What consitutes the title Cue Maker.
- Thread starter manwon
- Start date
Tough question. In your particular case because you're doing something a bit different, the fact that you're describing what you're doing pretty clearly, I think you can call yourself anything you want since you're fully disclosing anyway.manwon said:
My opinion (which doesn't mean anything for anybody) is that the word "cuemaker" can be tossed around as a title by many. The work will speak for itself as to what kind of adjectives the buyers might put to that title.
I also think that cuemakers owe it to their potential buyers at least informally as to what level and what experience their cuemaking is and what exactly they do for work on cues. I think it's perfectly okay today to build a cue with purchased forearms, but IMO, full disclosure is a must.
I'd like to see some kind of terminology to define apprentices, journeymen, master craftsmen, etc. Likewise, I think that a cuemaker should have the humility to tell their customers that they are a repairman who occassionally builds a cue or conversion. He should have the humility to say that he's just starting out or that he's only doing it part-time for now.
I'd also like to see some method of proof of competency as well. I think the ACA is doing a great job at setting some kind of standards, but the ACA might not be an ideal group for every cuemaker. But, something like ACA's test for quality and craftsmanship IMO is a very good idea. I'd suggest that it came through the ACA, but maybe as a certificate rather than as a membership test. Just a thought.
Fred <~~~ my inflated $.02
Last edited:
A cue customizer...cubswin said:
or maybe a cue pimper...
Last edited:
Well I can tell you for sure one gentlemen I recently met who kept referring to himself as a ?Cuemaker? that IMHO was not.
I am in this tournament and a guy comes in with a Roll Out Case with maybe 5, or 6 Full Spliced Cues, after my loss in my first set I go over and start looking at his Cues, he say he is the ?Designer/Cuemaker?, but are made to his exact specification by XYZ cue company in this other place.
He goes on and one how his Full Spliced Cue hit like a ?Southwest?, or have a ?Southwest Type hit?as he is using the SAME PIN as a Southwest.
The guy is a Salesman, and a very good one IMHO, but was not a Cuemaker, even thought he kept referring to himself as a Cuemaker.
as all he was was a SALESMAN of cues built to his specification that the XYZ Cues, by the Building Companies Name.
I am in this tournament and a guy comes in with a Roll Out Case with maybe 5, or 6 Full Spliced Cues, after my loss in my first set I go over and start looking at his Cues, he say he is the ?Designer/Cuemaker?, but are made to his exact specification by XYZ cue company in this other place.
He goes on and one how his Full Spliced Cue hit like a ?Southwest?, or have a ?Southwest Type hit?as he is using the SAME PIN as a Southwest.
The guy is a Salesman, and a very good one IMHO, but was not a Cuemaker, even thought he kept referring to himself as a Cuemaker.
Cornerman said:
Thank you very much Fred, I totally agree with you. I also think that there should be some form of humility involved in representing yourself. I also beleive that giving an honest explanation of your abilities is part of that. That you do not give a false impression of yourself, and mislead a customer. I totally think it is better to under promise and over preform!!!!
Have a nice day
Cuehacker?manwon said:Thank you very much Fred, I totally agree with you. I also think that there should be some form of humility involved in representing yourself. I also beleive that giving an honest explanation of your abilities is part of that. That you do not give a false impression of yourself, and mislead a customer. I totally think it is better to under promise and over preform!!!!
Have a nice day
Cuehocker?
Cuehyper?
I heard you use rubber bands in your A-joint.
BF Goodrick I hope.
CocoboloCowboy said:Well I can tell you for sure one gentlemen I recently met who kept referring to himself as a ?Cuemaker? that IMHO was not.
I am in this tournament and a guy comes in with a Roll Out Case with maybe 5, or 6 Full Spliced Cues, after my loss in my first set I go over and start looking at his Cues, he say he is the ?Designer/Cuemaker?, but are made to his exact specification by XYZ cue company in this other place.
He goes on and one how his Full Spliced Cue hit like a ?Southwest?, or have a ?Southwest Type hit?as he is using the SAME PIN as a Southwest.
The guy is a Salesman, and a very good one IMHO, but was not a Cuemaker, even thought he kept referring to himself as a Cuemaker.as all he was was a SALESMAN of cues built to his specification that the XYZ Cues, by the Building Companies Name.
Sounds like a Guy named Robert Weir, who use to sell cues in the 1980's!!!!!!!!!!!
There is as much hype in this business as there is in any other business.
WheatCues
Banned
About the hype !
I agree with Paul 100% and when it comes to establishing yourself as a cuesmith/cuemaker to the rest of the world, advertising hype and marketing strategy is the nuts !
If you don't come on strong enough and make a severe impact and most importantly.. be able to back it up, then you will be eaten up by the sharks and also the guppies with real sharp teeth in this big cuemaker's aquarium !
It's a tough industry especially with all the "top" pre-existing cuemakers, so I suggest utilizing a particular niche' within the market to capitalize on !!!
I personally believe that once you start selling your cues regularly that you build, whether it's partial and/or full kits or from raw turning squares... the ability to deliver the finished product to the customer specifications deems you a "cuemaker" in my opinion.
There really isn't a scale persay that distinguishes one cuemaker from another... only world-of-mouth and the quality of our work to back it up !!!
Like me for instance... I came on very strong for my own reasons and are building cues for customers all over the U.S.
Now once these particular customers receive their cues and begin playing with them in local rooms, this will get the attention of fellow players and create potential sales and saturation of my cues by local word-of-mouth advertising, pending of course that the customer is completely satisfied with my ability to build him exactly what he wanted and telling his friends what a great deal he got on a custom fitted cue !
I think the most important thing to remember about this business above all is: No matter what, enjoy yourself and take all the time "you" need to turn out a great cue ! even on a local level.....
If you have a genuine passion for building cues then you WILL succeed no matter how big or small you intend to be....
Your customer's praise and satisifaction constitutes you as a cuemaker no matter how extensive the cuebuilding process is, simply becasue they couldn't buy it from the production market and asked you to make it for them "and you did" !
Good luck and best wishes in your endeavor....Manwon, you are a straight up guy and deserve all the success !
Sincerely, Eddie Wheat
I agree with Paul 100% and when it comes to establishing yourself as a cuesmith/cuemaker to the rest of the world, advertising hype and marketing strategy is the nuts !
If you don't come on strong enough and make a severe impact and most importantly.. be able to back it up, then you will be eaten up by the sharks and also the guppies with real sharp teeth in this big cuemaker's aquarium !
It's a tough industry especially with all the "top" pre-existing cuemakers, so I suggest utilizing a particular niche' within the market to capitalize on !!!
I personally believe that once you start selling your cues regularly that you build, whether it's partial and/or full kits or from raw turning squares... the ability to deliver the finished product to the customer specifications deems you a "cuemaker" in my opinion.
There really isn't a scale persay that distinguishes one cuemaker from another... only world-of-mouth and the quality of our work to back it up !!!
Like me for instance... I came on very strong for my own reasons and are building cues for customers all over the U.S.
Now once these particular customers receive their cues and begin playing with them in local rooms, this will get the attention of fellow players and create potential sales and saturation of my cues by local word-of-mouth advertising, pending of course that the customer is completely satisfied with my ability to build him exactly what he wanted and telling his friends what a great deal he got on a custom fitted cue !
I think the most important thing to remember about this business above all is: No matter what, enjoy yourself and take all the time "you" need to turn out a great cue ! even on a local level.....
If you have a genuine passion for building cues then you WILL succeed no matter how big or small you intend to be....
Your customer's praise and satisifaction constitutes you as a cuemaker no matter how extensive the cuebuilding process is, simply becasue they couldn't buy it from the production market and asked you to make it for them "and you did" !
Good luck and best wishes in your endeavor....Manwon, you are a straight up guy and deserve all the success !
Sincerely, Eddie Wheat
manwon said:
His name was not named Robert Weir.
word!Paul Dayton said:
And when the maker can't deliver? He goes Keyser Soze.
Think you are entilted to the Title, "Cuemaker" if you are, or have even be a member of this group.
I don't really give It much thought Myself. I leave that to others to decide, because at this time It's not really a concern to Me, as I feel I am still learning many aspects of the craft. I guess If I were to give Myself a title, It would be a cue repair guy that enjoys making a few cues on the side. I haven't got to the point where I want to do more production, and only a rare few do own or will own any of My cues in the near future. Running out of buyers hasn't been a problem for me yet, and I only committ to a few people at this time. I like to keep a good eye on My work, so as to learn what, if any aspects need or could use improvement. I can build them from raw square or from parts, and can do a few inlays, but I enjoy doing custom conversion type work too.
I probably built My first cue from scratch 7 or 8 years ago, and guess I still really don't consider Myself a cuemaker. Having that title is not something I really think about shooting for. That's why I'm not looking for orders for example. I really don't want to be so strapped for extra time, that It illiminates My ability to try out new things, and end up limiting My style of builds or having learn on the job so to speak. I guess to Me, I don't mind being a starving artist type, I look at It like I'm Paying My dues. Not to others, but to Myself. Until I sell My house, I'm just too limited on space to make a serious move to building cues fulltime anyway, so I'm just sort of extending My education, and trying to have fun.
Greg
I probably built My first cue from scratch 7 or 8 years ago, and guess I still really don't consider Myself a cuemaker. Having that title is not something I really think about shooting for. That's why I'm not looking for orders for example. I really don't want to be so strapped for extra time, that It illiminates My ability to try out new things, and end up limiting My style of builds or having learn on the job so to speak. I guess to Me, I don't mind being a starving artist type, I look at It like I'm Paying My dues. Not to others, but to Myself. Until I sell My house, I'm just too limited on space to make a serious move to building cues fulltime anyway, so I'm just sort of extending My education, and trying to have fun.
Greg
Cue Crazy said:I don't really give It much thought...
.
.
...I'm just sort of extending My education, and trying to have fun.
Greg
You captured my sentiment exactly!
I didn't start this hobby with the idea of selling cues....I just wanted to make cues for myself. Well, with each cue I made, I wanted to try something different on the next one and eventually I ran out of places to put the cues I'd made. I figured, if I could sell some of them, I could afford to buy more materials, tooling and machinery. So far I've been lucky. With the exception of my playing cue, I've sold everything I've made. I haven't made any money, but it's nice having other people helping to pay for my hobby