So maybe this is or maybe not appropriate for this section of Talkbass but it has been consuming me and I am harboring resentments and finding it hard to make boundaries. I am thinking there may be several if not many here that have been through what I am going through and made it to the other side without causing damage with fellow musicians and friends.
So I am not anything like a professional builder repair guy. I have a full time day job as a sales rep for a large company and have my shop in my basement. Although it’s part time I take it as seriously as possible and only have one night during the week and most Saturdays. I have a partner who builds with me as well but although he is gifted as a finisher and sander most of the core design, cuts, electronics and fretwork I do although he is picking everything up quickly. I do have more than a decade of repair work under my belt and I am now working on build 7 through 13 or at least trying to.
As I really began to take this seriously and invest boatloads of money in my shop I have always done work for friends for free as I was learning and developing my skills cutting my teeth so to speak and of course I still am. So now I still have friends come over and want me to do fret levels and crowing, set ups, electronic modifications and finish repairs and believe me I love doing it and making someone happy and helping to get an instrument to play, look, and feel as well as I possibly can and take much pride in this. Like a tattoo artist in the beginning giving free tattoos at some point one must stop all the free stuff and charge. I guess there is a part of me that wants to take care of my friends and really I love doing it. It’s not doing work for them that’s upsetting me it’s that when I am doing something for someone else I’m not working on my stuff, builds and my own basses.
So on one hand I feel since I am not a professional and do not rely on this for basic income although it’s nice I feel like maybe I shouldn’t ask for money but on the other hand it’s my time that is precious and little shop expenses do add up. I usually ask for donations for the shop without setting up any guidelines and sometimes they will give me a few bucks but many times not. Yeh I know I’m all over the place with this but I get pissed off and I think I have one commissioned build going and building other basses hopefully to be in a small regional show in 2017. I mean I know if they are my friends they will understand if I ask for money up front and if they don’t then don’t worry about it they can go somewhere else but it’s only partly about the money that’s maybe the last reason why I do this. Anyway what have you guys and gals done? If this should have been posted somewhere else or not at all forgive me mod just move me. Thanks for any feedback I don't want to hurt someone with a neck blank.
So I am not anything like a professional builder repair guy. I have a full time day job as a sales rep for a large company and have my shop in my basement. Although it’s part time I take it as seriously as possible and only have one night during the week and most Saturdays. I have a partner who builds with me as well but although he is gifted as a finisher and sander most of the core design, cuts, electronics and fretwork I do although he is picking everything up quickly. I do have more than a decade of repair work under my belt and I am now working on build 7 through 13 or at least trying to.
As I really began to take this seriously and invest boatloads of money in my shop I have always done work for friends for free as I was learning and developing my skills cutting my teeth so to speak and of course I still am. So now I still have friends come over and want me to do fret levels and crowing, set ups, electronic modifications and finish repairs and believe me I love doing it and making someone happy and helping to get an instrument to play, look, and feel as well as I possibly can and take much pride in this. Like a tattoo artist in the beginning giving free tattoos at some point one must stop all the free stuff and charge. I guess there is a part of me that wants to take care of my friends and really I love doing it. It’s not doing work for them that’s upsetting me it’s that when I am doing something for someone else I’m not working on my stuff, builds and my own basses.
So on one hand I feel since I am not a professional and do not rely on this for basic income although it’s nice I feel like maybe I shouldn’t ask for money but on the other hand it’s my time that is precious and little shop expenses do add up. I usually ask for donations for the shop without setting up any guidelines and sometimes they will give me a few bucks but many times not. Yeh I know I’m all over the place with this but I get pissed off and I think I have one commissioned build going and building other basses hopefully to be in a small regional show in 2017. I mean I know if they are my friends they will understand if I ask for money up front and if they don’t then don’t worry about it they can go somewhere else but it’s only partly about the money that’s maybe the last reason why I do this. Anyway what have you guys and gals done? If this should have been posted somewhere else or not at all forgive me mod just move me. Thanks for any feedback I don't want to hurt someone with a neck blank.
