
Making a living in lutherie: from amateur to professional
“There is a lot of information available about how to build an instrument but not much available about how to make a living doing it. Nigel addresses topics and gives advice that every craftsman can benefit from. I wish this information had been available when I took the plunge from amateur to full time luthier.”
Robert O’Brien, professional luthier, teacher.
From Hobby to Career: How to Make a Living in Lutherie
A practical guide for luthiers ready to go pro.
What You’ll Be Able to Do After Reading
- Set boundaries with clients—and stick to them
- Avoid burnout and poor time management
- Run a workshop that earns a real income
- Attract customers who respect your craft
Who This Book Is For
- Amateur luthiers thinking about going full-time
- Professionals who want better clients and better income
- Craftspeople tired of winging it in business
What's in the ebook?
Here are the chapter heading highlights to give you an idea of what to expect:
Skills this book will help you develop
How to reclaim your time
How to cut down on distractions: The web
Smartphones make you stupid
How to use the internet and email for your business effectively
How to cut down distractions: Work environment...mess
How to tidy the workshop (for those who've forgotten or never learned)
"But this might come in useful one day"
How to work less hard and get more done
What to do when it all goes wrong
Being realistic and setting achievable goals
Remember the options
How to deal with customers
The #1 pitfall: "Guitar talk"
How to deal with difficult situations
The ideal repairer pickup/drop off routine
Sometimes it's wise to say "no"
When it turns into a bigger job than you thought: six common scenarios
How to learn from your mistakes
Conclusion: Gradual change
This ebook is about workshop practices - about ways of making your time in the workshop less stressful and more satisfying. This is NOT a book about making instruments or woodwork, but running your business so it doesn't run you.
So there you go - around 154 pages of information for US$25 (plus VAT if applicable.)
Please note - this is an EBOOK - a pdf. It's not designed to be a print book, it's designed to be read on an e-reader - it works fine on a Kindle or on your laptop.
Enjoy!
Nigel