Which do you prefer?

zeeder

zeeder

Will queue for cues
Silver Member
When someone contacts you and wants you to build them a cue do you prefer:

- The customer has the exact design with pictures, specs, etc.
- The customer has an overall design idea and work with you to fill in the gaps.
- The customer has some design elements but you put together the overall theme of the cue.
- The customer gives you free range over the design and a target price.

I tend to have a pretty firm concept of what I would like the design to be when I aproach a cuemaker and ask for a quote. I then like to get their input on the design, especially rings and small things that really bring together a design.

The main reason I ask is because I was watching a show about tatooing and tatoo artists and they said that you typically get the best results when you give the artist the freedom to come up with their own design. Thanks for taking the time to read, and hopefully respond to, my post.
 
zeeder said:
When someone contacts you and wants you to build them a cue do you prefer:

- The customer has the exact design with pictures, specs, etc.
- The customer has an overall design idea and work with you to fill in the gaps.
- The customer has some design elements but you put together the overall theme of the cue.
- The customer gives you free range over the design and a target price.

I tend to have a pretty firm concept of what I would like the design to be when I aproach a cuemaker and ask for a quote. I then like to get their input on the design, especially rings and small things that really bring together a design.

The main reason I ask is because I was watching a show about tatooing and tatoo artists and they said that you typically get the best results when you give the artist the freedom to come up with their own design. Thanks for taking the time to read, and hopefully respond to, my post.
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I've built cues under all the scenarios above.

Under the first one, occasionally there is a design element that cannot, or should not be done. In that event, the scenario changes.

The 2nd and 3rd can, and often does work well, as long as there is good communication between the client and maker.

Even though I've worked this way (with no target price as well) the 4th is not one I enjoy. I feel the client should participate in both design and specifications, rather than simply writing the check. "It" should be an adventure, not just a purchase.

In the case of a Tatoo Artist having the freedom of the design, isn't it possible that the client would be getting what the Artist prefers, or enjoys doing most? The same could be asked if it were a cue maker. This may, or may not be a bad thing, if the client knows the Artist or cue makers preferences.

That said, I would favor the 2nd or 3rd one.
 
I prefer the customer give imput on what designs and wood he or she prefers. I will throw out some suggestions on combinations that work and look good together, and together we come up with the best design for the price. There has been occasions where in the process of building a cue that I notice, or think of something differant that would improve the design. They always tell me to do what I think will work and look best, and they have always been happy with the changes when its complete.
Chris
 
zeeder said:
When someone contacts you and wants you to build them a cue do you prefer:

- The customer has the exact design with pictures, specs, etc.
- The customer has an overall design idea and work with you to fill in the gaps.
- The customer has some design elements but you put together the overall theme of the cue.
- The customer gives you free range over the design and a target price.

I tend to have a pretty firm concept of what I would like the design to be when I aproach a cuemaker and ask for a quote. I then like to get their input on the design, especially rings and small things that really bring together a design.

The main reason I ask is because I was watching a show about tatooing and tatoo artists and they said that you typically get the best results when you give the artist the freedom to come up with their own design. Thanks for taking the time to read, and hopefully respond to, my post.
Click to expand...

In my case it is probably # 1 and then progressing to # 2 in your synopsis. I want the guy ordering the cue to know what he is looking for. After looking the design and material lists over I come up with a price for that exact cue. I then can usually make a couple of recomendations on deco-rings that are close to what he wants but that I've already got made up and the same with some inlays. Making three tubes of special deco-rings is time consuming and that purchaser is paying for that time. Same with inlays. Drawing, camming and testing inlays for fit is very time consuming and costly. By using similer inlays that have already been Cad, Cammed and fitted and the use of deco-rings that are already made can save many hundreds of dollars in the construction of the cue and it still come out almost exactly what he was looking for in the first place.

When building a cue, there are some operations that, although looking complicated, are actually very easy but then again, just the opposite can be true. These things need to be pointed out to a customer so that he can decide if that mod is worth the extra cost. Many times I've had people come into the shop with something simple looking wrong with their cue and when I tell them the price to repair they go into sticker shock.

I've always wanted the best that I can afford but I've always looked for bargains. I try to treat my customers the same way. Give them what they are looking for but at the best price. Nothing kills me more than to purchase something and then find something almost identical but on sale for much less money.

Dick
 
Im a buyer, not a cue maker. Ive dealt with all the above. The best work was when I just told Barry to build me a cue
 
Thanks to everyone who has replied so far. For me, part of the fun is coming up with the design and then working with the cuemaker to refine it. Perhaps when I come up to the top of Hercek's list I'll give him my budget and have him come up with something.
 
I have about an 8 month wait list, for my Qs (30-40 a year). I am not taking anymore orders as of now. That way I can concentrate on making some new designs & then just offering them for sale. This is my 20th year of making Qs (I'm 64) & I think I have made 1/2 of those Qs that looked nearly the same. 4 or 6 points of one wood, into another wood. Add some inlays & the the customer is happy & I'm bored to death. I have had ideas for Qs, scetched out, that have been hanging on a nail for years. Finally I will try to make those Qs. I have always wanted to make a butterfly pointed Q & that is high on my list. SO, I have a Burtain Spain blank & 3 Joel Hercek full spliced blanks, that I will finally finish. SO, to answer your question, I guess at this stage of my life, I want to just make the Qs in my head. Does that make sence to anyone else?...JER
 
BLACKHEARTCUES said:
I want to just make the Qs in my head. Does that make sence to anyone else?...JER
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Oh Yes it does!!!

If I have an idea, I just want to stop and build it. I really don't want to build the same cue twice --- want to do one of a kinds.

Jack
www.johnmaddencues.com
 
I agree too. The last group of cues that I finished, 3 were custom orders and 12 were cues from my head to put in stock to sell. This gives me a chance to try new designs that customers mught not think of. It also gave me a chance to build a Ivory handled cue that most would not have ordered. I only build 15 to 45 cues a year.
Chris
 
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