I'll start this little piece by saying firstly I've put this in Guitar so people actually see it (rather than made in the UK-sorry
@Roland ;) and secondly .... I bloody love what I do for a living. However.... today has been a strange day and as such I found myself pondering the meaning of life.
In my last Job in the Army, I was very busy, I was responsible for the explosive safety of Europes biggest Explosives depot and these responsibilities included looking after large numbers of Soldiers, Officers and civilians. It was fantastic fun and made easier because I had a incredible team of staff that worked for me...
Fast forward to today. I realised that I am one of only 3 people in this company and that I have to be able to do pretty much everything. What does this mean? well in short I have to be able to do all of the following:
- Circuit design (Core Business)
- Pedal Building (Core Business)
- Pedal Testing (Core Business)
- Pedal wrapping (Core Business)
- Shipping (Core Business)
- Stock management (parts, components etc inc ordering, collecting and delivering) (Core Business)
- Pedal artwork
- Box artwork
- Website design
- Product Photography
- Photo editing
- Videography
- Video Editing
- Sound engineering
- PA skills (inc email, messaging, phone calls)
- Sales
- Marketing
- Social Media
- Accounting (inc Taxes, Wages, Bills, Invoicing)
- Helping industry friends.( Core Business)
As I said above, I love my Job as a pedal designer/manufacturer but as a small business owner I do not have the luxury of being able to subcontract all of these tasks out like i was able to in my last job. So all of these things have to be done to the highest standards possible, and as such I have had to teach myself all of the skills that aren't marked as Core Business above.
I say this because ultimately I am no different to any of the small business on this forum, they all have had to do the same. In case anybody is wondering, some of these extra things are bloody hard, especially when you are a total NEWB (and this from someone who has a Masters Degree in rocket science) to the field.
Anyway, I guess my point is this, please try and appreciate some of the (smaller) companies and people in this industry if you can, we work hard at 20 different jobs just so we can give you guitar gear of one kind or another, Criticise if you think it necessary or constructive but bare in mind that is just one of the jobs the individuals have on their worksheets for that day and TBH we are unlikely to be amazing at them all.
Anyway, two of the jobs above were done at the end of this day. I'm getting better at photography and editing. still nowhere near
@FelineGuitars and @RiftAmps but I'm happy with this:
https://i.imgur.com/ZjkxEui.jpg
Adrian Thorpe MBE | Owner of ThorpyFx Ltd | Email: thorpy@thorpyfx.com | Twitter:
@ThorpyFx | Facebook: ThorpyFx Ltd | Website:
www.thorpyfx.com
Comments
Keep on doing what you do!
As someone who is just starting out as small business owner building guitars, so much of this rings true and I appreciate there's a massive road ahead to get where i'd like to be and many other business skills I need to get my head around .....but, I absolutely LOVE it and I find myself itching to get into the workshop every morning to continue my passion! So it's even more important when someone posts a positive comment on a post or my build thread I have running currently as it really spurs me on and in my mind, validates what i'm doing.
It's also a big inspiration with guys like yourself, @RiftAmps, @lonestar etc, etc who are on the forum and knocking it out of the park for small businesses in the music instrument field, long may it continue!
(formerly miserneil)
...On a serious note this thread has prompted me to look through all your website's pedal videos (still going)
It's my 30th this year and I intend to something British and from a small employer
office cleaner
chief cook and bottlewasher
Many guitars have a re-sale value. Some you'll never want to sell.
Stockist of: Earvana & Graphtech nuts, Faber Tonepros & Gotoh hardware, Fatcat bridges. Highwood Saddles.
Pickups from BKP, Oil City & Monty's pickups.
Expert guitar repairs and upgrades - fretwork our speciality! www.felineguitars.com. Facebook too!
if your making a good profit, seeing growth, and managing not to totally lose your mind then its fair to say you are doing well.
Yup.. One man business here.. And I live alone... And im looking after my sick parents...
The list of stuff I have to do is endless.
http://www.rabswoodguitars.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/RabsWoodGuitars/
My Youtube page
I'm proud of what I do, but finding time to breath is tough! Sick days aren't an option, and for the forseeable, holidays that don't include at least one day of freelance work while I'm there are non existent. We camped for 4 nights over spring bank...but I spent 3 days doing archery instructing lol
My Trading Feedback | You Bring The Band
Just because you're paranoid, don't mean they're not after youI instead of clicking the shutter you have to meet the photographer, agree the shoot details, agree the price, provide the props, choose the prints, pay the photographer etc etc
The difference is the joy that you have the last word on everything........Your photos, your way, selected by you ,shot when and how you want and you set budget and timeline ..................it's not all bad !
My day starts at 5am. It’s all about coffee, wet sanding and listening to some tunes. Once the kids are out to school I’ll hit the workshop and prep/finish some stuff or head to the spray booth. When spraying I tend to get set up for at least a few hours work. Although the wet sanding before hand can take a few hours alone.
On a day like today I prepped stock to spray which took 3 hours then spent another 4 hours spraying. I came back to the house, made dinner and started wet sanding again. I finished up around 9 tonight.
During today, in between spraying, I answered numerous emails, took another few deposits, ordered some stock and got an invoice ready. I even made time to take my daughter to the hospital for an appointment she had.
So, where’s my problem? I didn’t get enough done. Simple as that. I could still be working now tbh but I can’t focus anymore. Tomorrow will be the same. It’ll be another 7 day week for me. Now i didn’t do any social media posts today because I had a good run yesterday but tomorrow I’ll squeeze something in on instagram.
I love what I do as well. And making sure I was virtually debt free before taking this full time means I have a little less to worry about by the time my direct debits start leaving the account.
But the bottom line is I work 80+ hours a week and all I take is enough to cover my outgoings. I pay myself about 40-45% of what I was getting paid in my last job and I’m working double the hours (at least).
On the radar is an updated website with my own stamp on it, new merchandise and some new tools... hopefully.
Its alwaya good to like/love your job. But it’s a real test of character to have to work 2-3 times harder and as much for less than half the money you’re used to.
• Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@Goldeneraguitars
Kudos to you all.
(formerly miserneil)
Every now and then things get on top of me and I get pulled in 16 different directions at once.
However, a nice glass of chilled Chardonnay while I listen to a friend talk about the shit they have to deal with in their company always puts it in perspective.
However I still work full time, but I do a mix of repairs, run a couple CNC machines producing a couple basic mountain bike tools, and also time sporting events.
The past month has been absolutely crazy, despite trying my best to plan ahead.
I had 6 events to time over the past month, and I had been working on getting stock levels up, while avoiding any major/time consuming repair jobs, as I wanted to make sure I had some time to recover/relax.
But orders for bike bits rocketed, and my neighbours tractor decided to start pouring oil out due to the gearbox trying to self destruct, so the quiet times I had planned didn't pan out, so in the past month I only got 1 day with nothing to do. I'd spent the past week looking forward to being on late shift this week so I could at least catch up on some sleep.
Now I'm trying to get the final parts chased up so I can get the tractor finished before I'm of on holiday in a weeks a time, as my neighbour is desperate for it back. Plus I need to find some time to get stock levels back up before I go on holiday, and I'm of timing all this weekend again.
I'm just looking forward to being on holiday, and thinking about what new toys I can buy.
Joking aside it's very grounding for people to read this sort of thing, it gives those little metal boxes we step on a lot more meaning when you understand how it got there. Good on you Sir
soundcloud.com/thecolourbox-1
youtube.com/@TheColourboxMusic
Also, work out which bits you can hand-off to others, albeit paying for a service. It might cost a few quid, but if it gives you the time to do the stuff that makes the money, it's money well spent.
And good luck - when it's going well, it's great. When it all gets on top of you, make sure you have good friends around. Sitting crying at your desk once every few years is normal ; just not too often
I've been working now for 40 years full time - Most of that for myself, give or take 5 years at Academy of Sound - I don't really know any other way - Probably unemployable if I applied for a job - I love
My God son is 18 and just left school after A levels - After an apprenticeship in local government in accounts - I fear the thought of 50 years sat in such an office, with a bland suite, getting old and bored would drive me mad
I guess I'm lucky - I certainly don't know anything else
Well done @ThorpyFX - and of course all the many other FB members in a similar situation, be it in the music trade or other
Rejoice in your freedom.
This has no relation to the quality of the guitars themselves, which are incredibly well-made pieces of gear deserving of the reputation that they have. This is my objective opinion.
Question: Does my subjective opinion give me the right to attack Vince Cunetto on the internet? I don't think it does. Just because I don't get on with his guitars doesn't give me the right to forum-bash him.
Rift Amplification
Brackley, Northamptonshire
www.riftamps.co.uk