Working for Free? When & Why

[@BeauHannamGuitars]

Let me know your thoughts on this subject

[@forestwoodinstruments]

Beau, this was such a helpful and wise video. I've been going professionally for only a few years, and was gratified to hear that what I've been doing is "right"...some of my friends thought I was crazy to do "free stuff" but I had a gut feeling it was the right thing to do (building the Knowledge and a reputation). Your explanation of BKB explains to me anyway why my gut feeling was right. Much appreciated.

[@gcheath]

My retirement career will be buying old guitars and restoring them, as well as setups and repairs. Been dabbling all my life and have been lucky to be mentored by some great Luthiers (still am by one), and everyone who plays my guitars asks who set them up, so I must be doing something right?. Recently a guy asked me to set up his Levinson blade and he's in a big pool of players throughout the area. He asked me how much to set up and service and I've said I'll do it and he has to decide how much my job was worth. I have a figure in my head so if he insults me I won't do anything again, but if he likes what I've done and compliments me with the appropriate fee, I get a double bonus of word spreading quickly. BTW Beau love your work and your channel, thank you for doing it as it takes time and a skill set in itself. You and Ted Woodford are just sublime viewing. All the best from a Pom.

[@BeauHannamGuitars]

@ thanks so much 😍

[@denniskwasnycia1950]

I have built and repaired guitars for 37 years now and at first, gave away, "commissioned" several guitars with very little that came back to me. I learned that it's best to give a great discount but not free. Doing repairs, I have made many mistakes and found those are the things you learn from and defiantly many times of doing free. You know in your knower when those times are to be made and when not to. Great video!

[@BeauHannamGuitars]

Thanks so much . We all are getting through it!

[@guitfidle]

Totally! I do the loothing as my side job, so I also have the luxury of bartering for services. I did a commissioned guitar a few years ago where he bought all the parts, and as payment for the labor I got a basically new Mesa 4x12 that my Marshall is sitting on. I worked on a couple basses for a friend and got a cool Ibanez bass as payment. Plus, those guys told other guys 😁

[@stahmanguitars3159]

Great stuff as always my dude.

[@BeauHannamGuitars]

Thanks Nate. I hope it all made sense.

[@dhannam9848]

Yes, my Boy. Proud of you no end.

[@BeauHannamGuitars]

Thanks 😊

[@novacordaguitars-metecemkuzu]

Also important to say: I decide when the work is free, never let people put you under pressure.

[@BeauHannamGuitars]

Yep

[@NickGranville]

yeah man, totally agree. The gigs that have been the best exposure have not had to say anything about it. Every single one where they say 'it'll be good exposure' never ever are.

[@BeauHannamGuitars]

Thanks. 😊

[@spencerdeaton7202]

Beau, you’re the best!! We love you Beau!!!

[@BeauHannamGuitars]

@@spencerdeaton7202 yey!!!! ❤️ and we love Spencer!

[@bendallas5225]

This is some great advise, I've been doing "work" similar to this to try to make a name for myself in my local area. I've been doing the first of any kind of repair for free for the people willing to let me learn on their instrument. My first Bridge repair and head stock repair went out the door for free but the knowledge learned and the positive feed back on my work was able to help me justify the price for all the other similar repairs I've done. Even got me repeat costumers that had no issue paying for my services the next time around.

[@BeauHannamGuitars]

Nice!

[@davidkeeley8473]

I think your video was very accurate and correct. I've been asked 5 times in the last 32 years to build a free guitar for an up and coming musician and I've said 'NO'. And you know what? I've never seen or heard of that person again on any CD, gig poster, etc. I've got a couple really great customers that bring me a lot of repair work. Maybe I'll reach out and do some practice touch up work on their Harmony's & Kay guitars just to improve my skills a bit more. Thanks.

[@BeauHannamGuitars]

Yep- gotta be super careful for free guitars (unless you’re a factory!)

[@guitfidle]

I completely agree. My first ever headstock repair was a freebee for a friend on a cheap acoustic. I got lucky and made an almost invisible repair. That got other people's attention, which brought more people to me. I've also gotten to be known as the guy who takes in unloved instruments, so I occasionally have people just give me stuff for free that they don't want to pay to fix. That's how I got my 1920s Stella that needs a lot of work, and since it's now mine, I can take my time and tackle each piece at my leisure. I'll probably pull the neck before doing body reapirs as the neck is already loose

[@BeauHannamGuitars]

Nice! Working of throwaway guitars really helps you along the journey

[@guitfidle]

@BeauHannamGuitars it's how I got started loothin 30 years ago 👍 Plus, it's a fun way to build up a bit of a collection.

[@KarayiannisAndreas]

Very well said.this video is also knowledge for free, could be teached on luthiers school.

[@BeauHannamGuitars]

@@KarayiannisAndreas thanks so much

[@swisherguitars]

Great info, sound advice.

[@BeauHannamGuitars]

Thanks

[@mikew42906]

Practise makes perfect is absolutely true, most people should be able to do their own set ups and basic repairs. Having served an apprentiship as a dental technnician, ie making dentures, turning my hand to guitar tech has been an enjoyable hobby but colour matching and finish is best left to the professional.

[@BeauHannamGuitars]

I've seen hobbyists destroy a guitar attempting a simple setup, even though its fairly straightforward. Some people shouldn't own tools.

[@Sammywhat]

@@BeauHannamGuitars 😂

[@MrDLWheeler]

Solid advice. I do free work only occasionally. I would rather give my free effort to a homeless person who is busking with a cheap plywood guitar just to keep their belly full than give away my hard earned skills to someone who just feels entitled to it because they got an opening spot at the next big show in town. I've done heaps of that work in the past and it almost never leads to anything.

[@BeauHannamGuitars]

Thanks D. I learnt all I know from the best ❤️

[@MrDLWheeler]

@@BeauHannamGuitars I may have taught you a few things but I doubt it's all you know 🙂

[@FixingGuitars]

I am also a photographer and once sent some images to a magazine who was looking for images for an article. I was shocked when they then published them in a subsequent issue without any further discussion or a contract. When I contacted them to sort out payment, they said that they felt that the exposure they gave me was payment enough and were not going to pay anything. I told them that they had 7 days to send me $800.00 or I would sue them. Five days later the cheque arrived.

[@BeauHannamGuitars]

Sorry you went through that- that kind of thievery is horrible to deal with.

[@FixingGuitars]

@BeauHannamGuitars The idea that we should work for publicity is becoming far to common. Very much enjoy your videos and insights.

[@BeauHannamGuitars]

@ thanks so much.

[@mikesalmo]

So, I’m walking backwards into this because I’m not a professional. I accidentally picked this up as a hobby just after getting decent at hand tool woodworking in my 40s… I guess about 4 years ago. I occasionally do paid work by word of mouth from friends’ guitars I’ve worked on, but only take on those when I’m confident in my abilities. I started by making my own less expensive guitars better and then falling in love with 60s/70s oddball guitars: catalog and store brands and their OEMs. So like Matsumoku, Harmony, Kay, etc. I mostly buy guitars at estate sales, Goodwill, etc. and I’m able to sell them since the structural/functional work is easier for me with my woodworking and electronics background and I wasn’t buying guitars with tragic problems. A little touch up to prevent anything from getting worse, but leaving the “character” there. I’m not making money if you include my time and consumables, but it’s paying for new tools and new projects. But lately I’ve bought some borderline irredeemable guitars for

[@BeauHannamGuitars]

That’s it !- make the world better one tiny amount at a time 😍

[@rvaguitars]

I give touring players a 40% discount but they have to make their living at it to qualify. I have made one guitar for free but it was for a legit rockstar that I’m a huge fan of and I did it from a place of love more so than any notion of it leading to more sales

[@BeauHannamGuitars]

I’ve made two guitars for folk musicians I really like, with no thought of getting more orders from it. Like you said, it’s great to see something you’ve made getting songs written on it.

[@rockereb]

1. If the client isn’t will to pay for it, it’s not worth being done. They can always buy another cheap guitar. 2. Only do free work if you’re very comfortable with the deal, actually want to do it and are absolutely certain you’re not being emotionally manipulated. 3. If someone doesn’t want to pay for your time to build a new guitar(80 hours plus materials) they don’t value you or the guitar. Guaranteed they won’t give it away for free when they’re done with it.

[@BeauHannamGuitars]

Did you watch the video before commenting? How do you feel about my main (only) point- ie use cheap guitars to practice color work and other aesthetic repairs on?

[@rockereb]

I 100% agree with that and had nothing to add to that portion. That’s all I’ve learned most of what I’ve done was practicing on project Guitars. I had read Don Teeter say, you should buy an old cheap Guitar take it totally apart and put it back together. If it’s not nicer than when you started, you’re not repairing Guitars you’re just making them worse. So I’ve done that a lot of times before I started working on other peoples guitars for money. sometimes, if it’s some thing I haven’t done before or have it done lately, I will take a guitar out of my project file and do them together as a batch. Always starting with mine first to make sure my jigs and concepts work before I try each step on the nice customer guitar.

[@rockereb]

And that work isn’t totally free either, I can sell that broken guitar once it’s been fixed.

[@RobMods]

I don't work for free. It's stupid. Especially if you are in your 40s or beyond, and have loads of experience. The closest I get to this is when I go above and beyond and do a few extra bits a pieces on an instrument brought to me by a paying regular customer. I also don't work cheap and quick to fit into someone's budget. If this is your only income, I can see why you do that, but it's just not me. In the past every time I've tried to work that way it's bitten me. So I've always had other income sources to avoid that situation.

[@BeauHannamGuitars]

Like I said, it’s for practicing my color work.

[@RobMods]

@BeauHannamGuitars yeah colour work takes years. And you never stop experimenting and learning. Did you use Prooftint in Aus? These are my go-to. The only thing I've found that effectively tints CA.

[@tonylewis1803]

You nailed it man! Aesthetics are the hardest of three you mentioned ( I knew you were going there) and building bridges by doing some of the work for free to build skill (the other two as well) sets is great advice. I just got my Gluboost kit and practice guitar for the aesthetics but man, the accelerator is brutal stuff. Huffing for knowledge is tough!🪐🪐🪐🪐. I talked to Scott at Harpeth asking whether StewMac accellerator is any lighter on the gray matter and he didn’t know. Do you? FartFan central at the very least…..

[@BeauHannamGuitars]

I’m not sure the glue boost accelerator is better for your lungs (I would presume not)