I'm looking to hear from folks who earn a living at woodworking on
hiring or working with hobbyists who want to change careers. Specifically,
if a guy has 5 or 10 years as a hobbyist, has a good portfolio that shows
his skills, and is really motivated and loves woodworking, it seems to me
like he would be a good risk.
Or maybe you're a hobbyist who has made the switch to some kind of
woodworking as a career and you would be willing to share your experiences.
I ask this because everywhere I go I'm looking at furniture and millwork
and I can't concentrate on my job. Like today, I'm with a client (I'm a
consulting network engineer) and she's sitting behind this gorgeous solid
cherry desk. Simple design, not to old, beautiful figure and patina. Not an
antique or anything, just a well executed design and sensitive choice of
boards. We finally left her office to go into the data center, all white and
plastic and metal, and I was able to focus on my job It was really weird,
but pleasant.
TIA
Kevin B.
Was it the desk or the secretary? :-)
"Kevin B" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:zjQ1c.177637$jk2.651739@attbi_s53...
> I'm looking to hear from folks who earn a living at woodworking on
> hiring or working with hobbyists who want to change careers. Specifically,
> if a guy has 5 or 10 years as a hobbyist, has a good portfolio that shows
> his skills, and is really motivated and loves woodworking, it seems to me
> like he would be a good risk.
> Or maybe you're a hobbyist who has made the switch to some kind of
> woodworking as a career and you would be willing to share your
experiences.
>
> I ask this because everywhere I go I'm looking at furniture and
millwork
> and I can't concentrate on my job. Like today, I'm with a client (I'm a
> consulting network engineer) and she's sitting behind this gorgeous solid
> cherry desk. Simple design, not to old, beautiful figure and patina. Not
an
> antique or anything, just a well executed design and sensitive choice of
> boards. We finally left her office to go into the data center, all white
and
> plastic and metal, and I was able to focus on my job It was really weird,
> but pleasant.
>
> TIA
>
> Kevin B.
>
>
Hi
I would definitely seek out the opinion of professionals who have made
that jump and know how it works. They can provide you with advice and
tips considering they've done that before.
You defintely need to make sure you have money saved away that will
let you basically survive on your own for a couple years. I don't
know if you want to open up a small shop or work out of your basement,
but either way you are going to pay the bills probably off your
savings, at least for a while. If you have a wife and kids, that can
get pretty hard.
Maybe starting out by continuing your job and focusing on woodworking
during the evenings and weekends will let you get a foot in the door.
I hope this helps.
Fri, Mar 5, 2004, 1:28pm (EST-3) [email protected] (Toolman2k4)
says:
<snip> starting out by continuing your job and focusing on woodworking
during the evenings and weekends will let you get a foot in the
door.<snip>
Which is what is meant when someone says, "Don't quit your day
job".
Years ago I read that 90% off all startup businesses fail within
the first year. Then about 50% of those left, fail sometime in the next
five years.
Keeping your day job, until you know you can make it, beats the
Hell out of quitting your day job, dumping a bunch of cash into a shop,
going broke, then having to get another job, maybe losing your house
along the way. Of course, it's up to you.
JOAT
That the peope have a right to bear arms for the defense of themselves
and the state.
- Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776
Life just ain't life without good music. - JOAT
http://community-2.webtv.net/Jakofalltrades/SOMETUNESILIKEVOCALS/
On Sat, 6 Mar 2004 15:12:25 -0500 (EST), [email protected] (J
T) wrote:
> Keeping your day job, until you know you can make it, beats the
>Hell out of quitting your day job, dumping a bunch of cash into a shop,
>going broke, then having to get another job, maybe losing your house
>along the way. Of course, it's up to you.
Some people also find that the day job isn't that bad after all.
Either way, try to avoid debt when starting a business. Buy big stuff
used whenever possible. RENT it if you're not sure you'll need it.
Some operations may make sense to outsource at the beginning. You may
make less of a profit, but you'll avoid buying equipment that isn't
paying it's own way.
A low debt load can help you weather the ups and downs.
I know some landscapers that bought a brand new Kenworth dump truck
and all brand new machinery. These guys HAVE to keep a day job
because the business barely pays it's own bills. They could easily
rent certain pieces when they need them. As soon as interest rates
creep up and home equity money dries up, I see these guys as good as
gone.
I also know a husband / wife flooring crew who work out of a paid for
20 year old bread truck. They clear a ton of money and will easily
pay cash for the next, much newer, truck.
Barry
Go over to www.woodweb.com
There are good forums about people making this decision, and lots of
positive and negative feedback. I have spent hours reading the different
views on this (as I have been debating going full-time in woodworking)
Good luck,
James Hendrix
[email protected] (Toolman2k4) wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> Hi
>
> I would definitely seek out the opinion of professionals who have made
> that jump and know how it works. They can provide you with advice and
> tips considering they've done that before.
>
> You defintely need to make sure you have money saved away that will
> let you basically survive on your own for a couple years. I don't
> know if you want to open up a small shop or work out of your basement,
> but either way you are going to pay the bills probably off your
> savings, at least for a while. If you have a wife and kids, that can
> get pretty hard.
>
> Maybe starting out by continuing your job and focusing on woodworking
> during the evenings and weekends will let you get a foot in the door.
>
> I hope this helps.