[Harp-L] Harmonica Customizing as a Business

["Tim Moyer" <wmharps@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

fjm wrote:
> I'd say nice things about Tim Moyer's work but his wait seems 
> to have gotten a lot longer these days.  Wonder why that is?  

Overheard at SPAH: "You know the difference between a harmonica 
customizer and a large pizza?  A large pizza can feed a family of 
four."

After a busy spring that saw the introduction of two new harmonica 
models, I thought I might actually make this a survivable business. 
But then things dried up over the summer, when harmonica players 
were spending their extra money on $3/gallon gas and tickets to 
Disneyland.  My business dropped by 2/3, and I made the hard 
decision to take a day job at 4 times the salary, plus benefits and 
retirement.  Sometimes doing something you love means taking care of 
those you love.  Maybe I can send my kids to college.  At least I 
can take them to the doctor when they need it.  

I entertained the illusion that I was going to be able to work a 
full-time job, take care of the kids after school, play in a band 
AND build harmonicas, but I found it increasingly difficult to make 
myself spend the last two hours of each day after the kids went to 
bed, plus my weekends, building harmonicas for less than minimum 
wage.  Somehow, it's more enjoyable to pour a glass of wine and sit 
down and watch Boston Legal with my wife.  Go figure.  

I am in the process of trying to complete the orders I have in 
house, many of which are 15 or more weeks old, and in the mean time 
have stopped taking new orders.  It was a hard decision, having 
gotten into and out of the harmonica business repeatedly over the 
years, and continually disappointing a following that's tried so 
hard to be loyal through all my flip-flops.  

Who knows what the future holds?  Hopefully good things for all of 
us.  

-tim

Tim Moyer
Working Man's Harps
http://www.workingmansharps.com/