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Setting Up Shop

tictactux

tictactux

Distinguished Member
Distinguished Member
My (IT related) work contract ran out by the end of 2013, and for the first time in roughly 25 years I had the opportunity to review my professional life. I even booked some career counselling and the net result was that my interests don't necessarily coincide with my learned profession. So I decided to split jobs, bit of IT for the bread and bit of manual work for the butter.

As I have been repairing clarinets for the past seven or eight years, and as I have a somewhat solid machinery background (like sharpening pencils on a lathe) I decided to set up shop in the restoration/repair business, mainly for clarinets and saxes, but also for other instruments. I even repair broken glasses frames (my wife being a loyal customer in that side business). I have a reasonably equipped workshop for most of what I might encounter and have some addresses ready for the nastier cases - just like every good doctor I might have to send my patients to a specialist when I know that a case is beyond my abilities.

So, wish me luck...

TitleImage.jpg
 
The logo is made with tongue-in-cheek. Those who know me know what I mean. :)
Besides, I won't put it on my business card - it's just on the home page.
 
Those who don't know you may get the wrong impression. :emoji_astonished: I wouldn't take an instrument to someone with that type of "humor" on their website. Perhaps it is because I have seen similar repairs done by people who meant well but didn't have a clue about what they were doing.
 
No sense of humor is a red flag for me. Most tech's doing the business from their house survive on word of mouth and picking up cheap instruments from Craig's List or eBay, fixing them up and then renting them to first and/or second year students. YMMV.
 
wanabe said:
Quality, speed, economy, pick any two................................
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Believe it or not, at one time I had exactly that sentence on that picture as well... :-D

But you may be right, something more conservative may be advisable. I can still convert that pic to a poster... ;-)
 
tictactux said:
Believe it or not, at one time I had exactly that sentence on that picture as well... :-D

But you may be right, something more conservative may be advisable. I can still convert that pic to a poster... ;-)
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Yes, maybe duct tape would be better. Then you could get your own reality T.V. show. You could call it "Duct Dynasty".
 
wanabe said:
Yes, maybe duct tape would be better. Then you could get your own reality T.V. show. You could call it "Duct Dynasty".
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:)

Duct tape is evil. It's probably my least favourite "band aid". It's unstable, unsightly and leaves a gooey mess when removed. I prefer Jubilee clips, they're a more flexible version of the various bow and neck clamps on saxes. Maybe I should find some in gold lacquer. :cool:

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This humor preventing someone from going to you...? OK... :)
I guess maybe you'd walk away when I open the door in my fluffy sheepy slipers that I usually wear at home and while working... :)
It wouldn't bother me at all.

But that's a weird looking pipe you are tightening there :-D

In reality there is often no correlation between the work someone is doing and their humor, but I'd say this idea you came up, if anything, is a good sign :)

Your exotic name should help too, though I guess you and everyone in your area don't realize that :)

The only suggestion I have is if you had a bit more fill light from the right/top/front side.
 
tictactux said:
:)

Duct tape is evil. It's probably my least favourite "band aid". It's unstable, unsightly and leaves a gooey mess when removed. I prefer Jubilee clips, they're a more flexible version of the various bow and neck clamps on saxes. Maybe I should find some in gold lacquer. :cool:

View attachment 1877
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The Duct Dynasty Maintenance Philosophy:
If it doesn't move and it should, spray it with WD-40. If it moves and it shouldn't, wrap it in duct tape.
 
jbtsax said:
I think my head is going to explode. . . .
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be glad I haven't got a store where I could decorate the window... :D

FWIW I hate the use of superlatives and patting-one's-own-shoulder in signboards. I'd rather buy in a store that says "fine food" than where they advertise "only the finest food".

So rest assured that my web presence will be modest and factual. ;-)
 
tictactux said:
So rest assured that my web presence will be modest and factual. ;-)
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I trust professional as well. ;-)

Now that you are doing repairs professionally, you may want to get Reg Thorpe's "The Complete Woodwind Repair Manual" if you don't have a copy already. For most techs I know it is the "Bible" of woodwind repair and a great reference book. Reg has got to be a genius to have accumulated that much knowledge in such a short period of time since instrument repair was his 2nd or 3rd career. You can tell he is British since he calls posts "pillars" and necks "crooks". I have met him and he is the most unassuming and modest gentleman you would ever meet.

Good luck in your new venture.
 
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