whether you really want this. This one surprises people. A lot of builders realize, once they sit with it, that they’d rather keep their evenings and weekends free to build what they want, when they want, with zero pressure attached. That’s not failure. That’s knowing yourself, and it’s really smart. Remember the old saying about turning your hobby into your job. Sure, you love building guitars. But have you ever had a job without parts you didn’t enjoy? Billing, chasing materials, deadlines, router slips. It all comes with the territory. I’m not painting a picture of doom and gloom! And I’m definitely not trying to talk anyone out of it. I made the leap, and I don’t regret it. But the hobby builder who loves what they do and keeps it that way is not behind anyone.

They’re just protecting something they love to do.

Happy building,

Mike P
CSO (Chief Sawdust Officer),
Guitar Makers Alliance / Potvin Guitars