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- Thread starter runout1961
- Start date
yes.......in a heartbeat. but i dont have a career right now anyways.
Without even thinking about it. The people in my life would have to understand that I was following a dream and a passion and that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity that would serve me until the day i died. There are cuemakers whose names will last forever Balabushka Szamboti Schuler and more these were just off the top of my head. Pool and billiards is a lifelong dream of mine to one day make my mark. I wish i could say that it was as a player but I dont know if I will ever get to that level. To own a pool room and host events. To build a masterpiece like a tascarella a mottey a gilbert, scruggs cochran Southwest and so so so many more.
Im sorry that my answer was so long you just happened to touch upon a very very deep area of my life.
Im sorry that my answer was so long you just happened to touch upon a very very deep area of my life.
I make cues now and have a full-time job.
I wouldn't quit my job if Ernie called me and wanted me to apprentice for him full-time for say a year.
I'd have no income for a year, just expenses.
Then I'd have to buy expensive machinery to be able to make cues like his.
Way way way too much of a price to pay.
Now, if you didn't have much of a job and you live in some cheap town and a top tier cuemaker happens to live there, maybe.
I wouldn't quit my job if Ernie called me and wanted me to apprentice for him full-time for say a year.
I'd have no income for a year, just expenses.
Then I'd have to buy expensive machinery to be able to make cues like his.
Way way way too much of a price to pay.
Now, if you didn't have much of a job and you live in some cheap town and a top tier cuemaker happens to live there, maybe.
As with most other Industrial and Artistic Trades, I would suspect it takes a certain amount of "natural talent" along with superalative mentoring to produce a really skilled and gifted Cue Maker.
There was a time in my life when I could have been such a craftsman. However, at age 66, I will not be taking up any new trades.
I tried several years ago to apprentice under Tom Coker, but he gave me the impression that he wasn't about to part with any of his secrets. I only wished to be confident at repairing, re-wrapping, and re-tipping my OWN cues and had no visions of becoming a Cue Maker.
I am hoping to find an old Clausing Lathe with some tooling so I can at least "play" with some cheap cues and hopefully learn enough on my own. I was trained as a Tool & Die Machinist early on and could probably effect basic repairs.
There was a time in my life when I could have been such a craftsman. However, at age 66, I will not be taking up any new trades.
I tried several years ago to apprentice under Tom Coker, but he gave me the impression that he wasn't about to part with any of his secrets. I only wished to be confident at repairing, re-wrapping, and re-tipping my OWN cues and had no visions of becoming a Cue Maker.
I am hoping to find an old Clausing Lathe with some tooling so I can at least "play" with some cheap cues and hopefully learn enough on my own. I was trained as a Tool & Die Machinist early on and could probably effect basic repairs.
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Who is the top 5.
Wouldnt that be a matter of opinion ? I mean i know a guy who loves those graphite eliminator cues you see in walmart. I mean hes a moron but hey hes open to his opinion lollollol.
My top five
1. Tim Scruggs
2. Pete Tascarella
3. Black Boar
4. ERNIE IS GOD
5. Michael Morgan
My top five
1. Tim Scruggs
2. Pete Tascarella
3. Black Boar
4. ERNIE IS GOD
5. Michael Morgan
No, I dont think I would
No, I dont think I would. I have created a happy balance in my life. A happy marriage to a very understanding supportive husband. Who is always on my side. He understands about my passion. Im lucky.
IMO, you have to find a "balance" in your life with the personal side and the pool side. I have never regretted my decision to not spend 8 hours a day in the pool room. I still compete at a pretty high level. Go to bigger tourneys about 4 or 5 times a year, and I do work with a world class player about once every 2 or 3 months. I am at peace with my personal and pool life. And I will never look back at the, "what could ofs", becase to me, there arent any.
No, I dont think I would. I have created a happy balance in my life. A happy marriage to a very understanding supportive husband. Who is always on my side. He understands about my passion. Im lucky.
IMO, you have to find a "balance" in your life with the personal side and the pool side. I have never regretted my decision to not spend 8 hours a day in the pool room. I still compete at a pretty high level. Go to bigger tourneys about 4 or 5 times a year, and I do work with a world class player about once every 2 or 3 months. I am at peace with my personal and pool life. And I will never look back at the, "what could ofs", becase to me, there arent any.
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Hell no I wouldn't quit my day job! How about apprenticing with a full-time cuemaker who isn't top 5 on a part-time basis? Now that's a good idea, methinks.
Martin
Martin
My answer would be no. I do OK in my own field so I'm not too excited about the pay cut. But more importantly, I'm simply not that handy nor artistic enough to have it pay off for me - even in the long run. I could apprentice under Ernie for 20 years and still probably wouldn't be able to produce a straight cue much less a quality player with any aesthetics for which people would be willing to give me money.
A man's got to know his limitations. I just don't have a knack for that kind of stuff. Maybe that's one reason why I so admire those that do at the top level.
A man's got to know his limitations. I just don't have a knack for that kind of stuff. Maybe that's one reason why I so admire those that do at the top level.
Think I would have kept my dream job as I was self employeed, got to work outside a lot, and made good money. NO
I would because I am retired and have nothing to lose. It would just be a hobby.
Otherwise NO.
Building cues to make a living would be too much work. It is also tedious and dangerous.
If you made and sold one cue a week that is only 52 per year. If you averaged $1000 each that is only $52,000. After expenses there would not be much left. Most cuemakers don't make more than 60 per year.
The other problem is putting up with the A hole customers.
Otherwise NO.
Building cues to make a living would be too much work. It is also tedious and dangerous.
If you made and sold one cue a week that is only 52 per year. If you averaged $1000 each that is only $52,000. After expenses there would not be much left. Most cuemakers don't make more than 60 per year.
The other problem is putting up with the A hole customers.
I wonder .................. i must admit i like my job working out of my house.
If i was wealthy i would do it just for the experience.