Should You Turn Pro?
Turning is one of the most fun and rewarding hobbies there is. Most of the raw material literally grows or trees. Harsh winter weather can provide a windfall of raw material and the equipment needed to begin woodturning as a business is minuscule compared to most other businesses.
If you love turning wood as a hobby, don’t do it for a living. When it is your job, most of the fun quickly leaves. In all seriousness, I know very few turners who make a significant income strictly from turning wood and selling their finished wooden products. The best analogy I can give you is something that happened to me several years ago. I loved to bass fish and living in the south, I had the weather in my favor. I had a nice bass fishing rig and all of the gear and money in the bank. I fished every day for two straight years. I thought I was very good and would surely be the next Kevin Van Dam, Roland Martin or Hank Parker. Never won a dime, went down in flames, sold the boat and haven’t fished in more than 15 years.
When I was considering the possibilities of making a living in the world of wood turning, I interviewed a handful of the most successful nationally recognized woodturners about going full time while still needing a full time income. Their advice was unanimous. Woodturning is a wonderful hobby, but a very difficult job. My good friend from England (and now Spain), Chris Stott author of Turned Lidded Boxes – 50 Designs, said it best. I had asked if one could make a decent living turning wood. Chris said emphatically “Yes! As long as you can live decently on $15,000 a year.” He was deadly serious, very prophetic and exactly on target.
I am asked this question frequently so here is my advice. If you have another major source of income and are looking to earn a part time income, turning wood can provide that part time income easily under the right circumstances. The puzzle pieces needed are, 1) several the right items to make which sell quickly, have a low cost of materials and can be made quickly with an affordable price point, 2) work space sufficient to do the production, 3) outlets to sell your items, 4) enough time to devote to this endeavor. If you approach it like a business and do everything necessary to run a business including accounting and taxes, you have a chance to be successful.
Finally after many years of considerable effort, Sweet Janice and I are among the few professionals we know who earn a decent living from woodturning as a full time occupation. Our success doesn’t come from producing finished wooden items. Our success has come from providing tools, accessories, jigs and fixtures and how–to videos to other hobby turners. When you see us out on the Woodworking Show Circuit, the cost for us to be there is tremendous. Each week we take a huge financial gamble that the weather will cooperate, that you will come and spend money with us that we have the correct mix of products in the right quantities and a thousand other variables have to go our way in order to make a profit. Most weeks it pays off, but some weeks it doesn’t.
Spring craft fairs and Artist Markets are just around the corner. Start small and go bigger and better each following year. Keep good records, study the trends and keep a notebook for later review and reflection. Everywhere we go here in the spring of 2017 most people are excited and happy about the future of our great country. There is a positive attitude and hopefulness we have not seen in a very long while. There isn’t a better more fun part–time business around because wherever you go there you are.
Here is my inspiration for this week’s message:
Ps 37:4 NIV
Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Col 3:23[HCSB
Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men.
Proverbs 22:29 MSG
Observe people who are good at their work – skilled workers are always in demand and admired; they don't take a back seat to anyone.
