Is cue making your only job?
- Thread starter BryanB
- Start date
Bryan,
I am a Cue Maker from the past. I think I can tell you in all honesty as you start much will have to do with location and the need to do repairs such as ferrules, tips wraps etc as you build a name.
I was from Sunny South Florida. Pool Halls all over the place and Bar Leagues going at all times.
I tapped out, long story, not Pool related, lost everything and had to rebuild myself in another industry I know like the back of my hand. This was in Yulee Florida (Northern Northern Jacksonville boarder of South Georgia). No Pool Halls no Leagues.
I had a slight name, more so in Florida than anyother place but in the time it would have been strictly Cues and equipment and wood expence I would have been pushing two cars up a hill at once.
I rebuilt money wise and now live in Port Saint Lucie Florida, retired. 9 Pool Halls in 9 mile area plus Bars with tables so yes due to knowledge all ready obtained if I had to I could do Tips and Ferrules, build cues and make it but with enormous hustle in building biz, I choose not to but am building two more cues for enjoyment.
You can only get out what you put in and unless you already know many secrets you will be writing red ink for a year before Black ink can be used.
It can be done but as any Artist are you prepared to suffer along the way?
Not only do you need to build the cue but you have to build the branding of a name behind the cue and both must be flawless at all times.
The question is not can you as people do, the question is how much blood are you willing to give in hopes to reach your destination and are you talanted enough to do so. Easier if you are the Lone Randger, harder if your family does without as you try.
I am a Cue Maker from the past. I think I can tell you in all honesty as you start much will have to do with location and the need to do repairs such as ferrules, tips wraps etc as you build a name.
I was from Sunny South Florida. Pool Halls all over the place and Bar Leagues going at all times.
I tapped out, long story, not Pool related, lost everything and had to rebuild myself in another industry I know like the back of my hand. This was in Yulee Florida (Northern Northern Jacksonville boarder of South Georgia). No Pool Halls no Leagues.
I had a slight name, more so in Florida than anyother place but in the time it would have been strictly Cues and equipment and wood expence I would have been pushing two cars up a hill at once.
I rebuilt money wise and now live in Port Saint Lucie Florida, retired. 9 Pool Halls in 9 mile area plus Bars with tables so yes due to knowledge all ready obtained if I had to I could do Tips and Ferrules, build cues and make it but with enormous hustle in building biz, I choose not to but am building two more cues for enjoyment.
You can only get out what you put in and unless you already know many secrets you will be writing red ink for a year before Black ink can be used.
It can be done but as any Artist are you prepared to suffer along the way?
Not only do you need to build the cue but you have to build the branding of a name behind the cue and both must be flawless at all times.
The question is not can you as people do, the question is how much blood are you willing to give in hopes to reach your destination and are you talanted enough to do so. Easier if you are the Lone Randger, harder if your family does without as you try.
RBC
Deceased
What you heard is pretty accurate.
Of all the cuemakers I know, most are either retired, independently secure financially, or the wife has a good income.
Just to let you know, I don't fit into any of those categories. OB Cues is my only source of income. We have several full time employees, and one part timer.
Right now, it's very difficult to make a living in pool!
Of all the cuemakers I know, most are either retired, independently secure financially, or the wife has a good income.
Just to let you know, I don't fit into any of those categories. OB Cues is my only source of income. We have several full time employees, and one part timer.
Right now, it's very difficult to make a living in pool!
I made a decent living for 15 years building full time which along with my wife having a good job too got us to the point that we are secure financially. She has lost her short term memory so I have of necessity cut back on work hours but I still work every day and spend a lot of time with her. Trade shows and others shows are a thing of the past.
It is fun making the cues I feel like building as well as the reduced number of orders brought about by the economy. I could probably double my business if I wanted to but at the moment having the leisure of extra time is pretty sweet.
It is fun making the cues I feel like building as well as the reduced number of orders brought about by the economy. I could probably double my business if I wanted to but at the moment having the leisure of extra time is pretty sweet.
I started cue repair work in 2001, and began cuemaking in 2004, and have been making cues full-time for the last 3+ years. I got laid off from my regular job and told myself that I would make cuemaking my full time gig. It has not been easy and I'm not rich, but I'm doing what I love and staying busy. My wife works part time about 10 hours a week for the local Church children's ministry. That covers the electric bill. I feel very fortunate that I'm able to do what I love to do everyday and keep my family afloat in the process.
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Hi Jon,
Over the years I have seen your cues in my pool hall and one thing that I noticed is all of the players that use Spitz Cue are usually in the A Player or better category.
Your cues are very well known in our local area as great players. I have no doubt that this reputation is spreading on a nation wide basis and your sales will continue to increase as your continuing success.
Hard work always pays off my friend and your Spitz brand is moving up from my seat and observations.
Rick
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I repair and build part time....very part time
have a full time job as a self emplyed plumbing contractor.
Sometimes i get to build cues for an hour each night...tough to get anything done!
if I ever get slow enough that only my employees are working, I can work in the shop for 5 or 6 houers in a row!
repairs are much busier than building though.
have a full time job as a self emplyed plumbing contractor.
Sometimes i get to build cues for an hour each night...tough to get anything done!
if I ever get slow enough that only my employees are working, I can work in the shop for 5 or 6 houers in a row!
repairs are much busier than building though.
Cues have been my job for 6 years. I'm a one man shop and I spend my time building cues. I don't do repairs or replace tips unless it's a cue I built or for a good friend.
Wendy has CF and gets a little from the state. We're not rich in any way but we have no debt and we're happy. Life has had it's tough moments after cutting up the cards.
IMO
Building is similar to most artistic jobs. It takes time to learn and build a reputation. There's a lot of jobs that pay off faster then building cues.
Wendy has CF and gets a little from the state. We're not rich in any way but we have no debt and we're happy. Life has had it's tough moments after cutting up the cards.
IMO
Building is similar to most artistic jobs. It takes time to learn and build a reputation. There's a lot of jobs that pay off faster then building cues.
I wish I could build full time but right now thats not an option. I build as much as time allows and I will eventually do more as I get some things under control. I'm a one man show and I enjoy building and seeing the cue take shape.
Build part time work as a Chanook Mech fulltime
Thank you Rick! I appreciate your kind comments. Give yourself some kudos as well, seen alot of nice stuff your making on here.
No debt, if I had a mortgage I would have to find a full time job. Cues are keeping me very busy lately so having a full time job besides this would be tough. There is not a ton of repair work to be had around here and that hurts. I do some outside part time work at different times of the year also and that helps quite a bit.
I am not a full time cue builder. My other businesses keep me too busy
to be devoted full time. There are a fair amount of repairs to do in
my area that have a much quicker turn around time and pays for
the inventory a lot sooner. IMO when you build cues part time,
you have to acquire extra supplies that you have to pay for up
front just to have, that sits around until you build a cue. Then you
can recoup some of your expenses. The cm that says he got into
cue building because he hates his money probably hit the cue ball
dead nuts. I do enjoy it and get a lot of satisfaction when the
customer receives his cue and is happy with the end results. I get
to learn something new on every project. I only build cues for
the locals and they also have a hand in the design process. Kinda
like building a custom home---they're design, my construction.
to be devoted full time. There are a fair amount of repairs to do in
my area that have a much quicker turn around time and pays for
the inventory a lot sooner. IMO when you build cues part time,
you have to acquire extra supplies that you have to pay for up
front just to have, that sits around until you build a cue. Then you
can recoup some of your expenses. The cm that says he got into
cue building because he hates his money probably hit the cue ball
dead nuts. I do enjoy it and get a lot of satisfaction when the
customer receives his cue and is happy with the end results. I get
to learn something new on every project. I only build cues for
the locals and they also have a hand in the design process. Kinda
like building a custom home---they're design, my construction.
I live in my shop!!!! I build cues and do repair work full time. I do also recover tables part time. When I say I live here. I mean 50-60 hours a week!! I think you already knew that Bryan!!
I find the whole notion quite interesting. We see people that are players, engineers, machinists, building tradesmen, and other such diverse fields going into cue making.
It seems people are able to carry over knowledge or understanding from other fields and it's one of the things that leads to the different approaches and ideas we see in cue making.
From an economic standpoint the question posed has obvious importance for anybody considering trying it, but I think the more interesting aspect is how people from diverse backgrounds have come together in this craft. Each has brought with him a wealth of understanding from whence he came and that is sometimes quite different from the next person.
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It seems people are able to carry over knowledge or understanding from other fields and it's one of the things that leads to the different approaches and ideas we see in cue making.
From an economic standpoint the question posed has obvious importance for anybody considering trying it, but I think the more interesting aspect is how people from diverse backgrounds have come together in this craft. Each has brought with him a wealth of understanding from whence he came and that is sometimes quite different from the next person.
.
I got laid off on the end of January and I am a Knowledge Management Specialist or SEO Specialist by trade.
In my early days I was in the music business and I was a radio host and a journalist in the entertainment arena.
I am looking at a few job opportunities that are finally coming up and when that happens I will not be full time in my shop, meanwhile I learned a lot for my next cue endeavors.
I was never a machinist or even a handy man or even grabbed a gun to spray a fence. Got a few pointers for some of the best in the business and here I am.
I admire all cuemakers and always learning from you'all.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
In my early days I was in the music business and I was a radio host and a journalist in the entertainment arena.
I am looking at a few job opportunities that are finally coming up and when that happens I will not be full time in my shop, meanwhile I learned a lot for my next cue endeavors.
I was never a machinist or even a handy man or even grabbed a gun to spray a fence. Got a few pointers for some of the best in the business and here I am.
I admire all cuemakers and always learning from you'all.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Yeah, you sound like you are busy. That's a good thing these days