right at the bottom of all my posts... just click the "www" tab.
you can also go to http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/14666189 for a "how it's done" photo thing. lots of people have no idea how much work goes into a hand-carved wood sign. this helps explain.
we've been on our own since 1996. before that we worked for "the other guy" and did our own stuff nights and weekends. our newest addition... although it hasn't arrived yet, is a 54" large format digital printer and vinyl cutter. should have it here within the next two weeks... (i can't wait!)

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I'm not always happy with mine, but at least I have one.

what i was talking about was what it'll do for you as a person... never said it was all wonderful... or easy for that matter. my days are usually 7:00 am to 10:30 pm, and that's 7 days a week. we go to church on sunday mornings, but the rest of the week is work-work-work.
the difference is, we're doing it for us. i met my bride of 27 years at a small sign painting school in '79. we've been a team ever since.
self-employment IMO is the best character builder on the planet... helps you understand why all your bosses in the past were such tight-wads ;)
but, i understand your point. pictures of the little girl running through the field throwing flower petals in the air... not an accurate picture of self-employment.
it's hard, but i think it's well worth it.
well, back to work for FTK.

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The building guitars advice is all well and good, I suppose. but if i remember correctly Nevin lives in Saskatchewan. The province covers an area of just over a quarter million square miles. Population of just over 1 million people (about 160,000 people less than my city's metropolitan area.) for a population density of 4 people per square mile. Half the people live in 3 cities which are hundreds of miles apart.

He may be several hours away from any major center. selling his wares will be hard. Even with the internet, you really need to build a local following with that type of business, before you can afford to sell to afar. You have to build a reputation some how.

I moved away from Saskatchewan 20 years ago, during the last big recession. If you aren't working there, and also happen to be rural you are far more isolated than anyone in Europe or most states (except parts of alaska,) can even imagine. I lived in a small northern town as a kid. A cousin stayed ther until adulthood, he actually had to drive 8 hours (add a few more hours if you like sticking to speed limits,) in order to get to the closest store that sold men's clothing.

i couldn't imagine being out of work there now.

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

Hi Twelvebar: for sure. But then Nevin is going to build such fabulous and internationally renowned guitars distance simply won't be an issue...

In seriousness: I have no idea whether Nevin has any interest in building guitars. It was just an example - the point was, whatever he thinks of doing, don't necessarily throw in the current life first. See if he can phase a new direction in, and see if something about the present situation can be put to advantage - buildings, facilities or whatever.

In the (much less isolated) rural setting where I spend much of my time the farmers all seem to be at it - they call it "diversification"...

Cheers - C

hehe ceri,

I wasn't suggesting he not look into it. But it is much easier to diversify and sell in a farmer's market when you are actually close to an urban center.(Nevin may or may not be,) I was just pointing out that it might not be a simple operation for him to get rolling building or fixing guitars.

I know farmers near my city do much better selling corn and other commodities than those who don't have easy access to such a large market.

You actually need a market to sell to.

personally i hope he devote an out building, a quanset or something to a guitar workshop. But he may have to devote a lot of time and travel to make any kind of go of it.

farming is tough enough to make a go at in good economic times, let alone during a downturn.

I feel bad for anyone who isn't working, or isn't getting enough work to make ends meet right now.

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

Hi Frankie: Believe me, I know ALL about working 14 hour days, seven days a week, month after month, often for miserably small rewards.

Character building? I doubt my character is any bigger or better than a guy working on a payroll.

I'm just crap at being told what to do by others, is all. That's where the self-employed bit comes in!

Cheers - C

That's the bottom line. Me too.

Cheers - C

Yep it's the old risk reward thing. My dad owned his own business and I saw him getting up at 3am to go to work. There were times when he got home from work, a customer needed something so he went back in. I've got a bud of mine who still works 60 - 70 hours a week and owns his own business. But, at least he has a million + home ( alot of house in this market) and drives a jaguar. I also know someone who almost lost his house to the IRS because his partners robbed him blind. That said I'd still do it if I had the chance.

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2015 Epiphone Casino Goldtop
2011 Taylor 814ce
2009 EC Custom Shop Merc Blue
2008 Schecter ATX
1964 Epi Granada E444T
Fender Super Champ XD

All this brings to mind a quote I read somewhere:"If you don't like how things are,change it!You are not a tree."

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

amen to that bruthah!... trouble here is - i work with my wife, so i'm still being told what to do :)

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I hated my job too, when I had one. I'm on Tier 2 of Emergency Unemployment now. I've been out since the end of last October and I've yet to even get an interview.

You don't know what you got 'til it's gone, right?

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"...The final truth is, there is no truth..." - (from "Nice n' Neat" by the Boomtown Rats)

I have to admit I work for just under $19 an hour. I cannot afford the things in life I would like to be able to afford. I still find my job very rewarding. The bad thing is if I was to go back to school for 1 more year, I could be doing the exact same thing for $26 an hour.

I have to get my kids through college first now, then I can return back to finish my Degree.

RK

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head