Hey Leon,
I been jumping out of my skin wanting to chime in concerning this subject and the treatment you been getting from those who don't have a clue about what you do to build your cues and who you are. I almost posted my thoughts today on JA but held my tounge thinking I might blow up the thread and cause some more confusion. Now that you have chose to defend yourself here is my two cents worth of observation.
I love how people who don't have a clue can be judgemental concerning your status and abilities and how you conduct your business. I for one know better.
Someone comes on a Internet forum and posts how much they love your work and calls you a master cue maker. Then all of a sudden people start making snide remarks as though you made that statement about yourself. That's crazy!!
I spent 31 years in my former profession and would like to lay some light on what is the requirement to be a master of a craft or disapline IMO.
It takes 5 years for one to aquire the rudimentary and fundamental skill sets and concept knowledge to go through an apprentice phase of their journey in any craft.
It takes another 5 years of experience to become a bonified journeyman if one is inspired to put out the dedication and effort required and have been influenced by mentors who have talent, experience and a willingness to pass on the details of the craft.
A master status is only achieved when you are recognized by your peers as a mastercraftman in your profession and most journeymen do not achieve this status because at some point they just go through the paces of their job to earn a check. Lets someone else worry about the details!! Masters always go above and beyond raising the bar of expectation.
The master does not perform his work just to earn the money. He is motivated to provide a level of concentration, commitment, passion and pride in his workmanship for all to wittiness that he interfaces with and stands behind his work 100% because he knows that is what masters do. It is not anything about competition, it is about doing the job at hand to the best of their abilities.
Master does not mean the best, the most artful, the most clever or the most rewarded in the highest monitary compensation. He or she understand that they will never know it all and strive to improve and when confronted with a situation that challenges them, they have the experience to say they don't know when they don't know something without ego. It is only then that you open your mind so you can learn something new.
BTW, everything I just pointed out concerning one who strives to be a master are qualities I know that are part of Leon Sly's DNA.
So let the haters hate and make their sophomoric statements about details of our craft that they know very little about. Let them just imagine what it takes to support yourself and family by building cues for a living.
I know what Leon does, is and how he thinks and approaches his craft and can attest to this because of the many times we have been on the phone at 4 in the morning when we were both in our shops doing what we do and openly sharing our experiences and methods.
BTW anyone who can perform the act of making a pocket in a cue would not wish to buy parts for inlays from a supplier of such things. It is much easier to make your own parts and then match your geometry and compensate the fit up of your pocket. Cue making inlay 101. Those who have their head up their you know what, have no clue and just spew crap from their mouth without basis that only experience affords one.
As far as I am concerned Leon you have mastered your craft commensurate to the years you have toiled to attain the level that your fine cues display for all to see. Each day and each cue you build gets incrementally better in some small way which is your reward.
It is always about satisfying your own psyche because the human mind and spirit always has the last word and is what motivates us.
You are right my friend to post here to defend yourself as you can not stand by and let others without any critical knowledge project a negative effect on your professional and you business affairs.
Defuse these haters by standing up and continuing to make your beautiful cues my friend. There are many who see things as they truly exist.
JMO,
Rick
