For All You Newbies...
Posted: Mon Mar 11, 2013 3:34 pm
I just reread an article, and I thought many of you would benefit from some of the advice. The below comments from Todd Johnson are in response to a post on the TobaccoDays blog. Read the article if you like, but pay special attention to Todd's comments. I'm reposting them here (with some minor format editing). I would call your attention to numbers 3,5 and 7.
I'll briefly add that you cannot become an artisan until you are an excellent craftsman. The vast majority of the pipes I see here are attempts at artisan shapes, yet there's very little in the way of fine craftsmanship. Please don't be offended by that; it is meant to help you. BTW, I'm just restating #3. Read on.
David,
This is an interesting survey of the questions, but I don’t feel like it actually tries to answer any of them. In light of that, I will offer my unsolicited advice to all those who want to enter the industry as “professional” pipe makers.
1. Make pretty pipes that are well engineered. Until you can do this, you don’t have a viable product to offer at any price.
2. Don’t quit your day job. Doing this for a living is difficult, and there are probably less than five people in the US who do this full time, as their family’s only source of income.
3. For the love of God, don’t be “original” until you can carve consistently pretty, well-engineered pipes in accepted, conventional shapes. We’ve all heard the quote “Your work is both good and original. Unfortunately, the parts that are good are not original, and the parts that are original are not good.” Established shapes exist for a reason, and there is no shame in reproducing them. Once your skill set catches up with your inexhaustibly creative brain then, by all means, go apeshit. Until then, keep it simple, stupid.
4. Don’t chase the endorsement of would-be tastemakers, gatekeepers, blowhards, or self-important morons who want to “sponsor” you as their pipemaking boy-toy. Soon enough you will find yourself riding the bus to God know’s where wondering why you’re a passenger on your own effing bus. Beware of Greeks bearing gifts–even if those gifts look like a first class ticket to fame and fortune amongst your benefactors’ adoring klingons. Instead, the city that was once your career will be summarily raped and pillaged. Never let anyone else–not a collector, not a dealer, not another pipemaker, and no, not your Great Aunt, Pearl!
5. LISTEN TO YOUR COLLECTORS when they offer criticism. DO NOT LISTEN TO YOUR COLLECTORS when they offer praise. Every mother tells her daughter she’s pretty, and yet there are lots of ugly women out there. Connect the dots. Someone’s not telling the truth.
6. Get to know your collectors’ tastes and preferences. Every successful visual artist has a “patron” or two. Cultivate patrons that will grow with you rather than trying to be the most popular kid in school. Buyers that can be swayed by trends and blog posts will not help you make a sustainable living. They are like Facebook “friends,” i. e. acquaintances. If you end your life with three real friends, then you are truly blessed. Likewise, if you end your pipemaking career with three real collectors who have grown with you and continued to support you throughout your career, you are again blessed.
7. Quit trying to make Blowfish. The last thing we need is another briar abortion in the shape of a melting lollipop.
8. Buy the very best tools you can possibly afford, but know that great tools will never turn you into a great pipemaker.
9. Listen to every single thing that Lars, Tom, Nana, Jess, Teddy, Toku, Toni, Kei, Former, Per, Ulf, Wolfgang, etc. take the time to tell you, and for God’sake don’t make excuses to them for why your pipes aren’t what they should be. Just listen, and do what you’re advised.
10. Don’t ever give pipes away. Not only does it devalue your work, but it will NEVER pay any meaningful dividends. No one will ever appreciate something they’ve received for free the way they will appreciate something they’ve spent their hard-earned money on. Glowing reviews of free pipes are about as valuable as a bag of shit minus the cost of the bag. And that, my friends–to quote both Dr. Dre and Ben Folds–is some real conversation for your ass.
TJ
I'll briefly add that you cannot become an artisan until you are an excellent craftsman. The vast majority of the pipes I see here are attempts at artisan shapes, yet there's very little in the way of fine craftsmanship. Please don't be offended by that; it is meant to help you. BTW, I'm just restating #3. Read on.
David,
This is an interesting survey of the questions, but I don’t feel like it actually tries to answer any of them. In light of that, I will offer my unsolicited advice to all those who want to enter the industry as “professional” pipe makers.
1. Make pretty pipes that are well engineered. Until you can do this, you don’t have a viable product to offer at any price.
2. Don’t quit your day job. Doing this for a living is difficult, and there are probably less than five people in the US who do this full time, as their family’s only source of income.
3. For the love of God, don’t be “original” until you can carve consistently pretty, well-engineered pipes in accepted, conventional shapes. We’ve all heard the quote “Your work is both good and original. Unfortunately, the parts that are good are not original, and the parts that are original are not good.” Established shapes exist for a reason, and there is no shame in reproducing them. Once your skill set catches up with your inexhaustibly creative brain then, by all means, go apeshit. Until then, keep it simple, stupid.
4. Don’t chase the endorsement of would-be tastemakers, gatekeepers, blowhards, or self-important morons who want to “sponsor” you as their pipemaking boy-toy. Soon enough you will find yourself riding the bus to God know’s where wondering why you’re a passenger on your own effing bus. Beware of Greeks bearing gifts–even if those gifts look like a first class ticket to fame and fortune amongst your benefactors’ adoring klingons. Instead, the city that was once your career will be summarily raped and pillaged. Never let anyone else–not a collector, not a dealer, not another pipemaker, and no, not your Great Aunt, Pearl!
5. LISTEN TO YOUR COLLECTORS when they offer criticism. DO NOT LISTEN TO YOUR COLLECTORS when they offer praise. Every mother tells her daughter she’s pretty, and yet there are lots of ugly women out there. Connect the dots. Someone’s not telling the truth.
6. Get to know your collectors’ tastes and preferences. Every successful visual artist has a “patron” or two. Cultivate patrons that will grow with you rather than trying to be the most popular kid in school. Buyers that can be swayed by trends and blog posts will not help you make a sustainable living. They are like Facebook “friends,” i. e. acquaintances. If you end your life with three real friends, then you are truly blessed. Likewise, if you end your pipemaking career with three real collectors who have grown with you and continued to support you throughout your career, you are again blessed.
7. Quit trying to make Blowfish. The last thing we need is another briar abortion in the shape of a melting lollipop.
8. Buy the very best tools you can possibly afford, but know that great tools will never turn you into a great pipemaker.
9. Listen to every single thing that Lars, Tom, Nana, Jess, Teddy, Toku, Toni, Kei, Former, Per, Ulf, Wolfgang, etc. take the time to tell you, and for God’sake don’t make excuses to them for why your pipes aren’t what they should be. Just listen, and do what you’re advised.
10. Don’t ever give pipes away. Not only does it devalue your work, but it will NEVER pay any meaningful dividends. No one will ever appreciate something they’ve received for free the way they will appreciate something they’ve spent their hard-earned money on. Glowing reviews of free pipes are about as valuable as a bag of shit minus the cost of the bag. And that, my friends–to quote both Dr. Dre and Ben Folds–is some real conversation for your ass.
TJ